payload

by payloadcms · Browser Automation · ★ 45,459

payload is an MCP server by payloadcms. Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications. It has 45,459 GitHub stars and ranks #3 of 591 in Browser Automation by stars.

Category: Browser Automation
Author: payloadcms
GitHub stars: 45,459
This week: Tracking since 18 Oct 2026
Weekly downloads: 89,132
Language: TypeScript
License: MIT (open source)
Last update: 2026-10-24 (today)
Links: Source Website npm

headless-cms
cms
express
graphql
react
payload
nodejs
typescript
javascript
mongodb
headless
content-management-system
+7 more

How to install payload

payload is published on npm as @payloadcms/plugin-mcp, and it depends on mcp-handler. These steps assume it runs as a local stdio server, which is the usual setup.

Check the README. Confirm the start command and note any API keys or environment variables it needs (pass them with -e KEY=value or an env block). You need Node.js for npx.

Add it to Claude Code from a terminal:

claude mcp add payload -- npx -y @payloadcms/plugin-mcp

Or add it to Cursor or Claude Desktop in .cursor/mcp.json or claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "payload": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@payloadcms/plugin-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Restart the client and check it. Run claude mcp list, or open the client's MCP settings, and confirm payload and its tools are listed. The install guide covers VS Code and Codex.

Also listed in

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payload compared

Frequently asked questions

What is payload?

payload is an MCP server by payloadcms in the Browser Automation category. Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications. It has 45,459 GitHub stars and ranks #3 of 591 in Browser Automation by stars.

Is payload free and open source?

Yes. payload is published under the MIT license, so you can run, modify and self-host it at no cost. If it connects to a paid service, that service's own pricing and API terms still apply. Check the repository for the exact license text before using it commercially.

What are the alternatives to payload?

Other Browser Automation projects on MCP Harbor include browser-use, chrome-devtools-mcp, UI-TARS-desktop. Side-by-side comparisons are linked below, with stars, license, language and last update for each pair. The Browser Automation category ranks all 591 by stars, and you can re-sort it by growth this week.

Alternatives to payload

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UI-TARS-desktop★ 39,376

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quasarframework · JavaScript

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browser-harness★ 18,585

browser-use · Python+117 stars this week (+0.6%)

Let Claude Code, Codex or Cursor use your real Chrome, logged in as you. One prompt to set up. Open source, MIT.

All 591 Browser Automation MCP servers →

Data last updated 25 October 2026. Stars and downloads are refreshed every day from GitHub and npm.