Payload CMS price (October 2026) and how to cancel
In the US (as of 2026-10-18), Payload CMS is free to self-host (MIT). Public trackers still list Cloud Standard about $35/month and Pro about $199/month, but new Cloud deployments may be paused after the Figma acquisition — Confirm live status. Cancel existing Cloud projects in Payload Cloud Dashboard → Billing; self-hosted has no Payload SaaS fee (Payload Docs).
Deleting a collection does not cancel a Cloud subscription.
Project owner required. Self-hosting bills your host (Vercel/Railway/etc.), not Payload.
Who bills you
| Who bills you | Where to cancel | Official help |
|---|---|---|
| Payload Cloud | Dashboard → Billing → Cancel | Payload |
| Self-hosted host | Cancel Vercel/Railway/etc. separately | Your infra invoices |
Current prices
| Plan | Price (US) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted OSS | $0 | MIT license |
| Cloud Standard | Confirm ~$35/mo | 1 project framing |
| Cloud Pro | Confirm ~$199/mo | Multi-project framing |
| New Cloud signups | Confirm status | May be paused |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Custom |
How to cancel Payload Cloud
If on Payload Cloud
- Sign in to the Cloud dashboard as owner.
- Open Billing / Project settings.
- Cancel / delete the Cloud project and confirm.
- Export media/DB first.
If self-hosted
- Cancel the hosting invoice (Vercel, Railway, Fly, etc.).
- Tear down DB/storage separately.
- No Payload SaaS fee applies to pure self-host.
How to confirm it worked
You're done when:
- Cloud plan shows canceled (or host invoices stop for self-host).
- No unexpected Payload/host charge posts.
Source: Payload Docs / Cloud Billing.
Common problems
- Only deleted collections. Cloud renews.
- Canceled Payload but left Vercel Pro. Host still bills.
- Non-owner tried to cancel. Need permissions.
- Assumed Cloud still sells new projects. Confirm status.
What we checked
Checked October 18, 2026: Payload OSS free; Cloud dollars via public pricing trackers — Confirm live.
Cloud vs self-host
Self-host = $0 Payload fee; you pay infra.
After cancel
Admin/API stop when Cloud project is deleted.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Payload Cloud?
About $35–$199/mo historically — Confirm.
How do I cancel?
Cloud Dashboard → Billing → Cancel.
Is self-hosted free?
Yes (MIT) — you pay hosting.
Can I still buy Cloud?
Confirm — new deploys may be paused.