Payload CMS
Contentful
Strapi
Licensing costs
Free (MIT)
$490–2,100/month
Free (Community) / $500/month (Cloud)
GDPR & data control
Full (self-hosted)
Limited (US SaaS)
Good (self-hosting possible)
Next.js integration
Native (same process)
REST/GraphQL API
REST/GraphQL API
TypeScript support
TypeScript-first
SDK available
TypeScript support (limited)
Scalability
High (own infrastructure)
Very high (managed)
Medium (own infrastructure)
Developer experience
Excellent
High (great SDKs)
Medium (complex plugin system)
Payload CMS wins 5 out of 6 categories
Vorteile
- Completely free (MIT license)
- Native Next.js integration without API overhead
- TypeScript-first: maximum type safety
- Self-hosted: full GDPR control
- No vendor lock-in
- Audit trails, versioning, granular permissions
Nachteile
- No ready-made SaaS: your own infrastructure required
- Fewer marketing resources than Contentful
- Younger ecosystem than Contentful
Best for: Next.js projects that need maximum performance, GDPR compliance and no SaaS fees.
Next.js website or app with content requirements
Payload CMSPayload is built for Next.js. No API overhead, TypeScript-first, direct database access.
Global enterprise with 50+ content authors and complex workflows
ContentfulContentful is designed for this scale. The high fees are justifiable for large enterprise teams.
API-first project without Next.js and limited SaaS budget
StrapiStrapi is flexible, self-hosted and affordable. If Next.js isn't in play, it's a solid option.
Existing Contentful implementation with cost optimisation in mind
Migration to Payload CMSContentful-to-Payload migrations pay off within 6–18 months through eliminated SaaS fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contentful: $490–2,100/month for professional plans. Payload CMS: free (MIT license) + €10–50/month hosting. Over 3 years: Contentful $17,640–75,600, Payload €360–1,800. The difference is substantial.
Strapi isn't a WordPress replacement — it's a headless CMS for API-first projects. As a WordPress replacement we recommend Payload CMS + Next.js, since that delivers a complete website solution with a better frontend.
Yes, Contentful-to-Payload migrations are feasible. Content models are mapped into Payload collections, content is exported via the Contentful API and imported into Payload. Typical migration timeline: 2–6 weeks depending on complexity.
Yes. Payload CMS is self-hosted — your data stays on your infrastructure in the EU. Unlike Contentful there is no data transfer to the US. GDPR compliance is structurally guaranteed.
For developers with TypeScript and Node.js skills, Payload becomes productive within a few days. The documentation is excellent. For editors the admin panel is intuitive and requires no technical skills.
