Payload CMS
WordPress
Performance
Very high (direct DB access)
Medium to poor (plugin overhead)
Security
High (no plugin ecosystem)
Low (most common attack target)
Developer experience
Very good (TypeScript, Next.js)
Average (PHP, dated stack)
Editorial usability
Good (intuitive admin panel)
Good (familiar interface)
Maintenance effort
Low (few dependencies)
High (weekly plugin updates)
Plugin ecosystem
No pre-built ecosystem
Huge (60,000+ plugins)
Payload CMS wins in 4 of 6 categories
Vorteile
- TypeScript-first: compile-time errors instead of runtime errors
- Direct database access from Next.js: no API latency
- No plugin security risk
- Open source (MIT license): no SaaS costs
- Self-hosted: full GDPR control
- Significantly lower maintenance costs than WordPress
Nachteile
- No pre-built plugin ecosystem
- Fewer available developers than WordPress
- Younger: fewer community resources
Best for: Companies that use Next.js and are looking for a modern, secure CMS with direct integration.
New Next.js website with CMS requirements
Payload CMSPayload is the most natural CMS choice for Next.js. Direct database access, no API latency, TypeScript end-to-end.
Simple WordPress website, budget under 3,000 €
WordPressWith a small budget and simple requirements, WordPress is pragmatic. Performance is often not a critical factor for these projects.
Existing WordPress system with performance issues
Migration to Payload CMSWordPress performance issues are structural. Switching to Payload CMS + Next.js solves the problem for good.
Corporate website with blog and multiple editors
Payload CMSPayload offers a modern editorial interface, versioning, granular permissions — everything WordPress offers, but technically superior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for editors. The Payload admin panel is just as intuitive for day-to-day content work as WordPress — in some areas even more clearly structured. For developers, Payload is significantly better thanks to its TypeScript foundation.
No, WordPress plugins do not work in Payload CMS. Features must be built directly or replaced by API integrations. This may sound like a drawback — but in practice it means less overhead and lower maintenance costs.
Typical: a WordPress site has a 2–5 second LCP, a Payload/Next.js site under 1 second LCP. Lighthouse score: WordPress 40–70, Payload/Next.js 90–100. That is not a marginal difference — it has a direct impact on SEO and conversion rate.
A full migration (data + new frontend) costs between 4.900 € and 14.900 €, depending on page count and complexity. We offer free migration audits.
For the initial setup, yes. The admin panel for editors, however, can be used without any technical knowledge. Regular content work (text, images, pages) is possible without a developer. Structural changes require TypeScript skills.
