Strapi vs Payload
Pick Strapi when the database has to be MySQL or MariaDB, which Payload does not support, or when schema iteration needs the visual Content-Type Builder. Pick Payload when the team is TypeScript and Next.js native and the content model should live in version control. Payload keeps unlimited editors and fine-grained access control in the free core; Strapi meters editors and gates governance by plan.
- Strapi Self-hosted · GUI-first · SQL-based
- Payload Self-hosted · code-first · TypeScript
Last verified: 26 August 2026. Pricing and vendor-status claims on this page were checked at the source on that date.
When to pick each
Pick Strapi when
- The database has to be MySQL or MariaDB; Payload does not support either.
- Schema iteration needs a visual interface through the Content-Type Builder.
- A broader plugin marketplace matters, and critical Strapi v5 plugin compatibility has been verified.
- You want a polished, approachable admin panel out of the box.
- The CMS should run as a separate backend service consumed over REST or GraphQL.
Pick Payload when
- The team is TypeScript and Next.js native and wants the CMS, API, and frontend in one deployment.
- Schema changes must live in version-controlled TypeScript and pass through pull requests.
- Access control needs per-field, per-user, or per-document logic in TypeScript.
- Unlimited editor accounts and fine-grained access control should stay in the open-source core.
- You need MongoDB support or want to keep the database choice open.
Feature comparison
Architecture & hosting
| Feature | Strapi | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Self-hosted CMS, run as a separate backend service | Self-hosted CMS that can run inside a Next.js application |
| Core licence | MIT Community edition | MIT |
| Database support | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite | PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite |
| Frontend integration | REST or GraphQL API consumed by the frontend | Native Next.js Local API, plus REST and GraphQL |
Content modeling & developer experience
| Feature | Strapi | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Where the schema is defined | Content-Type Builder UI, JSON schema files, or both | TypeScript config only |
| Schema in version control | Generated schema files; GUI path can bypass code review | Yes — the config is the single source of truth |
| TypeScript | Partial, through generated types | Full — schema is TypeScript |
| Next.js architecture | Separate backend, separate deployment | CMS admin, rendering layer, and API in one deployment |
Editor experience & ecosystem
| Feature | Strapi | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Admin UX out of the box | Polished, non-developer accessible | Good; deeper customisation through React |
| Draft & Publish | Built in | Built in |
| Plugin ecosystem | Larger, more established; plugin quality and v5 compatibility vary | Smaller, more tightly controlled and consistent |
| Best fit | MySQL/MariaDB teams, GUI schema, broad ecosystem | TypeScript/Next.js teams, code-first workflow |
Governance & cost
| Feature | Strapi | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Per-editor cost | Per seat on paid plans | No per-seat fee |
| Governance features | Paid CMS plan: Growth (~$45/mo + $15/seat) or Enterprise | Free core, enterprise plugin, community plugins, or custom work |
| Content history / versions | Paid plan | Built in |
| Access control | Role-based | Function-based, per field or document |
Strapi and Payload are both open-source, self-hosted, JavaScript-native headless CMSes with zero licensing cost on their core editions, but they are not interchangeable. Strapi takes a GUI-first, SQL-based approach with a large, established plugin ecosystem. Payload takes a code-first, TypeScript approach that runs inside Next.js. The decision between them is an architectural one.
The core difference
Strapi’s philosophy is configuration as a product. Its Content-Type Builder is a GUI in the admin panel where developers and content strategists define content types by clicking through a form, and the platform generates the corresponding schema files behind the scenes. That makes it approachable for teams that want to prototype schema changes without writing code, and it produces an admin panel non-technical users can pick up quickly.
Payload’s philosophy is code-first. There is no GUI schema builder. Collections, fields, blocks, access control, and hooks are defined in configuration files, and all of them are imported into payload.config.ts as the single entry point. Because the schema lives in code, every content-model change goes through a pull request and ships through the same review, testing, and CI/CD pipeline as the rest of the application.
This difference propagates through the entire development and operational experience. It is the first thing to evaluate before any other comparison.
Where Strapi is the stronger choice
Strapi wins when the database has to be MySQL or MariaDB. Payload also covers PostgreSQL and SQLite, so “we use SQL” on its own is not a reason to prefer Strapi. The genuine gap is MySQL and MariaDB: Strapi supports both, Payload does not.
It also fits teams that need a visual interface for schema iteration. Agencies onboarding new clients, teams where a content strategist needs to propose schema changes, and projects where the content model is still being discovered benefit from Strapi’s Content-Type Builder.
Strapi’s broader marketplace is useful when a project requires specific third-party integrations, but critical plugins need a v5 compatibility check before the team commits.
Where Payload is the stronger choice
Payload wins when the team is TypeScript and Next.js native. The Local API, same-project deployment, and automatic type generation produce a development experience that TypeScript engineers find faster than working across a network boundary.
It is also the better fit when schema must be in version control. Organisations where infrastructure changes require code review, pull-request approval, and CI/CD deployment treat Payload’s code-first schema as a requirement rather than a preference. Strapi’s GUI-generated schema files exist in version control, but the GUI path bypasses code review.
Payload’s access control is more precise for complex content platforms: function-based logic can handle per-field, per-user, and per-document rules in TypeScript.
Pricing and total cost of ownership
Strapi’s Community Edition is MIT-licensed and free to self-host. Governance features live on Strapi’s paid CMS plans: Growth starts around $45 per month for three seats plus $15 per additional seat, and Enterprise is a custom quote. Those plans add audit logs, SSO, content version history, and multi-stage review workflows.
Payload’s open-source core includes granular, function-based access control, full document version history, and unlimited editor accounts with no per-seat charge. Enterprise SSO comes through Payload’s official enterprise plugin, a system-wide audit log through community plugins or custom work, and Payload offers a paid enterprise engagement with dedicated engineering support.
The real difference is the pricing model: Payload keeps unlimited editors and fine-grained access control in the free core, while Strapi meters editors and gates governance features by plan.
An earlier long-form version stays online as an archive and carries the full source list: the Strapi vs Payload write-up. This page is the one kept current.
A note on our position
WAYF is an official Payload partner and top contributor, so we have an interest in this comparison. We build content platforms and CMS migrations on Payload and Next.js. When a team’s stack, plugin needs, or existing Strapi investment make Strapi the better fit, that is the recommendation we give — both are open source systems a team can genuinely own.
Decided on Payload? Read the Strapi-to-Payload migration guide →
Common questions
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Does Payload support MySQL?
No. Payload covers PostgreSQL, SQLite and MongoDB, so “we use SQL” on its own is not a reason to prefer Strapi. The genuine gap is MySQL and MariaDB: Strapi supports both and Payload does not. Where the database is fixed to either of those, Strapi is the answer.
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Is Strapi free?
The Community Edition is MIT-licensed and free to self-host. Governance features sit on the paid CMS plans: Growth starts at $45 per month including three seats, plus $15 per month per additional seat, and Enterprise is a custom quote. Those plans add audit logs, SSO, content version history and multi-stage review workflows.
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Is Strapi or Payload better for TypeScript?
Payload, when the team is already TypeScript and Next.js native. The Local API, same-project deployment and automatic type generation produce a development experience TypeScript engineers find faster than working across a network boundary. Payload's schema is also code by default: collections, fields, blocks, access control and hooks are defined in configuration files imported into a single entry point.
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Does Strapi have a GUI for creating content types?
Yes, and it is the core of Strapi's approach. The Content-Type Builder is a GUI in the admin panel where developers and content strategists define content types by clicking through a form, and the platform generates the schema files behind the scenes. That suits agencies onboarding new clients, teams where a content strategist proposes schema changes, and projects where the content model is still being discovered. Payload has no GUI schema builder.
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Which has better access control, Strapi or Payload?
Payload is more precise for complex content platforms: function-based logic handles per-field, per-user and per-document rules in TypeScript, and it stays in the open-source core alongside unlimited editor accounts. On Strapi, the equivalent governance surface (audit logs, SSO, review workflows) is gated by paid plan.
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