Payload CMS as an alternative to WordPress

A comparison between WordPress and Payload CMS – for companies looking for a solid basis for their content management decisions.

Content management systems form the basis for digital platforms, websites, and applications. WordPress has been one of the best-known systems worldwide for many years, while Payload is gaining importance as a modern headless CMS. Both approaches have their strengths and differences. On this page, we compare WordPress and Payload based on key criteria so that decision makers from IT, marketing, and other areas can find the right solution for their requirements.

Payload vs. WordPress – Key differences at a glance

criterionWordPressPayload CMS
Architecture & FlexibilityMonolithic structure, content, front end, and CMS are closely linked. Particularly efficient for small websites or when working cost-effectively with ready-to-use themes.Developed headless and API-first from the outset. Content can be flexibly integrated into websites, landing pages, apps, or other platforms. Particularly suitable when content needs to be maintained centrally and used across multiple channels.
Security & ComplianceCore security and data protection features are streamlined, with extensions mostly available via plugins. Quality and maintenance requirements vary. Open source and self-hostable.Security features are integrated directly into the core and run reliably without additional extensions. Also open source and self-hostable.
Scalability & PerformanceWell suited for smaller websites. As complexity increases, maintenance costs and risks rise due to the large number of plugins.API-first architecture ensures stable performance even for complex projects. Grows flexibly from a company website to complex content ecosystems.
Maintenance & OperationOpen source, core can be used free of charge. Updates of core, plugins, and themes are necessary. The more extensions, the greater the risk of conflicts.Also open source, core can be used free of charge. Many functions are integrated into the core, and many extensions come directly from Payload. This makes updates easy to plan and minimizes conflicts.
Usability & WorkflowsBasic functions such as role and rights management, workflows, versioning, and preview. Two variants: live preview in the Gutenberg editor or preview in the Classic Editor.Basic functions included in the core, supplemented by advanced features: flexible publishing processes, tree view for nested page structures, granularly definable roles and permissions. Lean, clean admin UI for editors.
Content structure & consistencyContent structure based on pages, posts, and custom post types. Extensions possible via plugins.Flexible definition of content structures, global content elements, API connections for external data sources, consistent content across all touchpoints.
Integrations & Future-proofingHuge plugin ecosystem with diverse integrations, quality dependent on third-party providers.Open API architecture, seamless connection to CRM, ERP, and analytics. Open source, investment by Figma, and a clear roadmap for the future.
 What does that mean?

Mini conclusion

WordPress is ideal for smaller projects thanks to its speed and low barriers to entry. Companies that manage content centrally, deliver it consistently across multiple channels, and have high requirements for security and future viability are better served by Payload.


Ideen werden mit Sticky Notes an eine Wand gepinnt
Architecture & Flexibility

WordPress has a monolithic structure: content, front end, and CMS are closely linked. For classic websites or projects with only one front end, this is a pragmatic and efficient solution, especially if you want to work cost-effectively with ready-made themes.

Payload, on the other hand, was developed headless and API-first from the outset. Content can be maintained independently of the frontend and flexibly integrated into websites, landing pages, apps, or other digital platforms. In our projects, this has proven particularly useful for companies that want to maintain content centrally and use it across channels, for example for multiple websites or native apps. Payload has also established itself for simpler website structures. As soon as design and frontend need to be implemented individually and no ready-made theme is suitable, it is worth considering Payload as a CMS.


Security & Compliance

The WordPress core is deliberately kept lean in terms of security and data protection features. Plugins are therefore usually used for more advanced requirements. These can also be used to cover GDPR and compliance requirements, although the quality depends heavily on the selection and maintenance of these extensions. Due to the widespread use of third-party plugins, they are often targeted by hackers, which is why particular vigilance is required when using them.

Payload, on the other hand, implements security features directly in the core. Important mechanisms are embedded in the architecture and run stably and reliably without additional extensions. Our projects have shown that Payload can withstand even the highest security requirements. For particularly strict requirements, such as those we often encounter in Germany, we have also developed our own plugin that covers additional security details. This ensures that companies are well prepared for the requirements resulting from security audits and penetration tests. In addition, the open-source model and the option of self-hosting allow companies to individually define their own security standards, hosting locations, and compliance requirements, from basic setups to particularly strict requirements.


Scalability & Performance

WordPress is well suited for smaller websites with manageable structures. Within this framework, it offers solid performance, but quickly becomes more complex to operate as complexity increases. The more plugins and individual customizations are integrated, the higher the maintenance and optimization effort.

Payload, on the other hand, was designed for growth from the outset. Its API-first architecture ensures that content is delivered in a stable and high-performance manner, even with multiple front ends, extensive data models, or high loads. Our projects have shown that Payload is suitable for both simple corporate websites and complex content ecosystems. Many customers start with a lean solution and then expand it step by step without having to rebuild the architecture.


Maintenance & Operation

WordPress is open source, so the core can be operated free of charge. The main expense is maintenance: the core, plugins, and themes must be updated regularly. As the number of extensions increases, so does the maintenance effort and the risk of incompatibilities. Dependence on many third-party plugins in particular can lead to problems after updates that make operation more difficult. We can confirm this from our own experience with numerous WordPress systems.

Payload is also open source and the core can be used free of charge. Maintenance also involves some effort, but most functions are already included in the core and many extensions are developed and maintained directly by the Payload team. This ensures that they remain compatible with the core. In practice, this means fewer external dependencies, which makes updates more predictable and reduces the frequency of conflicts. Our projects have shown that companies using Payload experience fewer maintenance issues overall, resulting in lower maintenance costs than with WordPress.


Zwei Kollegen arbeiten gemeinsam an einem Laptop im Büro
Usability & Workflows

WordPress offers basic editorial functions such as role and rights management, workflows, and versioning as standard. There are two options for previewing content: With the modern Gutenberg editor, the content is displayed directly in the editor as a live preview, while with the classic editor, a preview is opened in a separate browser tab. This flexibility has made WordPress attractive to many editorial teams over the years. Additional features can be added via plugins.

Payload also provides these basic functions—role and rights management, workflows, versioning, and live preview—at its core and extends them with additional functions that are particularly relevant for professional environments. These include flexibly definable publishing processes, a clearly structured tree view for nested page structures, and the option to define roles and permissions in a granular manner. Editors particularly appreciate the lean and clearly structured admin UI, which remains clear even for complex projects and enables intuitive operation.

Content structure & consistency

WordPress relies on pages, posts, and custom post types for its content structure. This foundation is well suited for classic website scenarios. Additional plugins can be connected to map more complex content structures.

Payload offers the possibility to structure content types in a highly individual and flexible way. This allows classic use cases such as pages and posts to be implemented in combination with a page builder. Global content elements can also be created, which can be maintained centrally and reused at any location within the page builder. In addition, data from external sources can be seamlessly integrated into Payload's structures via APIs. If the CMS is to manage content for multiple touchpoints—such as websites, landing pages, apps, or platforms—this flexibility offers clear advantages. In our projects, we were able to define global templates for companies with multiple locations, which form the basis for each location landing page. Data such as address and opening hours were automatically linked for each location via an API. If information changes in the central system, the data is immediately displayed correctly on the websites of the individual locations.


Drei Mitarbeiter arbeiten gemeinsam an einem Laptop im Büro
Integrations & Future-proofing

WordPress is traditionally based on PHP and MySQL and relies heavily on plugins and themes for expansion. Modern requirements can be implemented through headless or decoupled operation—the backend delivers content via APIs, while the frontend is powered by modern JavaScript frameworks such as React or Vue. In addition, companies have access to a huge selection of plugins and interfaces that can be used to connect to almost any common third-party system. However, the quality and stability of these integrations depend heavily on the respective providers.

Payload is designed from the ground up for a modern architecture. With an API-first approach and a JavaScript/TypeScript-based infrastructure, Payload supports integration into modern frontend systems and microservices structures. Extensions and plugins are maintained centrally, improving compatibility and maintainability.

The market confirms that headless systems are currently experiencing strong growth, putting monolithic CMS solutions under pressure. Choosing an architecture that can be flexibly adapted to new requirements is already strategically crucial today – and speaks in favor of Payload as a long-term investment without the compromises of a classic system.

In addition, Payload offers a wide range of integration options thanks to its open API architecture. External systems such as CRM, ERP, or analytics can be seamlessly connected, enabling companies to manage content centrally and make processes more efficient. In our projects, this openness has proven particularly valuable for customers who want to link multiple systems and make data from different sources directly usable in the CMS.

Conclusion & help in decision-making

WordPress has established itself as a proven system and scores particularly well when it comes to simple websites with manageable requirements. It offers a quick start, a large community, and a wide range of plugins.

Payload is more geared toward companies with more complex requirements that centrally control content, deliver it consistently across multiple channels, and have the highest demands for security, flexibility, and future-proofing. Thanks to its modern architecture and API-first strategy, Payload is particularly suitable for growing digital ecosystems.

Ultimately, the choice of system depends on individual goals: WordPress is a pragmatic option for small, simple projects, while Payload is the better long-term solution for medium-sized companies and corporations with professional requirements.

Our experience with Payload

We have been using Payload for years in numerous projects for companies in Germany—from lean corporate websites to complex content platforms. In doing so, we have gotten to know Payload better than almost any other provider on the market. We have summarized our experiences, case studies, and specially developed plugins for the EU market on a separate page.

Our experience with Payload

It is also worth taking a look at the future of Payload: With its acquisition by Figma, the CMS gains additional clout and international visibility, while remaining independent and open source. We have outlined the significance of this step for companies here.

FIGMA acquires Payload

When asking yourself which CMS is right for you, it is crucial to take a strategic view. The most well-known system is not automatically the right one; rather, it is the one that fits your goals, teams, and growth. Our guide to choosing a CMS for businesses will help you realistically evaluate and classify the different systems.

CMS selection for businesses

Payload CMS Agency

We are your Payload CMS agency for future-proof digital platforms.

Strategic CMS consulting and technical implementation for digital ecosystems

As a specialized Payload CMS agency, we help companies strategically evaluate, implement, and further develop headless architectures over the long term. We see Payload CMS not only as a technical system, but also as a central building block of digital ecosystems in which content can be flexibly modeled, used across channels, and operated sustainably. Our expertise ranges from the strategic selection of suitable CMS architectures to technical implementation with Payload CMS to stable operation and continuous development. In doing so, we take into account requirements such as scalability, maintainability, security aspects, and integration into existing system landscapes. This results in digital platforms that meet today's requirements and can be further developed in the long term.


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Christoph Peiniger, Geschäftsführer, pemedia GmbH

Christoph Peiniger

Geschäftsführer Operations & Growth

Düsseldorf Office

Immermannstraße 59 40210 Düsseldorf Germany

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