vioscale
Comparison

Payload CMS vs Strapi

On the evidence we track, Strapi leads this comparison with a composite score of 71/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Payload CMS full profile →Strapi full profile →
Machine formatsJSONMarkdownGraphQLor send Accept: application/json
Payload CMS51
★Strapi71
Score
Vioscale score
Payload CMS51 / 100low · 39%
Strapi71 / 100high · 76%
Pricing
Free tier
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Model
Payload CMSfreemium
Strapicommercial
Price level
Payload CMSlow
Strapimid
Transparent
Payload CMS✗
Strapi✓
Integrations
Count
Payload CMS6
Strapi197
Security
Gdpr
Payload CMS–
Strapi✓
Scorecard
Payload CMS–
Strapi6.5
Soc2
Payload CMS–
Strapi✓
Vulnerabilities
Reliability
Status page
Payload CMS–
Strapi✓
Adoption
Dependent repos
Payload CMS–
Strapi4,257
Github stars
Payload CMS–
Strapi73,016
Package downloads weekly
Payload CMS–
Strapi184,945
Activity
Commits last 30d
Payload CMS–
Strapi100
Release
Cadence days
Payload CMS–
Strapi6
History
Payload CMS–
Strapi20 items
License
Spdx
Payload CMS–
StrapiSEE LICENSE IN LICENSE
Language
Primary
Payload CMS–
StrapiTypeScript
Market
Availability

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for cms software. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Core
CMS type
Payload CMSHeadless / API-first
StrapiHeadless / API-first
Licensing
Open-source
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Deployment
Self-hostable
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Managed / cloud hosting offered
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Delivery
Headless API (REST/GraphQL)
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Content
Structured content modelling
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Localisation / i18n
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Content workflow / approvals
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Editing
Visual / no-code page builder
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Extensibility
Plugin / app ecosystem size
Payload CMSCommunity-driven with templates and GitHub integration
Strapi197 community-built integrations and plugins
Scale
Multi-site / multi-tenant
Payload CMS✓
Strapi-
Workflow
Git-based / code-first workflow
Payload CMS✓
Strapi-
Pricing
Free / open tier
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Payload CMS

A flexible, developer-friendly headless CMS and backend framework built on Next.js that supports cloud and self-hosted deployment, offering code-first development for developers and visual content interfaces for marketers.

Independently observed

Strapi

Leader

A TypeScript-based headless CMS that enables you to design content structures and automatically create REST and GraphQL APIs. Deploy it yourself for full data control or use managed cloud hosting, with extensive options to customize the admin interface and backend logic.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Payload CMS

HybridFree tier14-day trial

Free and open-source. Paid cloud hosting with 14-day trial for new signups; enterprise available on quarterly billing.

as of verify ↗

Strapi

Leader
from $15/moSubscriptionFree tier30-day trial

Free forever with Community tier. Growth at $45/month (3 seats included) + $15 per additional seat. Enterprise available by quote. AI and SSO add-ons available.

  • CommunityFree
    • MIT-licensed open-source software
    • Role-based access control
    • REST and GraphQL APIs
    • Unlimited entries and API calls
    • Media library
    • +8 more
  • Growth$45/month includes 3 seats; additional seats $15/month each
    • Everything in Community
    • Strapi AI (1,000 credits/month)
    • Live Preview
    • Releases
    • Content History (30-day retention)
    • +2 more
  • EnterpriseContact sales
    • Everything in Growth
    • Review workflows
    • Audit logs
    • SOC 2 report
    • Standard and premium support with concierge advisory
    • +1 more
as of verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platforms
Web
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
CLI
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✗
Deployment
Cloud / SaaS
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
Self-hosted
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✓
On-premise
Payload CMS✓
Strapi✗

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

In common (1)
  • Resend

Payload CMS

6 total - 5 not shared
  • Nodemailer
  • SendGrid
  • Stripe
  • Ethereal
  • SMTP
Independently observed

Strapi

Leader
25 total - 24 not shared
  • React
  • Vue.js
  • Svelte
  • Astro
  • Next.js
  • Nuxt.js
  • Flutter
  • React Native
  • TanStack
  • React Router 7
  • React-admin
  • Azure
  • Railway
  • Cloudinary
  • ImageKit
  • Mux
  • Elasticsearch
  • Algolia
  • n8n
  • Postmark
  • Croct
  • SearchBlox
  • Expo
  • Medusa
Independently observed

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.