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Drupal

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Payload CMS

Drupal vs Payload CMS

Drupal vs Payload CMS: which is right for your project? Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures. Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Payload CMS wins overall, but Drupal is better for large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Drupal for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Payload CMS for Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead.

Official docs: Drupal Documentation · Payload CMS Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Drupal	Payload CMS
Ease of Use	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Drupal

Pros

Powerful content modeling with custom entity types and fields
Enterprise-grade access control and user permissions
Built-in multilingual support for global sites
Strong security track record used by governments and universities

Cons

Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise
Fewer themes and modules compared to WordPress
Major version upgrades (e.g. Drupal 7→10) are complex migrations
Slow without aggressive caching configuration

Payload CMS

Pros

Lives inside your Next.js codebase — zero API latency
Config-as-code with full TypeScript type safety
Built-in auth, access control, and file uploads
No vendor lock-in — self-host on your own database

Cons

Tightly coupled to Next.js ecosystem
Newer platform with a smaller community and fewer plugins
Requires TypeScript/Node.js development skills
Admin UI is functional but less polished than Sanity or Contentful

Platform Details

Detail	Drupal	Payload CMS
Language / Stack	PHP	TypeScript / Node.js
Type	traditional cms	headless cms
Pricing	Free (self-hosted)	Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Best For	Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control	Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead
Export Method	JSON:API module or Views data export	REST API, GraphQL, or direct database access

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Drupal if…

You need large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control
Your team is comfortable with PHP
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Choose Payload CMS if…

You need next.js developers wanting a cms that lives in their codebase with zero api overhead
Your team is comfortable with TypeScript / Node.js
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / cloud plans available

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Drupal and Payload CMS depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Drupal is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Payload CMS is a headless cms built with TypeScript / Node.js. That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Drupal's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Drupal better than Payload CMS?

Payload CMS scores higher overall (23/30 vs 20/30) thanks to better performance. However, Drupal remains the better choice for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control.

Can I migrate from Drupal to Payload CMS?

Yes. Export your Drupal content via JSON:API module or Views data export, then import it into Payload CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Drupal and Payload CMS?

Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures, while Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. Key differences: ease of use (Drupal: 2/5, Payload CMS: 3/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), and ecosystem size (Drupal: 3/5, Payload CMS: 2/5).

How much does Drupal cost compared to Payload CMS?

Drupal: Free (self-hosted). Payload CMS: Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available. Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.

Which is easier to learn, Drupal or Payload CMS?

Payload CMS is easier to pick up (3/5 vs 2/5). Lives inside your Next.js codebase — zero API latency. Drupal Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise.

Which performs better, Drupal or Payload CMS?

Payload CMS has the performance edge (5/5 vs 3/5). Payload CMS has strong performance characteristics. Drupal Slow without aggressive caching configuration.

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