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Wix

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Payload CMS

Wix vs Payload CMS

Wix vs Payload CMS: which is right for your project? Wix is drag-and-drop website builder with ai features. 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 Wix is better for small business owners building their first website without any coding. Choose Wix for Small business owners building their first website without any coding. Choose Payload CMS for Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead.

Official docs: Wix Developer Docs · Payload CMS Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

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

Pros & Cons

Wix

Pros

Wix ADI creates a site automatically from your answers
True WYSIWYG — drag elements anywhere on the page
Large template marketplace (800+ templates)
App Market adds functionality without code

Cons

Poor Core Web Vitals — heavy JavaScript bundle slows pages
No way to export your site or move to another host
Absolute positioning makes responsive design brittle
Performance degrades significantly with apps and animations

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	Wix	Payload CMS
Language / Stack	Proprietary (Velo for custom code)	TypeScript / Node.js
Type	website builder	headless cms
Pricing	$17-35/month	Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	Small business owners building their first website without any coding	Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead
Export Method	No native export — content must be manually copied	REST API, GraphQL, or direct database access

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Wix if…

You need small business owners building their first website without any coding
Your team is comfortable with Proprietary (Velo for custom code)
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

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 Wix 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. Wix is a website builder built with Proprietary (Velo for custom code), 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, Wix's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, Payload CMS is open-source (Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), while Wix ($17-35/month) carries ongoing license costs. 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 Wix better than Payload CMS?

Payload CMS scores higher overall (23/30 vs 15/30) thanks to better performance. However, Wix remains the better choice for Small business owners building their first website without any coding.

Can I migrate from Wix to Payload CMS?

Yes. Export your Wix content via No native export — content must be manually copied, 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 Wix and Payload CMS?

Wix is drag-and-drop website builder with ai features, while Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. Key differences: ease of use (Wix: 5/5, Payload CMS: 3/5), pricing ($17-35/month vs Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), and scalability (Wix: 2/5, Payload CMS: 4/5).

How much does Wix cost compared to Payload CMS?

Wix: $17-35/month. Payload CMS: Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available. Payload CMS is open-source and free to self-host, while Wix is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Wix or Payload CMS?

Wix is easier to pick up (5/5 vs 3/5). Wix ADI creates a site automatically from your answers. Payload CMS has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to TypeScript / Node.js.

Which performs better, Wix or Payload CMS?

Payload CMS has the performance edge (5/5 vs 2/5). Payload CMS has strong performance characteristics. Wix Poor Core Web Vitals — heavy JavaScript bundle slows pages.

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