Enonic XP vs Payload CMS
Enonic XP
enonic.com
Payload CMS
payloadcms.comSide by side
| Figure | Enonic XP | Payload CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $990/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Spec score · CMS Tools | 9.2 (#1) | 8.1 (#18) |
| Spec score · Headless CMS | 9.1 (#4) | 8.5 (#11) |
| API types | graphql | both |
| Asset transformations | Yes | Yes |
| Company ownership | Enonic states that it is primarily owned by private investors and current or former employees. | Payload’s getting-started page says it has joined Figma and that Figma is committed to investing in Payload’s open-source core. |
| Headquarters | The company lists Kirkegata 1–3 in Oslo, Norway as its location. | United States |
| Integrations | Official feature pages name Matomo Analytics, Siteimprove and VWO among ready-made integrations. | Official plugins include Form Builder, MCP, Multi-Tenant, Search, Sentry, SEO, Stripe, Import/Export, and Ecommerce. |
| Content localization | Yes | Yes |
| Content preview | Yes | Yes |
| Role permissions | custom | custom |
| Webhooks | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Enonic XP
- FreeFree
- Basic$990 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
In their own words
Payload CMS
Payload CMS is an open-source TypeScript framework and backend for building websites and applications. A configuration provides an admin panel, database migrations, REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, access control, file storage, and live preview. Its stated uses include headless CMS projects, internal tools, commerce, and digital asset management. Content capabilities include localization, custom role permissions, webhooks, preview, and asset transformations. Official database adapters support MongoDB, Postgres, and SQLite, while plugins cover functions such as forms, search, SEO, and ecommerce. The code is released under the MIT License, and the free self-hosted option includes community support. Payload can run wherever a Node.js app can run, with starter templates for Vercel and Cloudflare; getting started requires Node.js 20.9.0 or later, a JavaScript package manager, and a compatible database. Enterprise features include SSO, visual editing, publishing workflows, AI auto-embedding, and static A/B testing.