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CMS comparison CoreMedia Content Cloud vs Payload

CoreMedia Content Cloud vs Payload

CoreMedia Content Cloud is a closed-source enterprise DXP that you can host yourself or run on the vendor's cloud. Payload is an open-source headless CMS that you can host yourself or run on the vendor's cloud. The table below sets them side by side on 28 features. They get a different status on 15.

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  • CoreMedia Content Cloud Enterprise DXP · Closed source · 18 of 28 built in
  • Payload Headless · Open source · 13 of 28 built in

Sources checked: CoreMedia Content Cloud on 29 Sept 2026, Payload on 29 Sept 2026. Plans and releases can change after those dates.

WAYF is an official Payload partner and top contributor. Every platform in the table is classified by the same published definitions, and each answer lists the vendor page it came from.

Feature comparison

Built inPaid tierPlugin or add-onLimitedNot available
CoreMedia Content Cloud vs Payload feature comparison. Columns are the two platforms. Rows are features, grouped by area.
Platform
CoreMedia Content Cloud Enterprise DXP
Payload Headless
Overview
What it is Java-based enterprise CMS with a Studio editor, a template engine and a GraphQL headless server. Runs on-premises or as CoreMedia's cloud service.Open-source TypeScript headless CMS and app framework that installs into a Next.js app and stores content in your own database.
Edition compared The product and release each column describes. CoreMedia Content Cloud v13, or CMCC 13 Version 2512.1.1, released 10 Aug 2026 Payload 3, MIT-licensed open-source core Version 3.90.2, released 23 Sept 2026
Vendor CoreMedia GmbH coremedia.com Figma (acquired Payload in June 2025) payloadcms.com
Licence Closed source Proprietary Open source MIT
Hosting Self-hosting Vendor cloud Event Hub webhooks are an add-on for the CoreMedia cloud service only. Self-hosting Vendor cloud Payload Cloud is paused for new projects. Payload offers hosting to enterprise customers.
Built with Java, Spring Boot, TypeScript for StudioTypeScript, Node.js, Next.js, React
Database Relational database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL ServerPostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite
Pricing Public list prices only. Hosting and implementation are extra everywhere. No free option Pricing on request. Free to start Free to self-host. Enterprise licence, support and hosting on request.
Content modelling
Content model in code You define content types in files in your repository, review them like any other code and apply them from there. Imperative migration scripts alone count as limited. Built in XML files in the project workspace define content types. 3 Built in Collections, globals and fields are TypeScript config. 2
Content model in the UI Admins can create and change content types and fields in the admin interface without writing code. Not available Content type changes need a developer and a deployment. 3 Not available No schema builder in the admin.
Reusable blocks Editors compose pages from reusable, typed components or blocks, and can reorder them. Built in Page grid placements hold reusable content items. 4 Built in Blocks field.
Localization Editors translate content per locale inside the CMS, by field or by entry, without a separate site for each language. Limited Each locale is a derived site linked to a master site, with a translation workflow. 5 Built in Field-level localization.
Image transformations The CMS resizes, crops or converts images on request, through URL parameters or generated sizes, with no external service. Built in Named image variants and crops in the CAE and Headless Server. 6 Built in Generates configured image sizes on upload, with crop and focal point. 11
APIs and delivery
REST API A documented REST or JSON HTTP API returns content. Built in REST endpoints mapped from persisted GraphQL queries. 7 Built in
GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. Built in Headless Server. 7 Built in
Webhooks The CMS can call an external URL when content is created, changed or published. Plugin or add-on Event Hub add-on service for cloud service subscribers. 89 Not available No webhook settings. Call URLs from afterChange hooks in code. 17
Renders the website The CMS itself renders and serves the public pages through themes or templates. Headless-only products answer no. Built in Content Application Engine with FreeMarker templates. 1 Not available Runs inside your Next.js app. You build the pages.
Editorial workflow
Drafts Editors save changes as a draft and publish them later. The live version stays untouched until then. Built in Built in 10
Scheduled publishing An editor can set a future date and time for content to publish or unpublish. Built in Valid-from and valid-to dates plus a scheduled publication workflow. 11 Built in Scheduled publish and unpublish run through the jobs queue. 10
Version history The CMS keeps earlier versions of an entry, and editors can compare or restore them. Built in Built in Opt-in per collection or global. 10
Preview Editors can see unpublished content rendered as it will appear on the site before publishing. Built in Built in
Visual editing Editors can click on the rendered page and edit content in place or in a side panel next to it. Built in In-preview editing in Studio, also for headless frontends. 10 Not available Payload lists the Enterprise Visual Editor as coming soon. 37
Approval workflows Content moves through review stages you configure, such as draft, review and approved, with permissions per stage. Built in Workflow Server with configurable publication workflows. 1113 Paid tier Enterprise publishing workflows. 39
Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. Limited Projects group content. A publication set carries linked items along. 1213 Not available
Real-time co-editing Two or more editors can work on the same entry at once and see each other's changes live. Not available Not available Document locking only. Payload lists enterprise multi-player editing as coming soon. 12320
Access and governance
Custom roles Admins define their own roles with granular permissions instead of picking from a fixed set. Built in Rights rules per group, folder and content type. 14 Limited Roles are access-control functions written in code. No role editor in the admin. 18
Field-level permissions Admins can restrict access to single fields, on top of content types and entries. Not available Rights apply per folder and content type. 14 Built in Field-level access functions. 18
Single sign-on Editors can sign in through SAML or OpenID Connect against a company identity provider. Built in Studio login runs on Spring Security. A project swaps in a redirect-based SSO provider. 1516 Paid tier Enterprise licence, SAML and OAuth 2.0. 35
Audit log The CMS logs who changed what and when across the whole installation, and admins can review the log. Built in Records who changed what and when; supports reversions. Retention, export and edition limits are not public: confirm in the contract. 16 Paid tier Enterprise audit logs. 6
Platform and extensibility
Multiple sites One installation or account can manage several separate websites or brands with shared users. Built in Plugin or add-on Official multi-tenant plugin. 15
Extensible admin UI Developers can add their own components, views or fields to the editing interface. Built in Studio plugins. Built in Custom React components, views and fields.
Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. Built in CoreMedia Marketplace. 17 Limited Docs list official plugins. Community plugin directories are third-party. 13
Form builder Editors can build and publish forms and collect submissions without code. Plugin or add-on Formcentric for CoreMedia, a partner product from the Marketplace. 18 Plugin or add-on Official Form Builder plugin. 16
Site member accounts The platform handles sign-up and login for public site users or members, separate from editors. Plugin or add-on Elastic Social module manages site users and comments. 19 Built in Any auth-enabled collection can hold site users.
AI writing assistant A first-party AI feature in the editing interface generates, rewrites or translates content. Plugin or add-on KIO Co-Pilot needs a licence with KIO enabled. 20 Paid tier Enterprise AI writing assistant. Payload lists AI translation and image generation as coming soon. 8
Official MCP server The vendor publishes a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can read or write content. Not available None for content. The only official MCP server covers Engagement Cloud analytics. 20 Plugin or add-on Official open-source MCP plugin. 14

CoreMedia Content Cloud sources

Checked 29 Sept 2026. CoreMedia Content Cloud v13, or CMCC 13.

  1. CoreMedia release notes: 2512.1.1
  2. CoreMedia Content Management System
  3. Content Server Manual: Structure of content type definitions
  4. Studio User Manual: Editing a page grid
  5. Studio User Manual: Translation to derived sites
  6. CAE Developer Manual: Image Transformation API
  7. Headless Server Developer Manual: Mapping REST access
  8. Introduction to the Event Hub Service
  9. Service description: Event Hub
  10. Introducing in-preview editing for CoreMedia Content Cloud
  11. Scheduled publication workflow
  12. How to use projects in Studio (CMCC 13)
  13. Publication steps and best practices
  14. Studio User Manual: Permissions and rights
  15. Studio Developer Manual 2512.1: Single Sign On Integration
  16. CoreMedia: security, access control and audit trails
  17. CoreMedia Marketplace
  18. Formcentric Form Manager on CoreMedia Marketplace
  19. Studio User Manual 2512.0: Elastic Social
  20. Introduction to KIO Co-Pilot

Payload sources

Checked 29 Sept 2026. Payload 3, MIT-licensed open-source core.

  1. payload on the npm registry
  2. Get started with Payload
  3. Payload for Enterprise
  4. Payload Cloud update: Payload has joined Figma
  5. Payload enterprise SSO
  6. Payload enterprise audit logs
  7. Payload Visual Editor
  8. Payload enterprise AI
  9. Payload publishing workflows
  10. Payload docs: Drafts
  11. Payload docs: Uploads
  12. Payload docs: Document locking
  13. Payload docs: Plugins
  14. Payload docs: MCP plugin
  15. Payload docs: Multi-tenant plugin
  16. Payload docs: Form Builder plugin
  17. GitHub discussion: Webhooks?
  18. Payload docs: Access control
  19. Figma blog: Welcoming Payload to the Figma team
  20. Payload multi-player editing

Considering more platforms? Compare CoreMedia Content Cloud and Payload with the rest of your shortlist in the CMS comparison tool.

Where they differ

CoreMedia Content Cloud and Payload get a different status on 15 of the 28 features and the same status on 13. CoreMedia Content Cloud has 18 built in on its baseline edition, Payload has 13. Two matching statuses can still name different paid tiers or limits, so read the notes in the table before treating a row as equal.

Licence
CoreMedia Content Cloud is closed source (Proprietary). Payload is open source (MIT).
Free option
CoreMedia Content Cloud has no free option. Payload has a free option.

Built in on CoreMedia Content Cloud, a different answer on Payload 8

  • Renders the website CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Visual editing CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Approval workflows CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Custom roles CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Limited.
  • Single sign-on CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Audit log CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Multiple sites CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Plugin or add-on.
  • Plugin marketplace CoreMedia Content Cloud: Built in. Payload: Limited.

Built in on Payload, a different answer on CoreMedia Content Cloud 3

  • Localization CoreMedia Content Cloud: Limited. Payload: Built in.
  • Field-level permissions CoreMedia Content Cloud: Not available. Payload: Built in.
  • Site member accounts CoreMedia Content Cloud: Plugin or add-on. Payload: Built in.

Built in on neither, with different answers 4

  • Webhooks CoreMedia Content Cloud: Plugin or add-on. Payload: Not available.
  • Content releases CoreMedia Content Cloud: Limited. Payload: Not available.
  • AI writing assistant CoreMedia Content Cloud: Plugin or add-on. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Official MCP server CoreMedia Content Cloud: Not available. Payload: Plugin or add-on.

More comparisons

CoreMedia Content Cloud against other platforms

Payload against other platforms

Open the CMS comparison tool to put up to six platforms in one table.

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