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CMS comparison Liferay DXP vs Payload

Liferay DXP vs Payload

Liferay DXP 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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  • Liferay DXP Enterprise DXP · Closed source · 26 of 28 built in
  • Payload Headless · Open source · 13 of 28 built in

Sources checked: Liferay DXP 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
Liferay DXP vs Payload feature comparison. Columns are the two platforms. Rows are features, grouped by area.
Platform
Liferay DXP Enterprise DXP
Payload Headless
Overview
What it is Java platform for websites, portals and commerce, with a new object-based CMS. Self-hosted or run by Liferay as PaaS or SaaS.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. Liferay DXP 2026.Q3, Enterprise Subscription. The Free Tier replaced Liferay Portal CE from 2026.Q1. Version 2026.q3.5, released 25 Sept 2026 Payload 3, MIT-licensed open-source core Version 3.90.2, released 23 Sept 2026
Vendor Liferay, Inc. liferay.com Figma (acquired Payload in June 2025) payloadcms.com
Licence Closed source Proprietary, under the Liferay EULA. Free Tier activation key at no cost Open source MIT
Hosting Self-hosting Vendor cloud Free Tier suits smaller-scale use and gets no security patches, SAML or AI Hub. Self-hosting Vendor cloud Payload Cloud is paused for new projects. Payload offers hosting to enterprise customers.
Built with Java, OSGi, ReactTypeScript, Node.js, Next.js, React
Database MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, IBM Db2PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite
Pricing Public list prices only. Hosting and implementation are extra everywhere. Free to start Free Tier at no cost for smaller-scale use. Enterprise Subscription per server instance, price 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 Definitions export to JSON and deploy from the repo as batch client extensions. 7 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. Built in Objects and web content structures. 6 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 Fragments on content pages. 11 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. Built in 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 Adaptive Media generates set image resolutions. 8 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 Headless REST APIs. 9 Built in
GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. Built in 9 Built in
Webhooks The CMS can call an external URL when content is created, changed or published. Built in Object actions call a webhook on add, update or delete. 10 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 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 Display and expiration dates. 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 Inline editing in the content page editor. 11 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 Kaleo workflow, also included in the Free Tier. 3 Paid tier Enterprise publishing workflows. 39
Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. Built in Publications group changes and publish them together. 12 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 A page locks while one editor has it open. 13 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 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 Permissions apply per object, entry or asset. 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 SAML and OpenID Connect. The Free Tier lacks SAML. 315 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 Audit framework with search and export of events. 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 Client extensions. 7 Built in Custom React components, views and fields.
Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. Built in Liferay 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. Built in Liferay Forms. 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. Built in 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. Built in AI Hub writing tools in the new CMS. Not in the Free Tier. 418 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. Built in Built-in MCP server released in 2026.Q3, switched on by feature flag. 19 Plugin or add-on Official open-source MCP plugin. 14

Liferay DXP sources

Checked 29 Sept 2026. Liferay DXP 2026.Q3, Enterprise Subscription. The Free Tier replaced Liferay Portal CE from 2026.Q1..

  1. Liferay DXP 2026.q3.5 release files
  2. Now available: Liferay DXP Quarterly Release 2026.Q3
  3. Liferay DXP Free Tier (Liferay Learn)
  4. Liferay DXP Free Tier: what it is, how to get it, and when to upgrade
  5. CE is sunsetted. What's your next move?
  6. Liferay Learn: Content Management System
  7. Liferay Learn: Client Extensions
  8. Liferay Learn: Using Adaptive Media
  9. Liferay Learn: Consuming GraphQL APIs
  10. Liferay Learn: Object actions
  11. Liferay Learn: Using Content Pages
  12. Liferay Learn: Publications
  13. Liferay Learn: Configuring Locked Pages
  14. Liferay Learn: Objects permissions framework integration
  15. Liferay Learn: Using OpenID Connect
  16. Liferay Learn: Audit Framework
  17. Liferay Marketplace
  18. Liferay AI Hub
  19. Liferay Learn: Using Liferay as an MCP Server
  20. Liferay Learn: Cloud

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 Liferay DXP and Payload with the rest of your shortlist in the CMS comparison tool.

Where they differ

Liferay DXP and Payload get a different status on 15 of the 28 features and the same status on 13. Liferay DXP has 26 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
Liferay DXP is closed source (Proprietary, under the Liferay EULA. Free Tier activation key at no cost). Payload is open source (MIT).

Built in on Liferay DXP, a different answer on Payload 14

  • Content model in the UI Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Webhooks Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Renders the website Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Visual editing Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Approval workflows Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Content releases Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Not available.
  • Custom roles Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Limited.
  • Single sign-on Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Audit log Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Multiple sites Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Plugin or add-on.
  • Plugin marketplace Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Limited.
  • Form builder Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Plugin or add-on.
  • AI writing assistant Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Paid tier.
  • Official MCP server Liferay DXP: Built in. Payload: Plugin or add-on.

Built in on Payload, a different answer on Liferay DXP 1

  • Field-level permissions Liferay DXP: Not available. Payload: Built in.

More comparisons

Liferay DXP 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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