Found: A Really Good Headless CMS

Over the years, we have worked quite a bit with so-called headless technologies for the web to not only keep track of CMS like WordPress and similar. We have delved deeply into technologies like React, NextJS, Headless WordPress, and similar ways to build to see which options do what we want.

What we want in terms of experience, just like all visitors want, is to offer sites that are so fast that you barely notice the content changing when navigating.

The key to this is building the interface towards the visitor with technology like NextJS that handles things like:

• Navigation
• Load new content directly on the page without reloading
• Cache content so it doesn't need to be fetched from the database.

Then you have the entire administration of content, the CMS function itself, in a completely separate part of the system that the interface communicates with as needed.

Creating such an experience is usually not a problem; it can be solved with virtually any headless technology you choose. This has been possible to build for a long time with more or less ready-made solutions and code packages to start from. One of the most well-known examples is Facebook, which is built on this.

We want you who work with the content to have as good an experience as the visitors. We believe that if a CMS is to stand out and be really good, the admin should provide the user with:

• Great flexibility to adapt to different needs
• Easy and logical layout that makes it simple to work in
• Powerful features where it really counts, such as:
• • Image tools for adjusting focus point among other things
  • Language management
  • Fair and reliable preview

Therefore, we have followed the development of new CMS solutions for several years and continuously evaluated them, both from a technical perspective and our customers' actual needs. We listen to what editors appreciate, what is lacking, and what they request, while also considering technical insights from the many projects we have conducted ourselves.

We have both tested and used a CMS called Payload in real projects, and it has impressed us. It is a relatively new system that builds on the best from classic CMS likeWordPress, but without dragging along technology choices from the early 2000s. When we compared it with both headless and traditional solutions like WordPress, Drupal, and Optimizely, it is clear that Payload ticks many of our most important boxes.

Payload is fully headless, providing a fast and modern experience for the visitor, but it doesn't stop there. It also comes with a powerful, well-thought-out, and user-friendly admin tool. Features like:

• Image cropping with focus point
• Real-time preview
• Built-in language management

All in all, it makes it a CMS where editors quickly feel at home. If you have worked in WordPress admin, you will recognize yourself directly in this interface as well.

Unlike older CMS, Payload has also considered the developer when it comes to building things in the system. In many places, it has moved from needing to write lots of repetitive code for common standard things to managing it via configuration. This allows developers to spend time on what the customer needs most, building customer-specific functionality that directly supports the customer's business and goals.

Payload is built on modern standards following clear best practices and uses standard technologies, which is positive for us who depend on order and clarity under the hood in a system. You can choose between hosting yourself or in the cloud, and there is a very close connection between admin and frontend, as well as a flexibility in data storage that we haven't seen in other options.

The platform is Open Source, so should the company behind it disappear, the code remains, and it is free to continue working on it. Now Payload has a large and active community behind it, and development is moving quickly and has been for a long time now, so the risk of the platform being abandoned is extremely small.

And YES – it is completely free to install and use. No licenses or subscriptions are required unless you choose an enterprise package with cloud hosting. The choice is entirely yours.

An example is our project we did in Payload forfuzed.com. A multilingual web with a lot of content and high demands on performance, media management, and an easy-to-use admin.
Payload delivered on all points. We were able to quickly set up a first version for customer feedback, and then easily adjust, refine, and build a frontend that met our and the customer's requirements.

One of the big wins was the flexibility. The customer can create new pages with completely new components directly via admin, without needing to change anything in the frontend. This means that small changes, like moving a button or adding a new block, do not require a developer. Not all headless solutions work this way, but Payload does.

Are you curious about what a modern headless solution can do for you on the web? Contact us, and we will gladly give you a tour focusing on our new favorite in the headless world,Payload CMS.

You can also read more onPayload's own website.

• High customizability: Payload is code-based and built with TypeScript/Node.js, giving developers full control over data models, APIs, and backend logic.
• REST and GraphQL APIs: Built-in support for both REST and GraphQL makes it easy to integrate with any frontend framework like React, Vue, or Angular.
• Flexible database structure: Developers can define their own data models directly in the code, enabling tailored solutions without limitations from predefined schemas.
• Hooks and middleware: Allows for creating custom logic for specific workflows, such as automation or validation, saving time and increasing efficiency.
• Open-source: As open source, Payload is free and transparent, with an active community contributing to improvements and additions.
• Headless architecture: Separates backend from frontend, providing the freedom to build fast, scalable, and secure applications for multiple channels (web, apps, etc.).
• Easy integration: Support for third-party systems and external APIs makes it easy to connect Payload to other tools, such as e-commerce platforms or analytics tools.

• User-friendly admin interface: Payload's React-based admin panel is intuitive and fast, making it easy to create and manage content without technical knowledge.
• Role-based access control: Editors can have tailored permissions, ensuring they only see and edit relevant content, increasing security.
• Real-time editing: Changes in content are displayed directly in the admin panel, providing a smooth and efficient editing experience.
• Multilingual support: Built-in functionality for managing content in multiple languages, making it easier for editors working with global websites.
• Customizable views: The admin interface can be tailored to match the organization's needs, making it easier for editors to navigate and work efficiently.
• Easy media management: Editors can easily upload, organize, and use images and other media files directly in the CMS.
• Collaboration-friendly: Support for multiple users allows editorial teams to work simultaneously, with clear workflows for review and publishing.