APIs · head to head
Griffin vs Payload CMS
Griffin
APIs
UK banking-as-a-service from a company that holds its own full banking licence
- From
- £100/month
- Rated
- -
Payload CMS
APIs
Modern TypeScript-first headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Payload CMS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Griffin platform banking carries a one-off onboarding fee from 15,000 pounds and a 3,500 pound monthly minimum, which prices out early-stage companies entirely.; Payload CMS payload is a Next.js fullstack framework and installs into a Next.js app, so it is not framework-agnostic
- They diverge on capability: Griffin covers Bank accounts by API, Payload CMS covers REST API.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Griffin and Payload CMS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Griffin | Payload CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £100/month | Free |
| Pricing model | Per month with usage drawdown | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, REST API | Node.js, Self-hosted |
| Founded | Unknown | 2020 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Griffin
- Bank accounts by API
- UK payment rails
- Integrated ledger
- Automated onboarding
- Debit cards
- Interest on balances
Only in Payload CMS
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- Versioning
- TypeScript
- Node.js
- Databases
- Custom plugins
- Node.js support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Griffin
- A wealth platform that must hold client money in a licensed bank rather than an EMI safeguarding accountnot Payload CMS
- A lender wanting UK accounts and payment rails without becoming a bank itselfnot Payload CMS
- A fintech burned by sponsor bank instability that wants the deposit holder and the API provider to be the same entitynot Payload CMS
- A platform needing sub-account ledgering for pooled client funds with a clean audit trailnot Payload CMS
Payload CMS
- Running a headless, TypeScript-configured CMS you self-hostnot Griffin
- Generating an admin panel plus REST and GraphQL APIs from a code confignot Griffin
- Digital asset management and headless e-commerce back endsnot Griffin
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Griffin
- Platform banking carries a one-off onboarding fee from 15,000 pounds and a 3,500 pound monthly minimum, which prices out early-stage companies entirely.
- It is UK-only, so a business with European or US operations needs a second banking provider and a second integration for those entities.
- It is a young bank with a small balance sheet relative to incumbents, and enterprise counterparties still ask hard questions about concentration risk.
- Holding a banking licence means Griffin applies bank-grade due diligence to its own clients, so onboarding is slower and more selective than an EMI-based provider.
- Feature breadth is narrower than long-established providers, particularly in card programme management and in payment types beyond core UK rails.
Payload CMS
- Payload is a Next.js fullstack framework and installs into a Next.js app, so it is not framework-agnostic
- Database support is limited to MongoDB and Postgres
- SSO is an Enterprise-only feature
- Publishing workflows, the visual editor, static A/B testing and AI auto-embedding are listed as Enterprise features
- Enterprise is sold through a Schedule a Demo form with no published price
- Free support is through a Discord community rather than a vendor support channel
Pricing, plan by plan
Griffin
£100/month- Business Banking$100/month
- From 100 pounds per month
- Interest or commission from around 1.75 percent AER variable
- Operational accounts and UK payment rails
- Platform Banking$3500/month
- One-off onboarding fee from 15,000 pounds
- Minimum monthly spend of 3,500 pounds, drawn down by usage
- Higher committed tiers at 5,000 and 10,000 pounds with discounts
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Custom pricing
- Bespoke account structures and volumes
- Negotiated interest or commission share
Payload CMS
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full PayloadCMS
- Self-hosted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Griffin if
- You need bank accounts by api.
- You work on Web, REST API.
- You also want uk payment rails.
Choose Payload CMS if
- You need rest api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Node.js, Self-hosted.
- You also want graphql api.
Questions people ask
- Is Griffin or Payload CMS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Griffin starts at £100/month and Payload CMS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Griffin or Payload CMS?
- Payload CMS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £100/month for Griffin and Free for Payload CMS.
- Does Griffin or Payload CMS run on more platforms?
- Griffin runs on Web, REST API. Payload CMS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted.
- Can I use Payload CMS for free?
- Yes. Payload CMS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Griffin starts at £100/month.
- What is Griffin best used for?
- Griffin is most often used for a wealth platform that must hold client money in a licensed bank rather than an emi safeguarding account, a lender wanting uk accounts and payment rails without becoming a bank itself, a fintech burned by sponsor bank instability that wants the deposit holder and the api provider to be the same entity, a platform needing sub-account ledgering for pooled client funds with a clean audit trail. Of those, a wealth platform that must hold client money in a licensed bank rather than an emi safeguarding account and a lender wanting uk accounts and payment rails without becoming a bank itself are not what Payload CMS is typically brought in for.
- What can Griffin do that Payload CMS cannot?
- Griffin covers Bank accounts by API, UK payment rails, Integrated ledger, Automated onboarding. Payload CMS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Versioning, TypeScript.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Griffin: Is Griffin actually a bank?
Yes. It received a UK banking licence with restrictions in March 2023 and a full licence in March 2024 after exiting mobilisation.
Payload CMS: How much does Payload CMS cost?
Payload CMS does not publish detailed pricing information on its main website. The site indicates a divide between self-hosted open-source development solutions and premium features, but specific costs and billing periods are not listed.
SourceGriffin: What does it cost?
Business banking from 100 pounds a month; platform banking from a 15,000 pound onboarding fee plus a 3,500 pound monthly minimum drawn down by usage.
Payload CMS: Does Payload CMS offer an open-source option?
Yes, Payload offers an open-source option for self-hosted development solutions, with additional enterprise features available.
SourceGriffin: Does it cover Europe?
No. Griffin is a UK bank serving UK accounts and UK payment rails.
Payload CMS: How do I learn about Payload CMS pricing?
Users can visit the /get-started page for pricing details or schedule a demo through the website to discuss pricing and enterprise options.
SourceRelated pages
More on Payload CMS
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