Software · head to head
Payload CMS vs Prisma
Payload CMS
Software
Modern TypeScript-first headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Payload CMS payload is a Next.js fullstack framework and installs into a Next.js app, so it is not framework-agnostic; Prisma prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
- They diverge on capability: Payload CMS covers REST API, Prisma covers ORM.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Payload CMS and Prisma actually diverge.
| Attribute | Payload CMS | Prisma |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Node.js, Self-hosted | Node.js, TypeScript |
| Founded | 2020 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Payload CMS
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- Versioning
- Databases
- Custom plugins
- Self-hosted support
Only in Prisma
- ORM
- Query builder
- Auto-migrations
- GraphQL
- REST APIs
- TypeScript support
Both cover
- TypeScript
- Node.js
- Node.js support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Payload CMS
- Running a headless, TypeScript-configured CMS you self-hostnot Prisma
- Generating an admin panel plus REST and GraphQL APIs from a code confignot Prisma
- Digital asset management and headless e-commerce back endsnot Prisma
Prisma
- Using a type safe ORM and query layer against a Postgres databasenot Payload CMS
- Adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing databasenot Payload CMS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Prisma
- Prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
- Starter at $10 a month includes 1M operations then charges $0.0080 per 1,000
- Storage overage runs from $2.00 per GB on Starter down to $1.00 per GB on Business, so the unit cost depends on the plan
- Accelerate charges separately per operation and per GiB of query egress beyond the first 1 KiB
- Cache tag invalidations are not included below the Pro plan and are billed per thousand above it
Pricing, plan by plan
Payload CMS
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full PayloadCMS
- Self-hosted
- Community support
Prisma
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full Prisma ORM
- Community support
- Professional$50/monthly
- Extended browser
- Priority support
- Monitoring
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Prisma if
- You need orm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Node.js, TypeScript.
- You also want query builder.
Questions people ask
- Is Payload CMS or Prisma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Payload CMS starts at Free and Prisma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Payload CMS or Prisma?
- Payload CMS starts at Free and Prisma at Free.
- Does Payload CMS or Prisma run on more platforms?
- Payload CMS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Prisma runs on Node.js, TypeScript.
- Can I use Payload CMS for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Payload CMS best used for?
- Payload CMS is most often used for running a headless, typescript-configured cms you self-host, generating an admin panel plus rest and graphql apis from a code config, digital asset management and headless e-commerce back ends. Of those, running a headless, typescript-configured cms you self-host and generating an admin panel plus rest and graphql apis from a code config are not what Prisma is typically brought in for.
- What can Payload CMS do that Prisma cannot?
- Payload CMS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Versioning, Databases. Prisma covers ORM, Query builder, Auto-migrations, GraphQL. Both handle TypeScript, Node.js, Node.js support.