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APIs · head to head

Payload CMS vs Solaris

Payload CMS logo

Payload CMS

APIs

Modern TypeScript-first headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Solaris logo

Solaris

APIs

German banking as a service with a full banking licence and a live regulatory problem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Payload CMS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Solaris baFin appointed a special representative in 2022 and extended the mandate in July 2024, so a partner is joining a bank under active supervisory monitoring, with slower approvals and heavier compliance demands as a direct consequence.
  • They diverge on capability: Payload CMS covers REST API, Solaris covers German banking licence.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Payload CMS and Solaris actually diverge.

Attributes where Payload CMS and Solaris differ
AttributePayload CMSSolaris
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Self-hostedWeb, API
Founded2020Unknown

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 Payload CMS

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Versioning
  • TypeScript
  • Node.js
  • Databases
  • Custom plugins
  • Node.js support

Only in Solaris

  • German banking licence
  • IBAN accounts
  • Card issuing
  • Lending as a service
  • Digital assets and custody
  • SEPA payments
  • KYC and onboarding
  • Deposit protection

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 Solaris
  • Generating an admin panel plus REST and GraphQL APIs from a code confignot Solaris
  • Digital asset management and headless e-commerce back endsnot Solaris

Solaris

  • A retailer or platform launching a German current account or card product without applying for its own licencenot Payload CMS
  • A fintech that needs deposit taking and lending, which an e-money licence cannot providenot Payload CMS
  • A European business needing German IBANs because customers reject foreign IBANs for salary and direct debitnot Payload CMS
  • A company requiring German statutory deposit protection on customer balances as a product claimnot 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

Solaris

  • BaFin appointed a special representative in 2022 and extended the mandate in July 2024, so a partner is joining a bank under active supervisory monitoring, with slower approvals and heavier compliance demands as a direct consequence.
  • BaFin fined Solaris EUR 6.5 million in March 2024 for systematically late suspicious activity reports and EUR 500,000 for breaching large exposure limits between January 2022 and March 2024, which is a track record a partner inherits reputationally.
  • Solaris has previously needed BaFin approval before onboarding new corporate clients, which can turn a commercial decision to launch into a regulatory timetable outside your control.
  • The 2024 restructuring involved job cuts and the closure of parts of a business unit, so product lines a partner depends on may not have the engineering behind them that the sales process implies.
  • SBI Holdings acquired majority control in 2025, so strategic direction now sits with a Japanese financial group whose priorities for the European business may differ from the roadmap you were sold.

Pricing, plan by plan

Payload CMS

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full PayloadCMS
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support

Solaris

On request
  • Solaris banking as a service$undefined/year
    • Quoted per partner, typically setup fee plus monthly platform fee
    • Per account, per card and per transaction charges on top
    • Interchange sharing arrangements negotiated per programme

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.
Payload CMS review

Choose Solaris if

  • You need german banking licence.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want iban accounts.
Solaris review

Questions people ask

Is Payload CMS or Solaris better?
Neither clearly leads. Payload CMS starts at Free and Solaris at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Payload CMS or Solaris?
Payload CMS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Payload CMS and On request for Solaris.
Does Payload CMS or Solaris run on more platforms?
Payload CMS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Solaris runs on Web, API.
Can I use Payload CMS for free?
Yes. Payload CMS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Solaris starts at On request.
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 Solaris is typically brought in for.
What can Payload CMS do that Solaris cannot?
Payload CMS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Versioning, TypeScript. Solaris covers German banking licence, IBAN accounts, Card issuing, Lending as a service.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Source
Solaris: Does Solaris have a real banking licence?

Yes. Solaris SE is a German credit institution, which is why it can offer deposits and lending, unlike e-money based competitors.

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.

Source
Solaris: Is the BaFin action still live?

The special representative appointed in 2022 had the mandate extended in July 2024, and fines were issued in March 2024. Treat supervisory oversight as an active condition in your diligence.

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.

Source
Solaris: Who owns Solaris now?

SBI Holdings of Japan agreed in December 2024 and January 2025 to take a majority stake of over seventy per cent for around EUR 100 million.

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