What it is
Payload is a headless CMS and application framework built entirely in TypeScript, which means the data model, authentication, access control, and custom API endpoints are all expressed in the same language as the front-end consuming them. Unlike traditional CMS platforms where configuration lives in a database or files, Payload stores everything in a TypeScript config file that can be version-controlled, reviewed in pull requests, and deployed alongside code. This fits WebGrow24's workflow for projects where the CMS is not just a content editing tool but an application backend with custom logic. For Indian SMBs building multi-tenant platforms, marketplaces, or internal tools, Payload's document-level access control lets us define who can read, write, or delete specific collections without a separate middleware layer. The built-in authentication, file storage, and GraphQL and REST APIs mean we ship a complete back-end in days rather than weeks. Choose Payload over Sanity when the project needs custom server-side logic that belongs in code rather than in a CMS configuration UI, when the team is comfortable with TypeScript and wants a single codebase for front-end and CMS, or when the pricing model of a SaaS CMS seat-per-editor does not fit the budget. Prefer Sanity when the editorial team needs a polished visual editor or when real-time co-authoring is essential.
Use cases
- Custom application back-ends that need a CMS UI
- Multi-tenant SaaS platforms with per-organisation content isolation
- Internal tools with structured data and role-based access control
- Marketplaces with vendor profiles, listings, and fulfilment tracking
- Developer-facing documentation portals with custom authentication
- E-commerce back-ends with custom pricing tiers and discounting logic
- Mobile app back-ends with GraphQL and REST simultaneously
- Content-backed APIs where the CMS and API share one codebase
Integration patterns
Common integrations WebGrow24 connects with Payload:
- Next.js (front-end consuming Payload's GraphQL and REST APIs)
- SvelteKit (alternative front-end with SSR and form actions)
- Vercel (deployment with serverless functions for Payload)
- PostgreSQL (default database with full-text search and relations)
- MongoDB (alternative database for flexible document schemas)
- Cloudflare R2 (asset storage for media uploads)
- Stripe (payment processing for paid content and subscriptions)
- Resend (transactional email triggered by Payload hooks)
- Zod (runtime validation of API inputs beyond TypeScript compile-time checks)