Payload CMS is a modern tool to manage website content without needing technical skills. It’s open-source, so anyone can use and modify it for free, and it’s a “headless” CMS, that focuses on content management and lets developers handle the website design. The Visual Editor, part of its enterprise features, allows you to edit content directly on the live site, like clicking to change text or images right where you see them.
Payload is a CMS and application framework specifically designed for use with Next.js, a popular React-based framework for server-side rendered web applications. This survey note will cover everything in your question, with a focus on non-technical audiences.
- It’s Visual Editor allows real-time editing on live websites.
- Research suggests it has version control for changes and field-based access control for security.
- It seems companies like Microsoft and Sonos use it, so it’s reliable for many projects.
What is Payload as a CMS
A CMS, or Content Management System, is software that allows you to create, edit and publish content on websites or applications without needing to be a developer. For example, managing a blog: instead of asking a programmer to update each post, a CMS like Payload lets you do it yourself through a user interface, like editing a document in Microsoft Word.
Payload is a headless CMS. In traditional CMS setups like WordPress, the system manages both content and its display. But a headless CMS separates these functions: it manages content through a back-end system and exposes it through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for the front-end to consume. This allows flexibility, so the front-end can be built with any technology, like Next.js which Payload is optimized for.
Payload CMS Website Builder and Visual Editor
Payload CMS is a modern, open-source, headless content management system built with TypeScript, Node.js, React and MongoDB. It’s code-first for developers, meaning they define how it works through code, but it also has an admin panel and a robust admin UI for non-technical users to manage content independently. Additionally, Payload CMS provides a powerful backend solution that simplifies complex tasks so developers can focus on code rather than administrative overhead. The Visual Editor, part of its enterprise features, is a key component that allows users to edit content directly on the live website, it feels like a “page builder” for those familiar with drag-and-drop website editors.
This is crucial for non-technical users because it eliminates the need to navigate complex admin panels. Instead, you can make changes while browsing the site, see updates in real-time. This post will explain how it works, the benefits and why it’s a game-changer for content management, especially for those without technical backgrounds.
Real-time editing and live preview while browsing of the best features of Payload CMS’s Visual Editor is the ability to edit content directly on the live website. This also includes live preview, so you can see the changes in real-time as you make them, it’s a no brainer. Instead of logging into a separate admin area, you can click on any piece of content like a blog post title, an image or a product description and make changes right there. The website will display editing controls like a pencil icon when you’re logged in as an editor or administrator and changes are saved and reflected immediately.
This live editing is a major time saver. It’s like editing a document in a word processor but on your live site, no need to switch interfaces or wait for changes to propagate. For example, imagine you’re managing a homepage with a featured article section. If you want to update the article title or image, you can do it directly on the homepage without navigating to another page. This is super useful for time-sensitive updates like announcing a sale or when making multiple small changes across different pages.
The benefits go beyond speed; it’s WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). You see exactly how the changes will look on the live site as you make them, so everything looks perfect before you finalize. This isn’t limited to text; depending on the setup you might be able to rearrange sections or add new elements, all from the live view, it feels like a drag-and-drop page builder for non-technical users.
Version Control and Audit Trails
Managing website content involves multiple people making changes over time, which can lead to mistakes or conflicts. In addition to content versioning, Payload CMS also has file versioning so you can manage and revert changes to digital assets effectively. Payload CMS’s Visual Editor addresses this with robust version control and audit trails. Version control means every change is recorded so you can view the history of any piece of content and revert to previous versions if needed. For example, if you accidentally delete a paragraph, you can roll back to the last version where it existed.
Audit trails add transparency by logging who made each change, when, and what was changed. This is essential for accountability, especially in larger teams or for compliance reasons. Imagine a pricing error on your site; with audit trails you can see who changed the price and when, so you can correct and prevent future issues. This also supports structured workflows like managing content in draft, review, and published states. For example, a marketing team might draft a new campaign page, review it with managers and then publish it, all while tracking changes. This ensures a smooth process, reduces the risk of errors and keeps the site consistent.
Field-Based Access Control in Admin UI
Security is crucial in any CMS, especially with multiple users. Payload CMS’s Visual Editor has field-based access control, so you can specify who can edit which part of the content. This level of control is required in enterprise environments to meet specific requirements and ensure only authorized personnel can access and modify sensitive data. This granular control is crucial to keep the site intact. For example, you might allow content writers to edit blog posts, but not change pricing information so sensitive data is only accessible to authorized personnel.
Let’s consider a product page with fields like product name, description, price, and availability. You can set permissions so:
- Content writers can edit the name and description.
- Marketing managers can edit the name, description, and price.
- Administrators can edit all fields including availability.
This reduces the risk of accidental or unauthorized changes and enhances security. Access control can also be applied to view certain fields like internal notes so only specific users can see sensitive information. This feature creates a secure managed environment for content editing so everyone can focus on their task without compromising the site’s data.
Full-Stack Framework and Next.js Integration
Payload is described as a full-stack framework for Next.js. This means it provides both the back-end (content management, database and APIs) and a front-end admin panel, built with Next.js, for managing content. The back-end is built with Node.js and typically uses MongoDB for storage. The admin panel, a Next.js application, is a user interface for content editors to log in and manage content.
For the user-facing front-end the part visitors see, like a website developers can build it with Next.js or any other framework, consuming Payload’s APIs. Since it’s designed for Next.js, integration is seamless so it’s perfect for projects using Next.js for server-rendered React applications.
Custom Routes for Managing Landing Pages
One of Payload’s configurations allows you to add custom routes, which in web terms are specific URLs. For example, you can define a URL like yourwebsite.com/landing-page for a marketing page that converts visitors into customers or leads. This feature lets content managers create and manage these landing pages directly in the CMS so they can be updated without needing a developer.
Integration with Payment Processors like StripeFor e-commerce, Payload supports integration with payment processors, like Stripe. This means you can connect Payload to Stripe to manage transactions for an online store. The integration lets you manage store fronts content like product descriptions, images and categories while offloading payment processing to Stripe. Research shows Payload doesn’t provide out-of-the-box payment solutions but its API-first approach makes integrating with various payment gateways easy, potentially including others beyond Stripe depending on developer implementation.
Open-Source with MIT License
Payload is fully open-source, licensed under the MIT license. Open-source means the source code is publicly available, so anyone can view, modify and distribute it. The MIT license is permissive, imposes minimal restrictions so you can use Payload for free, customize it as needed and even incorporate it into commercial projects without major legal hurdles. This openness means flexibility and community contribution, for businesses and individuals alike.
Marketing Efficiency Features
Payload has several features that enhance marketing efficiency for non-technical users:
- Live Preview: This lets content editors see real-time changes before publishing so the content looks perfect on the website.
- Form Builders: These enable creating forms for user input, like contact forms or survey forms, without writing code, simplifying data collection.
- Visual Editing: Probably a drag-and-drop interface in the admin panel, this lets you arrange content visually so marketers can design pages without technical skills.
These features streamline content management, reducing dependence on developers and speeding up marketing campaigns.
Code-First and Version-Controlled
For developers, Payload supports code-first schema definition which means the structure of content (e.g. fields for a blog post like title, body and author) is defined in code rather than a graphical interface. The code is then used to generate the database schema and the admin panel forms. It’s also version-controlled meaning it’s managed in a system like Git, which tracks changes over time. This allows collaboration among developers, so changes are documented and reversible, making development more efficient.
Comparison: Payload vs Traditional CMS
For developers, Payload supports code-first schema definition which means the structure of content (e.g. fields for a blog post like title, body and author) is defined in code rather than a graphical interface. The code is then used to generate the database schema and the admin panel forms. It’s also version-controlled meaning it’s managed in a system like Git, which tracks changes over time. This allows collaboration among developers, so changes are documented and reversible, making development more efficient.
| Feature | Payload (Headless CMS) | WordPress (Traditional CMS) |
|---|---|---|
| Content Management | Separate from front-end, API driven | Integrated with front-end display |
| Flexibility | High, works with any front-end (e.g., Next.js) | Limited, tied to WordPress themes |
| Payment Integration | Requires integration (e.g., Stripe via API) | Often built-in, but may need plugins |
| Developer Control | Code-first, version-controlled | More click-based, less version control |
| Non-Technical User Access | User-friendly admin panel with visual tools | User-friendly, but less extensible |
This table shows Payload’s strengths in flexibility and developer control while still being accessible to non-technical users through the admin panel.
Use Cases and Audience
Payload is for:
- Developers: Code-first development and version control for building custom applications.
- Marketers and Content Editors: Live Preview and visual editing for efficient content management without coding.
- Businesses: Especially those using Next.js, for e-commerce, enterprise tools or digital asset management, with open-source flexibility.
These features streamline content management, reducing dependence on developers and speeding up marketing campaigns.
Conclusion
The Visual Editor in Payload CMS makes content management real-time editing on live sites, version control for tracking changes, and field-based access control. It’s for both technical and non-technical users, small businesses and large enterprises. Notably, companies like Microsoft, Sono, and ASICS use Payload CMS, which is unexpected for those who think it’s only for smaller projects.
For developers who want to get started quickly, the command npx create payload app provides a simple way to set up a new project with Payload CMS.
Payload is a powerful, open-source CMS and application framework for Next.js, with a mix of developer-friendly features (code-first, version-controlled) and user-friendly tools (Live Preview, form builders) for non-technical users. It has custom routes for landing pages, integrates with payment processors like Stripe for store fronts and is licensed under the MIT license, so it’s accessible and flexible. Perfect for building and managing content-rich websites especially in e-commerce and marketing use cases.
