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From Framer to Payload

We are the Framer to Payload migration experts

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The process

How we migrate from Framer to Payload

  1. 01

    Access and gating audit

    First we check the existing Framer and see whether the data is clean enough to move straight over to Payload, and plan around any auth walls or bot protection in the way.

  2. 02

    Rendering assessment and extraction

    Then we work out how Framer renders its pages and pull the content out, even without CMS access.

  3. 03

    AI-assisted sanitization

    Everything extracted runs through our sanitization pipeline, which flags slop, normalizes structure, and leaves us clean content to work with.

  4. 04

    Content-model design with the client

    Before anything moves, we agree the Payload content model with you, shaped around how your editors actually work.

  5. 05

    Transform and soft-migrate

    We transform the content to the agreed schema and run a full dry run, so mappings and edge cases prove out before production.

  6. 06

    Execute the real migration

    Once the dry run is clean, everything moves into Payload in one controlled cutover.

  7. 07

    Redirect mapping and throttled sitemap submission

    Every old URL gets mapped to its new home with the right redirect, so rankings and link equity survive the move.

  8. 08

    Agentic-browser QA

    Finally, automated browsers sweep the new site for data issues, design regressions, and missing SEO signals.

  9. Ready when you are. We'll bring the moving boxes.Start my migration


Challenges with Framer

Key pain points

Framer looks incredible until you ask it to behave like a real CMS. The moment you go beyond a tiny blog or a five-page marketing site, the cracks show fast.

The CMS is bare-bones, the editor eats half your screen. Let's not forget the slow previews, sticky panels, and random bugs that make you question your life choices.

And then there’s the pricing. Basic caps you at 2 collections, and the costs that bite aren't the headline plan price. They're the $20/month per editor, the $10/month content editors, and the $20 per language for localisation. The May 2026 changes cut editor seats but kept that per-language charge, which the community has not let go. Framer isn’t built for deep structures, complex logic, or anything resembling enterprise workflows. If you’re already knee-deep in a Framer setup and not sure whether to scale, switch, or salvage, reach out to us. We’ll help you figure out the smartest path forward (and save you from the pain).

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Basic CMS

Basic CMS

Framer’s CMS works for blogs and small sites, but anything bigger starts to feel cramped. If you are looking for complex structures, relationships, or enterprise-level content operations, you’ll hit the walls quickly.

Not built for serious eCommerce

Not built for serious eCommerce

It can handle a simple store, but anything custom, multi-variant, or large-scale becomes a hackathon. If you’re planning real eCommerce, you’ll want something sturdier.

Only friendly for designers

Only friendly for designers

If you’ve never touched design tools, the UI has a learning curve, and there’s no deep tutorial to hold your hand. You’re on your own after the basics.

Limited advanced features

Limited advanced features

Things like user roles, workflows, or deep automation are difficult on Framer. Great for designers; less great for anyone who needs serious operational features.

Small plugin ecosystem

Small plugin ecosystem

The community is growing, but nowhere near Webflow or mature CMS platforms. If you need niche integrations or extensions, expect roadblocks or custom work.

Not suited for complex or multi-language sites

Not suited for complex or multi-language sites

As soon as you need structured data, heavy localisation, or custom code, Framer starts to feel restrictive. Headless CMS platforms handle this far better.



Benefits of Payload

Key advantages

Payload is genuinely strong tech. It’s fast, open-source, developer-first, and perfect if you want full control over your content model. The Next.js integration is smooth, the admin UI is clean, and it’s one of the more flexible modern CMS options if your team prefers to build things exactly the way you want them.

Just know that if you want actual features like visual editing, Vercel Blob storage, image handling, etc, you’ll be paying extra for the privilege. If you’re considering Payload or thinking about migrating into (or out of) it, reach out to us. We can help you figure out whether it’s the right stack or guide you toward a cleaner, saner (Sanity) setup.

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Integration with Next.js applications

Integration with Next.js applications

Payload works natively with Next.js, giving you clean data fetching and a smooth development flow. It removes the usual CMS friction so you can build fast, modern frontends without hacks.

Fully customizable

Fully customizable

Everything is configured in code, which means you can tailor the CMS to your exact use case. You define the logic, workflows, and behaviour.

Supports custom data models

Supports custom data models

You can design any content structure your project needs, from simple documents to complex relational models. This gives you full control over how content is organised and delivered.

Intuitive admin UI

Intuitive admin UI

Payload’s admin panel is simple, clean, and fast. Editors can create, update, and manage content without training or digging through confusing menus.

Custom plugins and APIs

Custom plugins and APIs

You can extend Payload however you like. Build custom fields, integrate external services, or add your own API routes. Perfect for teams that need deeper project-specific functionality.

Built-in authentication

Built-in authentication

Payload comes with user auth, roles, and access control baked in. No external auth service needed, and you can customise permissions to match your editorial workflow.





Common questions

Framer to Payload migration FAQs

Answers to the most common questions about Framer to Payload migration

Not really. Framer renders and hosts your site on its own infrastructure, and the CMS is built to feed that frontend, not to serve content over an API to another app. There is a read API for pulling collection data out, which is enough for an export or a migration, but you can't point a separate Next.js or mobile app at Framer as a content backend the way you would with Sanity or Contentful. If you need one content source feeding a website, an app, and a few other surfaces, Framer is the wrong shape. A headless CMS is built for exactly that.


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