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We are the Strapi to Payload migration experts


Challenges with Strapi

Strapi has a fan club because it’s self-hosted, which sounds great until you realise that means you are now responsible for every update, every backup, every scaling issue, and every “why is the server down again?” moment.

Wouldn’t it be easier to use a cloud infrastructure that just… scales, instead of babysitting infra at midnight? And having to maintain a Node.js environment for your content editors is completely unnecessary pain, in our opinion.

It also isn’t exactly friendly for non-technical teams. If you don’t have solid developer talent, the learning curve hits hard, and even simple customisations can turn into “let’s build this from scratch” moments. Plugins help, but not always, and you’ll quickly run into gaps that require custom development. Add the lack of traditional CMS features out of the box, and setup time (and costs) spiral fast.

If you're set on Strapi, fine! Just let us look at it first so we can tell you whether it's actually doable or whether you're about to become a full-time system admin by accident.

Key pain points

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Steep learning curve

Strapi looks simple at first, then politely reminds you it’s a developer-first tool. Non-technical teams usually hit a wall long before they hit publish.

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Node.js knowledge required

If your team, especially your content team, doesn’t speak Node.js, prepare for a few “so… what does this error mean?” moments. Strapi assumes you’re comfortable under the hood.

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Limited traditional CMS features

Things that come out-of-the-box in classic CMSs often need custom setup here. If you’re expecting plug-and-play page building, Strapi is not for you.

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Custom development needs

If you need anything slightly beyond the basics, it quickly drifts into “can we ask a developer to build this?” territory. Great for flexibility, not so great for speed.

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Plugin limitations

The plugin ecosystem is growing, but not everything works flawlessly, and some gaps still require hand-rolled solutions, which means more dev time than you planned.

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Cost-efficiency concerns

Sure, Strapi is free… until you factor in hosting, DevOps, scaling, and ongoing maintenance. “Open-source” doesn’t always mean “cheap.”

Benefits of Payload

Payload CMS stands out as a robust and flexible content management solution, particularly for developers working with Next.js. Its seamless integration with Next.js allows for a smooth development experience, enabling developers to harness the full power of this popular framework while managing content efficiently. The CMS is open-source, which means it can be customized and extended to meet specific project requirements, offering unparalleled flexibility. With support for custom data models, Payload CMS can handle a wide variety of applications, from simple blogs to complex enterprise systems, making it a versatile choice for developers.

The user-friendly admin interface of Payload CMS enhances the content management process, making it accessible even to non-technical users. This intuitive interface simplifies tasks such as content creation and media management, allowing teams to focus on delivering quality content without technical hurdles. Furthermore, Payload comes equipped with rich features, including authentication, access control, and media management, right out of the box, which accelerates development and reduces the need for additional plugins. Supported by a growing community, developers can benefit from shared knowledge and contributions, ensuring that Payload CMS continues to evolve and improve over time.

Key Advantages

  • Seamless integration with Next.js applications
  • Fully customizable and extendable by developers
  • Supports custom data models for diverse applications
  • Intuitive admin UI for easy content management
  • Custom plugins and APIs for added functionality
  • Growing developer community for contributions and support
  • Built-in authentication, access control, media management

Get in touch

Book a meeting with us to discuss how we can help or fill out a form to get in touch