---
description: Compare Directus vs Payload for South African businesses. GetApp provides a side-by-side comparison with details on software price, features and reviews.
image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/getapp/og_logo-94fd2a03a6c7a0e54fc0c9e21a1c0ce9.png
title: Compare Directus vs Payload | GetApp South Africa 2026
---

Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Digital Experience Platforms (DXP)](/directory/3784/digital-experience-platforms-dxp/software) > [Directus \<span\>vs\</span\> Payload](https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms)

# Compare Directus vs Payload

Canonical: https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms

> Detailed comparison between Directus and Payload. Check ratings, reviews, pricing, and features to make the best decision for your business.

-----

## At a Glance

| Metric | Directus | Payload |
| **Overall rating** | 4.5/5 | 4.9/5 |
| **Total Reviews** | 60 | 48 |
| **Starting Price** | US$25,00 | US$35,00 |
| **Free Trial** | No | Yes |
| **Free Version** | Yes | Yes |
| **Deployment** | Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Mac (Desktop), Windows (Desktop), Linux (Desktop), Windows (On-Premise), Linux (On-Premise), Chromebook (Desktop) | Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Mac (Desktop), Windows (Desktop), Linux (Desktop), Windows (On-Premise), Linux (On-Premise), Chromebook (Desktop) |
| **Support** | Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support, 24/7 (Live rep), Chat | Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support, 24/7 (Live rep) |
| **Training** | In Person, Live Online, Webinars, Documentation, Videos | Documentation, Videos |

## Key features

### Directus

- API
- Access Controls/Permissions
- Collaboration Tools
- Configurable Workflow
- Content Management
- Content Publishing Options
- Customizable Forms
- De-Coupled Front & Back Ends
- Document Management
- Filtering
- For Marketers
- Full Text Search
- Image Editing
- Mobile Access
- Multi-Channel Marketing
- Role-Based Permissions
- Single Sign On
- Two-Factor Authentication
- Version Control
- Workflow Management

### Payload

- API
- Access Controls/Permissions
- Collaboration Tools
- Configurable Workflow
- Content Management
- Content Publishing Options
- Customizable Forms
- De-Coupled Front & Back Ends
- Document Management
- Filtering
- For Marketers
- Full Text Search
- Image Editing
- Mobile Access
- Multi-Channel Marketing
- Role-Based Permissions
- Single Sign On
- Two-Factor Authentication
- Version Control
- Workflow Management

## Links

- [View Directus Profile](https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2030875/directus)
- [View Payload Profile](https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2049304/payload-cms)
- [View Original Comparison](https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms)

-----

## Structured Data

<script type="application/ld+json">
  {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"name":"Compare Directus vs Payload | GetApp South Africa 2026","description":"Compare Directus vs Payload for South African businesses. GetApp provides a side-by-side comparison with details on software price, features and reviews.","url":"https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms","about":[{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2030875/directus#software"},{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2049304/payload-cms#software"}],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms#breadcrumblist"},"@type":["WebPage","CollectionPage"],"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms#webpage","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/#website"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/#organization"}},{"name":"Directus","description":"Directus is an open-source headless content management system (CMS) that helps businesses store content in custom SQL databases and access them through an API. Using the Directus App, supervisors can sort items into several categories, customize the platform according to brand requirements, and utilize the search functionality to retrieve specific information from the database.\n\nAdministrators can configure role-based permissions for users and secure confidential data through two-factor authentication (TFA) and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. Managers can view content edits or revisions using the rollback functionality and bookmark important items, projects, or collections for future reference. Directus also lets enterprises upload multiple files to the platform, reorder them using a drag-and-drop interface, and automatically pull metadata, such as description, locations, tags, or image dimensions, from files.\n\nSupervisors can create personalized profiles for employees, monitor their recent activities, and encrypt users’ passwords to prevent data exploitation. The software also helps users configure workflows and collect required information using custom forms.","image":"https://gdm-catalog-fmapi-prod.imgix.net/ProductScreenshot/5f1e839e-f2a9-41a7-b0ba-a5b2e57f10c0.png","url":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2030875/directus","@type":"SoftwareApplication","@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2030875/directus#software","applicationCategory":"BusinessApplication","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/#organization"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":4.5,"bestRating":5,"ratingCount":60},"offers":{"price":"25","@type":"Offer","priceCurrency":"USD"},"operatingSystem":"Cloud, Apple, Windows, Linux, Windows on premise, Linux on premise, Chrome"},{"name":"Payload","description":"Payload is an open-source, headless CMS and application framework built with TypeScript, Node.js, and React. \n\nWith Payload's free self-hosted option, you own all your data and distribute content wherever you need through automatically available GraphQL and REST API. You have a turn-key solution for user authentication, file uploads, localization, input validation, access control, programmatic hooks, and admin panel.\n\nSave developer time by providing a configuration that Payload uses to model your content however needed. You don't need to learn Payload, you just write JavaScript to extend your application. \n\nEnjoy the benefits of nesting objects or relating data to give content authors robust tools to manage web and mobile experiences.\n\nYou can also deploy your entire stack in one place with \nPayload Cloud. Payload Cloud works for any Node + Mongo app. \n\nWhether you're using Remix, Next, SvelteKit, or something else entirely, deploy it on Payload Cloud.","image":"https://gdm-catalog-fmapi-prod.imgix.net/ProductScreenshot/b98e2d55-a6cb-4242-9122-fb43cb028af9.jpeg","url":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2049304/payload-cms","@type":"SoftwareApplication","@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/software/2049304/payload-cms#software","applicationCategory":"BusinessApplication","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/#organization"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":4.9,"bestRating":5,"ratingCount":48},"offers":{"price":"35","@type":"Offer","priceCurrency":"USD"},"operatingSystem":"Cloud, Apple, Windows, Linux, Windows on premise, Linux on premise, Chrome"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"name":"Home","position":1,"item":"/","@type":"ListItem"},{"name":"Digital Experience Platforms (DXP)","position":2,"item":"/directory/3784/digital-experience-platforms-dxp/software","@type":"ListItem"},{"name":"Directus vs Payload","position":3,"item":"https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms","@type":"ListItem"}],"@id":"https://www.getapp.za.com/compare/2030875/2049304/directus/vs/payload-cms#breadcrumblist"}]}
</script>