BCMS Logo

Looking for a Payload CMS alternative?

Try BCMS. Build faster, manage content smarter without the bloat.

BCMS is an agentic headless CMS. Connect AI coding agents via MCP, install open bcms skills, and manage content from Cursor or Claude in minutes.

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Headless CMS comparison (including AI & MCP)

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS

  • Versioning

    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • DAM

    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Multilingual content

    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Visual modeling (no config files)

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Global search

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Built-in serverless functions

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Widgets embedded in free text

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Starter projects

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Nested folders for entries & media

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Native MCP server (Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT)

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Open agent skills & content CLI

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • AI / agentic content workflows

    RAG-ready content
    BCMS includes this

6 Things BCMS can do as a Payload CMS alternative

This is what BCMS does better:

  • Visual modeling (no config files)

    • BCMS:Define templates and content structures entirely in the dashboard. No schema files or coding required.

    • Payload:Requires schema definitions in JavaScript/TypeScript code; there’s no visual modeling option.

  • Global search across content

    • BCMS:Unified search across all entries, templates, and media.

    • Payload:Provides queries via API, but no built-in dashboard-wide global search

  • Built-in serverless functions

    • BCMS:Extend workflows with serverless functions that run directly inside the CMS.

    • Payload:No built-in functions; custom logic must be handled through external code/services.

  • Widgets embedded in free text

    • BCMS:Allows embedding reusable structured widgets (like galleries, embeds, or custom blocks) directly in rich text flows.

    • Payload:Rich text fields are customizable but don’t natively support arbitrary widget embedding.

  • Starter projects

    • BCMS:Ships with official starter projects for popular frontend frameworks (Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, Svelte, and more).

    • Payload:Provides example repos, but no official starter kits are included as part of the product.

  • Nested folders for entries & media

    • BCMS:Organize entries and media into nested folders for scalability.

    • Payload:Content is organized in flat collections; no flexible nested folder structures.

AI agents & MCP: BCMS vs Payload CMS

BCMS is built for the agentic era. Connect Cursor, Claude Code, or any MCP client to manage entries, media, and schemas in plain English - with scoped keys and open-sourcebcms agent skills. Payload highlights RAG-ready structured content but not MCP or agent skills. BCMS ships MCP, bcms skills, and a CLI so agents can operate content directly.

See the full setup guide - MCP config, install commands, and copy-paste prompts - on theBCMS agents page.

Summary: 6 Things BCMS can do better than Payload CMS

BCMS emphasizes built-in simplicity, offering: visual modeling, global search, serverless functions, widget embedding, starter projects, and nested folders. Payload CMS is a powerful code-first option for developers, but replicating these same features requires extensive manual setup and external tooling.

It takes a minute to start using BCMS

Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google
Gradient

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

Editor experience

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Multilingual Dashboard

    The CMS supports multiple languages for a globally accessible interface.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Multilanguage Content

    Create and manage content in multiple languages for global audiences.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Scheduling & Releases

    Schedule content to publish automatically at a chosen date and time.
    Requiers plugin
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Content Versioning

    Track and manage content changes with the ability to revert to earlier versions.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Autosave

    Changes are saved automatically to prevent data loss from unexpected issues.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Preview Content

    View content as it will appear live before publishing
    Requiers plugin
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Multiple Environments

    Manage content across development, staging, and production to safely test before going live.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Workflow

    Define approval steps for content: writers submit, editors review, and only approved content gets published.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Customizable UI

    Customization of CMS interface to fit your brand and specific workflow requirements.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

Team Management

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • User Roles

    Predefined roles (like admin, editor, viewer) with specific permissions.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Custom User Roles

    Define user roles with custom permissions to fit your organization’s requirements.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Organization Management

    Manage user groups and control access levels across your CMS.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

DEV experience

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • REST API

    Interact with the CMS using standard HTTP requests following REST principles.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • GraphQL API

    Fetch precisely the data you need with a flexible and efficient GraphQL interface.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Images API

    Upload, process, and retrieve images through a dedicated API for media management.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Content Management API

    API for managing content, including creating, updating, and deleting content items.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Field Types

    Different types of data fields available for content, such as text, number, date, media, etc.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Custom Field Types

    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Webhooks

    Send real-time updates to other systems when events like content publishing occur.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • CLI

    Command Line Interface tools that allow developers to perform tasks and manage the tool via the command line.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • SDK

    Developer tools and code snippets to easily integrate the CMS into your project.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

Free tier

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Free Plan Available

    Try the CMS with a free plan that includes limited features.
    Payload CMS includes this
    Free trial

  • Team Members

    The number of users (team members) that can be added to the CMS.
    Unlimited
    2

  • Locales

    The number of different languages and regional settings the CMS supports for content creation and management.
    Unlimited
    BCMS includes this

  • Projects

    Support for managing multiple projects within the same CMS account.
    N/A
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

Security & Compliance

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Two-factor authentication

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Team Logs

    Monitor user actions in the CMS to maintain visibility and accountability.
    N/A
    BCMS includes this

  • GDPR

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • SOC2

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • ISO27001

    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Payload CMS: Complete feature comparison

Other

  • Key features
    Payload CMS
    BCMS

  • Extensions

    Additional plugins or add-ons that can enhance the functionality of the platform.
    Payload CMS includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Built-in Backups & Restore

    Features that automatically back up content and settings, allowing easy restoration in case of data loss.
    Payload CMS doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

It's time...

It takes a minute to start using BCMS

Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google
Gradient

What you should know about Payload CMS

Quick answers to the most common questions about Payload CMS, explained simply.

What is Payload CMS?

Payload CMS is an open-source headless CMS built with Node.js and Express. It gives developers complete control over content structure, design, and functionality, making it ideal for teams that want full customization.

Is Payload CMS free?

Yes. Since May 2022, Payload CMS has been completely freefor developers, under the MIT license. You can use, modify, and distribute it for personal or commercial projects without restrictions.

Payload CMS pros and cons?

Pros:

- Flexible and customizable

- Fully open-source (MIT license)

- Extendable with Node.js and Express

Cons:

- Requires strong development skills,few built-in restrictions

- No visual content builder

- MongoDB is the only supported database

It takes a minute to start using BCMS

Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google
Gradient
Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google