Payload CMS gives you more complete control over your content. By using additional tools on your site, you can build better projects even faster. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up your build, here are the tools that take your Payload CMS projects to the next level.

What is Payload?

Maybe you’ve heard about Payload, but you don’t know exactly what it can do for you. This headless CMS has earned attention in the headless content management systems space. Built on Node.js and Express, this self-hosted solution transforms content management for technical teams, allowing easy access to an admin panel and a customizable website template. The platform puts control in your hands.

Security follows your standards too. You implement your own access controls, manage your own SSL setup, and your own backups. Each security layer stays under your team's control and performance decisions follow your requirements as well. Payload CMS projects lead to even better outcomes when you have the right tools.

Why Would You Add Tools to Payload CMS?

A Payload CMS project starts with good foundations. But the right tools make everything work more smoothly and save you time. Here's what the features of these different solutions can add to your builds and content projects.

Streamline Content Editing: Adding more tools to your editor can make content creation faster and more intuitive for your team. This is important if you have tight deadlines and many docs to manage.

Optimize Media Management: Efficiently handle images and videos. This supports fast loading times and a seamless user experience.

Enhance Search Functionality: Provide users with a fast and accurate search experience. Empower them to easily find the content they need.

Automate Tasks: Connect CMS tools to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. Free up your people to do more of the work they love.

Gain Insights: Track website traffic and user behavior to make more strategic choices.

Improve Code Quality and Maintainability: Use tools that help you write cleaner, more consistent code. You can also catch potential errors early on.

Streamline Deployment and Scaling: Deploy your projects with a process built for simplicity. Plus, put systems in place to handle growing demand.

15 Tools You Should Try on Payload CMS Projects

Not sure what tools you want to include in your Payload CMS projects? Consider these options and what they can do for you.

1. Tiptap (The Open-Source WYSIWYG Editor)

You can make editing a hassle-free experience with this tool. Tiptap is an open-source WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. It provides a modern, user-friendly content editing experience.

Why it's awesome:

  • Headless Flexibility: Tiptap's headless architecture integrates with Payload's backend.
  • Customization: Tailor Tiptap to your needs with custom extensions.
  • Collaboration: Real-time collaboration features make it easier to work together.

How to use it:

  • Install Tiptap
  • Integrate it into your CMS project by connecting it to your text fields
  • Customize it with extensions like image uploads and embeds

2. Cloudinary (Image and Video Management)

Does your organization have lots of media to juggle? Cloudinary is a cloud-based service to help with that. It simplifies image and video management. This includes optimization and delivery.

Why it works:

  • Effortless Optimization: Automatically optimize images and videos for different devices and formats.
  • Powerful Transformations: Manipulate images on the fly with Cloudinary's transformation capabilities.
  • Global CDN: Deliver your media content quickly from a global content delivery network.

How to use it:

  • Sign up for a Cloudinary account
  • Install the Cloudinary SDK for your preferred framework
  • Configure Cloudinary for media uploads

3. Formidable Forms (Advanced Form Handling)

Forms are at the center of getting information from your audiences to your team. Formidable Forms is a popular plugin for WordPress. It provides advanced form-building and management.

Why it's a perfect fit:

  • Drag-and-Drop Form Builder: Create complex forms with a user-friendly interface
  • Flexible Integrations: Integrate forms with your CMS backend
  • Conditional Logic: Create dynamic forms that adapt based on user input

How to connect it:

  • Install Formidable Forms on your WordPress site
  • Use Payload's REST API or GraphQL API to connect your forms
  • Use Formidable Form's webhooks to trigger actions

4. Algolia (Search)

Users expect the information they need to be a click or tap away. Algolia is a powerful search-as-a-service platform. You can expect fast and relevant search results.

Why you need it:

  • Enhanced User Experience: Provide users with an intuitive search experience.
  • Scalability: Algolia can handle large volumes of data and traffic.
  • Advanced Search Features: Implement features like typo tolerance and personalized search results.

Integrating with Payload:

  • Create an Algolia account and index your content
  • Use Algolia's API clients to add search functionality to your application
  • Configure Algolia's indexing settings to optimize search relevance

5. Zapier (Automation and Integrations)

Want to bring apps together without the headache? There’s a zap for that. Zapier is a popular automation platform to connect modern applications. It also automates tasks between them.

Why it's a must-have:

  • Streamline Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks.
  • No-Code Automation: Create powerful automations without writing any code.
  • Extensive App Ecosystem: Connect to thousands of popular apps.

How to use it:

  • Sign up for a Zapier account
  • Create "Zaps" that connect Payload with other apps based on triggers and actions
  • Use Zapier's built-in actions to create, update, or retrieve data from your backend

6. Google Analytics (Data-Driven Insights)

Data only means so much if you can’t put it in context. Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool. It offers valuable insights into your website traffic and user behavior.

Why it's essential:

  • Track Metrics: Monitor the kind of website traffic and conversion rates to understand how content is performing.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Use data to make informed decisions about your content strategy and website optimization.
  • Integration: Track user interactions with your Payload-powered website

How to set it up:

  • Create a Google Analytics account
  • Install the Google Analytics tracking code on your website
  • Use Google Analytics' dashboards to analyze your website data

7. Sentry (Error Tracking and Performance Monitoring)

Seemingly small problems can be enough to have users clicking away. Sentry is an error-tracking and performance-monitoring platform. This is one of the tools that helps you identify and fix issues.

Why it's crucial:

  • Proactive Bug Detection: Catch errors and performance issues before they impact users.
  • Detailed Error Reports: Get information about errors and environment details.
  • Improved Code Quality: Use Sentry's insights to improve your code quality

Integrating with Payload:

  • Sign up for a Sentry account
  • Install the Sentry SDK in your project
  • Configure Sentry to capture errors and performance data

8. Visual Studio Code (Code Editor)

Want to make the process more enjoyable for your development teams? Visual Studio Code is a popular and powerful code editor. This option provides a solid environment for web development.

Why it's a developer's best friend:

  • Extensive Extensions: Enhance your development workflow with a library of extensions
  • Integrated Terminal: Access a built-in terminal for running commands
  • IntelliSense: Boost your productivity with intelligent code completion and suggestions.

How to use it effectively:

  • Download and install Visual Studio Code.
  • Install extensions for Payload development
  • Configure VS Code's settings to optimize your development workflow.

9. Prettier (Code Formatting)

Prettier is a code formatting tool that enforces consistent code style across your project. This makes it easier to understand and maintain the code down the road.

Why it matters:

  • Improved Code Readability: Make your code easier to read and understand
  • Reduced Code Reviews: Eliminate debates about code style and focus on code logic.
  • Seamless Integration: Integrate Prettier with your code editor and Payload

How to add it to your workflow:

  • Install Prettier
  • Configure Prettier's rules to match your preferred code style
  • Integrate Prettier with your code editor for automatic formatting

10. ESLint (Code Quality)

Do you wish you could speed up code quality checks or be more proactive? ESLint is a JavaScript tool. It helps you identify and fix potential code errors and style issues.

Why it's invaluable:

  • Prevent Bugs: Catch potential errors early in the development process.
  • Enforce Code Style: Maintain consistent code style and improve code quality.
  • Integration with Payload: Use ESLint to analyze your project's code

How to use it:

  • Install ESLint
  • Configure ESLint's rules to match your requirements.
  • Integrate ESLint with your code editor for real-time code analysis.

11. GraphQL Playground (API Exploration)

Need to make sure your GraphQL APIs work as you expect them to? GraphQL Playground is a graphical interactive in-browser GraphQL IDE. This allows you to review and test your GraphQL APIs.

Why it's useful for Payload:

  • Interactive API Exploration: Easily explore your Payload GraphQL API and understand its schema.
  • Query Testing: Test your GraphQL queries and mutations directly in the browser.
  • Debugging: Debug your GraphQL queries and identify any issues.

How to access it:

  • Payload typically includes GraphQL Playground by default.
  • Access it by navigating to the /api/graphql-playground route in your project.

12. Postman (API Testing)

Postman is an API platform for building and testing APIs. It can also help you share information about APIs with your team.

Why it's helpful:

  • Comprehensive API Testing: Test your Payload REST or GraphQL API endpoints.
  • API Documentation: Generate API related documents for your project.
  • Collaboration: Share API requests with your team.

How to integrate it:

  • Download and install Postman
  • Create requests for your API endpoints
  • Use Postman's testing tools to validate your API responses

13. Vercel (Deployment and Hosting)

Vercel is a cloud platform for frontend frameworks and static sites. It offers easy deployment and hosting. This is one of the best tools to consider if you have a project you need to get up and running fast.

Why it's a good choice:

  • Simplified Deployment: Deploy your projects easily.
  • Serverless Functions: Use serverless functions for backend logic.
  • Global CDN: Deliver your Payload-powered website quickly.

How to deploy with Vercel:

  • Create a Vercel account and connect your Git repository
  • Configure your project for Vercel deployment
  • Deploy your project

14. GitHub (Version Control and Collaboration)

GitHub is a platform for version control using Git. This can help you keep everyone on the same page for a Payload project.

Why it's essential for development:

  • Track Changes: Track changes to your project's codebase.
  • Collaboration: Work with other developers on your Payload projects.
  • Open-Source Community: Contribute to the Payload CMS open-source project or find helpful resources.

How to use it:

  • Create a GitHub account and a repository for your Payload project
  • Use Git commands to commit changes and manage your codebase
  • Collaborate with others through pull requests and issue tracking

15. Payload Cloud (Fully Managed Payload)

Looking for a managed option? Payload Cloud is a fully managed platform for hosting and scaling Payload CMS projects.

Why it's worth considering:

  • Simplified Infrastructure: Eliminate the complexities of server management.
  • Scalability and Performance: Enjoy automatic scaling and high performance.
  • Easy Deployment: Deploy your Payload projects to Payload Cloud with ease.

How to get started:

  • Sign up for a Payload Cloud account
  • Connect your Git repository and deploy your project
  • Manage your project and enjoy the benefits of a fully managed environment

It’s Your Turn: Try These Tools on Payload CMS Projects

By incorporating these tools into your workflow, you can boost productivity. You may even spark more creativity and improve UI. Start exploring these tools now and find out how they can take your Payload CMS projects to the next level.

Work With a Development Partner that Understands Content Needs

At Brightscout, we understand the pivotal role development plays in the success of any business. Our team consists of seasoned experts. From user-obsessed research to solutions that can scale as fast as your ambitions, we craft apps and websites that don't just keep up with the times – they set the pace, turning your digital presence into a market-dominating juggernaut. Payload CMS projects are just one part of that equation.

We also believe in the power of collaboration! As your trusted partner, we work closely with you every step of the way to understand your vision, business goals, and challenges. Our collaborative approach ensures that we not only meet but exceed your expectations, delivering solutions that truly reflect your brand's essence and resonate with your target audience.

We value transparency, open communication, and feedback. All with a partnership built on trust, respect, and shared success. Contact us now and let’s write a new chapter in your business story.