Hygraph vs Payload CMS:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Payload CMS had more branded searches than Hygraph among headless CMS platforms in New Zealand. Payload CMS had about 170 branded searches, while Hygraph had 20. Payload CMS made up 11% of all headless CMS platform searches we track, and Hygraph accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headless CMS platforms, Payload CMS appeared in three of the five answers and Hygraph in one. Payload CMS was mentioned before Hygraph in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Payload CMS, about 9 searches for every 1 for Hygraph
Who does AI mention more?
Payload CMS, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Hygraph in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Payload CMS, named ahead of Hygraph in 3 of 3 answers
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Top headless CMS platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Payload CMS was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hygraph was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Payload CMS was listed before Hygraph in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Sanity1st
Storyblok2nd
Strapi3rd
Contentful4th- Payload CMS5th
Prismic6th
Hygraph7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Contentful5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Sanity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Strapi4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Payload CMS3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Storyblok3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Prismic1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Hygraph1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about headless CMS platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which headless CMS should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best headless CMSs in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best headless CMS in New Zealand for a content team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best headless cms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cms for developers”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Hygraph or Payload CMS more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hygraph and Payload CMS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven headless CMS platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Payload CMS, Hygraph. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Prismic | Contentful | Sanity | Payload CMS | Storyblok | Strapi | Hygraph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 21.5% | 29.7% | 13.3% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 13.3% | 0.63% |
| Dec 2025 | 27.2% | 27.2% | 12.8% | 11.2% | 8.8% | 11.2% | 1.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 24.8% | 26.9% | 11% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 2.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 20% | 28.2% | 12.4% | 15.3% | 10% | 12.4% | 1.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 17.6% | 30.6% | 14.5% | 13.5% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.4% | 28.8% | 17.6% | 12.4% | 8.2% | 12.4% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 23.4% | 24.6% | 17.5% | 12.3% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 2.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 19.6% | 28.5% | 17.9% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 9.5% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 18.1% | 32.9% | 17.4% | 13.5% | 9% | 7.1% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 20.9% | 30.4% | 14.6% | 13.3% | 10.8% | 8.9% | 1.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 21.8% | 33.3% | 14.7% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 7.1% | 1.3% |
| Oct 2026 | 32.5% | 25.3% | 13.6% | 11% | 9.1% | 7.1% | 1.3% |
How has branded search for Hygraph and Payload CMS changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Payload CMS was ahead of Hygraph in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hygraph’s share of searches among headless CMS platforms in New Zealand moved from 0.63% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10 to 20.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Payload CMS’s share of searches among headless CMS platforms in New Zealand moved from 10.8% to 11%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 170.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand headless CMS platforms in October 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for Hygraph in New Zealand rose 100% over 12 measured months, from 10 to 20 in October 2026.
How are Hygraph’s and Payload CMS’s branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hygraph’s and Payload CMS’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Hygraph
3 branded search terms
- hygraph
- hygraph cms
- hygraph headless cms
Payload CMS
1 branded search term
- payload cms
Other head-to-heads among headless CMS platforms
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