The verdict in three sentences
A WordPress-to-headless replatforming (Next.js + Sanity) costs in 2026 between 14,000 and 30,000 EUR and runs over 8 to 14 weeks. The gain is not cosmetic: LCP cut 2 to 3 times, hardened security, and a content/presentation split that speeds up every future change. The project pays off beyond ~80 pages or as soon as you stack integrations (CRM, PIM, marketing automation).
What the migration really costs
The budget depends mostly on how much content you migrate and how many integrations you connect. Here are 2026 ballparks for a Berlin B2B SME serving the DACH market.
| Line item | 2026 range (excl. VAT) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Audit + technical scoping | 2,000 - 4,000 EUR | Content modelling, target IA |
| Next.js front-end build | 7,000 - 14,000 EUR | Design system, components, technical SEO |
| Sanity content modelling (CMS) | 2,500 - 5,000 EUR | Schemas, editor roles, previews |
| Content migration | 30 - 70 EUR/page | Manual or semi-automated |
| Integrations (CRM, forms, analytics) | 1,500 - 4,000 EUR | HubSpot, Brevo, Plausible |
| QA + go-live | 1,500 - 3,000 EUR | 301 redirects, hreflang, monitoring |
For a 60-page site with two integrations, expect a total of 18,000 to 24,000 EUR, 301 redirects included.
Performance gains and recurring costs
Performance is the most tangible argument against a plugin-bloated WordPress. Monthly costs stay under control with EU data residency.
| Metric | Typical WordPress | Headless Next.js + Sanity |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile LCP | 3.8 - 5.5 s | 1.2 - 2.0 s |
| Lighthouse perf score | 45 - 70 | 90 - 99 |
| CMS licence / month | 0 EUR (but paid plugins) | 0 - 949 USD (Sanity tier by usage) |
| Hosting / month | 15 - 50 EUR | 50 - 200 EUR (EU: Scaleway/Hetzner) |
| Attack surface | High (PHP, plugins) | Low (static/edge) |
| Deploy time | Manual, risky | Git push, < 2 min |
An LCP dropping from 4.5 s to 1.5 s (i.e. -67 %) directly lifts quote-request form conversion, often by 8 to 15 % on mobile.
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Mini case study
Lena, CTO of a 45-person industrial SME in Berlin, runs a 72-page WordPress crammed with 34 plugins. Current cost: corrective maintenance 350 EUR/month plus 2 security incidents in 2025. She picks a headless build at 21,000 EUR, hosted on Hetzner (90 EUR/month) with Sanity on the free tier. After migration: LCP at 1.4 s, no plugins to patch, and publishing time down from 2 days to 20 minutes for her marketing team. Payback estimated at 26 months on avoided maintenance and incidents alone, before counting the conversion uplift.
FAQ
Do we have to migrate everything at once? No. A gradual page-by-page cutover via a reverse proxy is possible but adds 2 to 3 weeks. Under 100 pages, the big-bang approach stays cheaper.
What happens to my existing SEO? It is preserved if the 301 redirect plan is exhaustive (one per legacy URL) and title/meta/hreflang tags are carried over. Allow 1 to 3 weeks of stabilisation in Search Console.
Is Sanity really free? The free tier covers 3 users and 500,000 API requests/month, enough for an SME. Beyond that, the Growth tier starts around 15 USD/user/month, and Enterprise can reach 949 USD/month.
Can my team edit without a developer? Yes: Sanity Studio offers a visual interface with real-time preview. Initial training takes half a day for 2 to 3 editors.
How long until ROI? On avoided costs alone (maintenance, incidents), 18 to 30 months. Factoring in the conversion gain, often 10 to 14 months for a lead-generating site.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current WordPress details (page count, plugins, integrations) and your deadline: we scope the headless build and an indicative budget of 14,000 to 30,000 EUR. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
