The verdict in three sentences
Drupal 7 is end-of-life and Drupal 9/10 demands costly version upgrades; migrating to Next.js headless drops the security-maintenance bill to nearly zero. The realistic 2026 budget is 18,000-45,000 EUR, driven by the number of content types and third-party integrations, not by page count. The number-one risk is the 301 mapping: an exhaustive redirect plan determines whether your SEO survives.
What drives the cost
Migration price almost never depends on page count. It depends on editorial complexity and connections to your systems.
| Cost factor | Simple | Medium | Complex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content types | 3-5 | 6-12 | 13+ |
| Third-party integrations | 0-1 | 2-4 | 5+ |
| Languages | 1 | 2 | 3+ (RTL) |
| Content volume to migrate | < 200 pages | 200-1,000 | 1,000+ |
| 2026 budget (order of magnitude) | 18,000-25,000 EUR | 25,000-35,000 EUR | 35,000-45,000 EUR |
| Timeline | 10-12 weeks | 12-14 weeks | 14-16 weeks |
A Drupal with 4 content types and zero integrations migrates fast. A Drupal with 15 types, an SSO, an ERP and 3 languages needs a careful headless architecture and a long acceptance phase.
The security return on investment
The real saving is not the design, it is the end of Drupal security patching plus the performance gain.
| Item | Maintained Drupal 9 | Next.js headless |
|---|---|---|
| Security updates/year | 2,000-5,000 EUR | 0-500 EUR |
| Average TTFB | 600-1,200 ms | 100-250 ms |
| Hosting/month | 150-400 EUR | 25-120 EUR |
| Attack surface | Back + front exposed | Back not exposed (decoupled) |
| Lighthouse score | 45-70 | 90-99 |
| 3-year total cost (excl. build) | 12,000-25,000 EUR | 3,000-8,000 EUR |
Over three years, the ownership-cost gap alone funds a large share of the migration. Decoupling also removes the back office from the public attack surface.
Mini case study
Sophie, digital lead at a chamber of commerce in Berlin, runs a Drupal 9: 9 content types, 2 languages, 640 pages, an SSO and a business directory. Next.js migration quote: 32,000 EUR, 13 weeks, mapping 640 301 redirects. Before: TTFB 900 ms, 3,800 EUR/year in security. After: TTFB 180 ms, under 500 EUR/year. Annual maintenance and hosting saving: around 6,500 EUR. The migration is amortized in a little under 5 years on maintenance alone, before counting the speed-driven conversion gain.
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FAQ
Why not just stay on Drupal?
Drupal 7 is unsupported and major version jumps are expensive. If your team endures frequent security patches (2,000-5,000 EUR/year), the migration repays itself in 4-6 years on maintenance alone.
Will I lose my SEO?
Not if the 301 mapping is exhaustive. Every old URL must point to its equivalent. A complete redirect plan preserves 90-100% of organic traffic.
Can content be migrated automatically?
Yes, via Drupal's JSON:API. Programmatic migration avoids re-keying and reliably moves your 640, 1,000 or 5,000 existing entries.
How much downtime?
The final DNS cutover takes a few hours. You build on a parallel environment, then switch. Zero planned outage for visitors.
Is Next.js suitable for an editorial site?
Yes: static/incremental rendering, edge caching, preview. It is even faster than a monolithic Drupal for a read-heavy high-traffic site.
Let's scope your project. Send us your Drupal version, content-type count and integrations: we cost the Next.js migration with a 301 plan and schedule. 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.
