The verdict in three sentences
Migrating from Magento to a headless architecture in London costs 35,000 to 90,000 EUR in 2026, over a 4 to 8 month timeline. The budget concentrates on catalogue replatforming, SEO redirects and rebuilding the front end. The return shows up as +15 to 30% in performance and conversion, and above all a lasting drop in maintenance cost.
Why leave Magento
Magento is still powerful but heavy: costly hosting, frequent security updates, high maintenance and load times that penalise SEO and mobile conversion. Headless (a decoupled front end, CMS + commerce engine via API) brings speed and flexibility, at the cost of a structuring replatform project.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Audit + target architecture | 4,000 - 9,000 | 2-4 wks |
| Catalogue + data replatforming | 8,000 - 22,000 | 6-10 wks |
| Headless front (React/Next) | 12,000 - 32,000 | 8-14 wks |
| Payment + ERP integration | 6,000 - 16,000 | 4-8 wks |
| Redirects + technical SEO | 3,000 - 7,000 | 2-3 wks |
| Testing + cutover | 2,000 - 6,000 | 2-3 wks |
| Migration total | 35,000 - 90,000 | 4-8 months |
301 redirects and URL preservation are critical: mishandled, they lose organic traffic for months.
Staying on Magento vs. headless: 3-year TCO
The upfront migration cost compares to what Magento costs over time.
| Item (over 3 years) | Stay on Magento | Headless |
|---|---|---|
| Initial project | 0 | 35,000 - 90,000 EUR |
| Hosting | 18,000 - 45,000 EUR | 6,000 - 18,000 EUR |
| Maintenance + security updates | 30,000 - 70,000 EUR | 12,000 - 30,000 EUR |
| Performance (LCP) | 3-5 s | 0.8-1.8 s |
| Mobile conversion | Baseline | +15 to 30% |
| 3-year total (order of magnitude) | 48,000 - 115,000 EUR | 53,000 - 138,000 EUR |
At equal volume, the headless premium is amortised by the conversion gain: +20% on a 2M EUR revenue is 400,000 EUR of additional sales.
Mini case study
Thomas, e-commerce lead at a wine and spirits brand in London, does 2.2M EUR online on Magento, with a 4.1 s mobile LCP. He invests 62,000 EUR in a headless migration. After cutover, LCP drops to 1.3 s and mobile conversion rises +22%, about 480,000 EUR of additional sales/year. Annual maintenance falls from 24,000 to 11,000 EUR. Payback is reached in under 3 months on the conversion gain alone.
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FAQ
How much does a Magento-to-headless migration cost in London in 2026?
Between 35,000 and 90,000 EUR depending on catalogue size and functional scope. A simple catalogue with few integrations can stay under 45,000 EUR.
How long does the migration take?
From 4 to 8 months. The headless front and catalogue replatforming account for most of the effort.
Will we lose our SEO?
Not if 301 redirects and URL structure are handled carefully. A temporary dip is possible, usually recovered in 4 to 8 weeks, before a speed-driven gain.
What performance gain to expect?
An LCP often moving from 3-5 s to under 1.8 s, with +15 to 30% mobile conversion depending on the starting point.
Can we keep our ERP and payment provider?
Yes. Headless connects to your ERP and PSP via API; budget 6,000 to 16,000 EUR for these integrations.
Let's scope your project. Share your catalogue, online revenue and integrations: we frame a migration between 35,000 and 90,000 EUR with a redirect plan. 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.
