The verdict in three sentences
Wix is great to start, but caps your speed, SEO and control the moment traffic grows. In 2026 the subscription runs 15-40 EUR a month, indefinitely, while a headless (Next.js) rebuild is a one-time 500,000-1,200,000 FCFA cost. The site becomes 2 to 3x faster, with no lock-in, and break-even lands between 18 and 30 months.
The real cost over three years
The Wix trap is not the monthly price, it is the accumulation and the technical ceiling. Compare total cost of ownership over 36 months (2026 order of magnitude, 1 EUR ~ 655 FCFA):
| Item | Stay on Wix | Next.js rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 FCFA | 800,000 FCFA |
| Monthly subscription | 25 EUR (~16,400 FCFA) | 0 (hosting ~10,000 FCFA) |
| Cost over 36 months | ~590,000 FCFA | ~1,160,000 FCFA |
| Cost over 60 months | ~984,000 FCFA | ~1,400,000 FCFA |
| Break-even | — | ~24 months |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Speed ceiling | Yes | No |
Over 5 years the gap narrows then flips, and you gain ownership plus performance.
What you gain in capability
Beyond price, migration unlocks levers Wix keeps closed:
| Capability | Wix | Next.js headless |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile speed (Lighthouse) | 40-65 | 90-99 |
| SEO control (tags, schema) | Limited | Full |
| Content migration / export | Hard | Free |
| Wave/OM payment integration | Constrained | Custom |
| Design customization | Templates | Unlimited |
| Vendor dependency | High | None |
| Marginal cost per page | Included but throttled | Zero |
The only real migration cost is the content re-entry effort: pages, images and posts to reimport, usually 1-2 days of work.
Mini case study
Adjoua sells cosmetics in Lagos on a Wix site at 29 EUR/month. Over 3 years she will have paid ~684,000 FCFA without ever owning her site, stuck at a mobile Lighthouse of 52. A Next.js rebuild at 900,000 FCFA gives her a Lighthouse of 95 and a native Wave/card checkout. Her site loads in 2.1s instead of 5.4s; mobile sales rise 18%. On revenue of 1,200,000 FCFA/month, that 216,000 FCFA gain repays the rebuild in a little over 4 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Will I lose my SEO when migrating?
Not if it is done cleanly: we keep every URL with 301 redirects and preserve titles and content. Traffic stabilizes in 2 to 8 weeks.
How long does migration take?
For a brochure site, 1 to 3 weeks. An online store with a catalog takes longer depending on the number of products to reimport.
Can I still edit the site myself?
Yes. We connect a CMS (Sanity) so you edit text and images without touching code.
When does the rebuild pay off?
Usually between 18 and 30 months from subscription savings alone, before counting sales won through speed.
What if I stay small?
If your site stays simple and low-traffic, Wix may be enough. Migration pays off once speed, SEO or volume matter to your revenue.
Let's talk about your project. We calculate your 3-year Wix cost and your rebuild break-even, free of charge. 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.
