The verdict in three sentences
A WordPress-to-headless migration (Next.js paired with Sanity or Strapi) costs 15,000 to 40,000 EUR excl. tax in 2026, depending on content volume and features. The gain is real: LCP cut by 2 to 3, a reduced attack surface and effortless scalability. But for a simple ten-page brochure site the investment is not justified: an optimized WordPress is more than enough.
What the move to headless costs
Price depends on the number of templates, the content to migrate and the integrations. Here are the 2026 ranges.
| Site profile | Content / features | 2026 headless migration budget (EUR excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate site 20-40 pages | standard editorial content | 15,000 – 22,000 |
| Site + large blog | 500+ articles to migrate | 20,000 – 30,000 |
| Multilingual site | 2-3 languages + i18n | 25,000 – 35,000 |
| Platform with integrations | CRM, API, light e-commerce | 30,000 – 40,000 |
| Small brochure site | < 10 pages | not recommended |
Headless mainly bills the front-end engineering (Next.js) and content modeling in the CMS, not the visual skin alone.
Line items and hosting
Unlike WordPress, headless hosting separates the front (Vercel/Netlify) from the CMS. Here are the 2026 items and recurring costs.
| Item | Detail | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Next.js front development | Templates, components, perf | 8,000 – 20,000 excl. tax |
| CMS modeling | Sanity / Strapi schemas | 3,000 – 7,000 excl. tax |
| Content migration | Import + cleanup | 2,000 – 6,000 excl. tax |
| Editorial training | Onboarding writers | 800 – 2,000 excl. tax |
| Front hosting (Vercel/Netlify) | by traffic | 20 – 200 / month |
| CMS hosting | Managed Sanity/Strapi | 15 – 150 / month |
Total recurring cost starts around 35 EUR per month for a small site and rises with traffic and team needs.
The measurable gains
A pre-rendered Next.js front often drops LCP from 3.5 s to under 1.5 s, improving mobile SEO and conversion. Security also improves: no more WordPress core exposed to vulnerable plugins, which account for most hacks. Finally, scalability is native: a traffic spike no longer takes the site down.
Mini case study
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Karim, technical lead at a consulting firm in Casablanca, migrates a slow WordPress (LCP 3.8 s, two hacks in a year) to Next.js + Sanity for 26,000 EUR excl. tax. After migration LCP drops to 1.3 s and form conversion rises from 2.1% to 3.0%. On 12,000 monthly visitors and a lead valued at 120 EUR, that 0.9-point gain adds roughly 108 leads per year, nearly 13,000 EUR of annual value. The investment pays back in two years, with security and peace of mind as a bonus.
FAQ
Does headless really improve speed?
Yes, markedly. A pre-rendered Next.js front typically cuts LCP by 2 to 3 versus a plugin-heavy WordPress. It is one of the most visible gains and directly tied to mobile SEO.
Will my writers cope with it?
Yes, with training. Sanity and Strapi offer editing interfaces close to WordPress. Budget 800 to 2,000 EUR of training to make the team self-sufficient on routine updates.
When is headless NOT worth it?
For a brochure site under ten pages with low traffic, the 15,000 EUR minimum is not justified. A well-optimized WordPress or a simple static site costs five times less.
Does hosting cost more?
Not necessarily. The front on Vercel/Netlify starts at 20 EUR per month and a managed CMS at 15 EUR. For a moderate-traffic site the bill is comparable to good managed WordPress hosting.
Can I keep my rankings during migration?
Yes, with a 301 redirect plan and URL preservation. A headless migration does not affect SEO if done cleanly, and the speed boost even reinforces it.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your content volume, integrations and traffic, and we'll price the Next.js migration and the right CMS. 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.
