The verdict in three sentences
Migrating from WordPress to a headless Next.js architecture costs between 15,000 and 40,000 EUR net in 2026 and takes 3 to 5 months for a B2B site of 30 to 150 pages. The main gain is not cosmetic: you move from a Largest Contentful Paint of 3-4 s to under 1.2 s, which lifts both conversion and search rankings. But below 20 pages with no critical traffic, migration is an unjustified luxury — stay on a well-optimized WordPress.
What you actually pay for
The cost of a headless migration breaks down into clear line items. The classic mistake is budgeting only the development while forgetting content migration and editor training.
| 2026 line item | Range (EUR net) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Audit + architecture | 2,000 - 5,000 | Content mapping, headless CMS choice |
| Next.js front-end build | 8,000 - 20,000 | Components, pages, integrations |
| Headless CMS integration | 3,000 - 8,000 | Strapi, Sanity or Contentful |
| Content migration | 1,500 - 5,000 | Depends on volume and data quality |
| 301 redirects + SEO | 1,000 - 3,000 | Ranking preservation |
| Editor training | 800 - 2,000 | 2 to 3 sessions |
| Project total | 15,000 - 40,000 | B2B site 30-150 pages |
Recurring costs also change in nature. No more risky plugin updates; instead a modern host and a SaaS-mode CMS.
| Annual recurring | Classic WordPress | Headless Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | 300 - 1,200 EUR | 240 - 2,400 EUR (Vercel/OVH) |
| CMS licences | 0 - 600 EUR | 0 - 3,600 EUR (Sanity/Contentful) |
| Security maintenance | 1,200 - 3,600 EUR | 600 - 1,800 EUR |
| Hack risk | High (plugins) | Low (reduced surface) |
When NOT to migrate
Headless is not a religion. Three signals show that an optimized WordPress remains the right choice: a site of fewer than 20 pages, an annual maintenance budget below 2,000 EUR, and a team with no developer able to maintain a JavaScript front-end. In those cases, a lightweight theme, server caching and a CDN are enough to halve load time for a few hundred euros.
Conversely, migrate if you combine heavy traffic, multiple integration needs (CRM, PIM, e-commerce) and a performance requirement measured by the business.
Mini case study
Thomas, IT director of a 90-employee industrial SME in Berlin, is stuck with a 120-page WordPress running 18 plugins and a 3.6 s LCP. His headless migration cost 28,000 EUR net over 4 months. Result: LCP down to 1.1 s, bounce rate down 14 %, and a 9 % rise in inbound quote requests. With an average lead value of 12,000 EUR and 4 extra leads per month, the investment is absorbed in under a quarter of sales pipeline.
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FAQ
How long does the migration really take?
Expect 3 to 5 months for a standard B2B site: 2 to 3 weeks of audit, 8 to 12 weeks of development, then testing and switchover. A simple showcase site can drop to 6-8 weeks.
Will I lose my Google ranking?
No, if the 301 redirect plan is rigorous. Organic traffic typically climbs 5 to 20 % within 3 months thanks to performance and Core Web Vitals gains.
Will my editors still publish easily?
Yes. A headless CMS like Sanity or Strapi offers a modern editing interface, often nicer than WordPress admin, with real-time preview after 2 to 3 training sessions.
Which hosting should I pick in 2026?
Vercel for simplicity (from 20 EUR/month per seat), or a European OVH/Scaleway VPS for data sovereignty (from 15 EUR/month). The choice mainly depends on your GDPR requirements.
Can we migrate in stages?
Yes, a progressive page-by-page or section-by-section approach limits risk, keeping WordPress as a temporary back office during the transition.
Let's scope your project. Give us your page count, current integrations and indicative budget, and within 48 h we'll tell you whether headless pays off for you. 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.
