The verdict in three sentences
A WordPress to headless Next.js migration runs between 14,000 and 40,000 GBP in London in 2026, over a 8 to 14 week timeline. The technical gain is real: LCP cut in half, a reduced attack surface (no exposed PHP plugins) and Lighthouse scores above 90. The return is measured on two levers: SEO traffic regained after stabilisation and improved mobile conversion rate.
What the migration budget covers
Price depends mainly on the volume of content to carry over, the number of templates and integrations (CRM, payment, forms). A 30-page brochure site is nothing like an editorial site of 2,000 articles with complex taxonomy.
| Item | Small site (30-80 pages) | Editorial site (500+ pages) |
|---|---|---|
| Audit + URL mapping | 1,700 GBP | 4,000 GBP |
| Design system + templates | 4,500 GBP | 10,000 GBP |
| Next.js front-end dev | 5,500 GBP | 16,000 GBP |
| Content migration + headless CMS | 2,300 GBP | 8,000 GBP |
| Redirects + SEO QA | 1,700 GBP | 4,000 GBP |
| Indicative total | 14,000-18,000 GBP | 32,000-40,000 GBP |
These are 2026 order-of-magnitude figures for a London agency. The headless CMS choice (Sanity, Strapi, WordPress in API mode) shifts content migration from 2,300 to 8,000 GBP.
Performance and hosting: the measured gains
Moving to a static/SSR architecture changes speed and infrastructure cost. Here are observed orders of magnitude.
| Metric | Classic WordPress | Headless Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile LCP (median) | 3.8 s | 1.7 s |
| TTFB | 600-900 ms | 80-200 ms (edge CDN) |
| Lighthouse perf score | 45-65 | 90-98 |
| Vercel Pro hosting | — | 20 USD/mo + usage |
| Scaleway hosting (container) | 30-120 GBP/mo | 40-150 GBP/mo |
| Exposed plugin surface | 15-40 plugins | 0 public PHP plugin |
Vercel suits medium-traffic sites with a short time-to-market; Scaleway or OVH are preferred when EU data residency is contractual.
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Mini case study
Thomas, CTO of a B2B services SME in London, runs a 220-page WordPress. A 3.9 s mobile LCP drags down SEO and the quote-form conversion rate caps at 1.8%. Negotiated migration budget: 22,000 GBP, 11-week timeline. After migration, LCP at 1.6 s, conversion up to 2.6%. On 9,000 monthly visits that means 234 requests instead of 162, i.e. +22 leads/month. At a 20% close rate and a 5,000 GBP average deal, that is +22,000 GBP of potential monthly revenue: the investment pays back in under two months of pipeline.
FAQ
How long does a WordPress to Next.js migration take? Count on 8 to 14 weeks depending on volume. A brochure site takes 8 weeks; an editorial site over 500 pages needs 12 to 14 weeks with content migration and load testing.
Will I lose my rankings? Not if the 301 redirect plan is exhaustive and tested. A temporary 5-10% traffic dip over 2-4 weeks is normal, then traffic usually rises above the starting level thanks to speed.
Can I keep WordPress as a back office? Yes, in headless mode: editors keep using the WordPress admin while Next.js consumes the REST or GraphQL API. It is the least disruptive option for editorial teams.
Which hosting should I pick? Vercel for fast delivery, Scaleway or OVH if EU data residency must be in the contract. Budget 20 to 200 GBP/month depending on traffic.
Does maintenance cost go down? Broadly yes. Fewer plugin security updates, but an edge hosting cost to plan for. Indicative annual maintenance: 2,500 to 6,000 GBP.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your current WordPress (page count, critical plugins, integrations) and target budget, and we will frame the migration and redirects. 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.
