The verdict in three sentences
For an industrial company whose WordPress runs more than 30 plugins and keeps getting patched, a migration to headless Next.js pays back in 24 to 30 months through maintenance cut in half and a much faster site. The real risk is losing SEO traffic, which you control with an exhaustive 301 redirect plan and proper testing before cutover. If your site has fewer than 30 pages and generates no leads, a cleaned-up WordPress remains the rational choice.
What a WordPress to Next.js migration costs in 2026
Budget depends mostly on URL count, content to migrate and integrations (CRM, ERP, client portal). Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a B2B company in Europe:
| Item | 50-page brochure site | B2B site, 200 to 450 URLs | B2B site + client portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical and SEO audit | EUR 1,500 | EUR 2,500 | EUR 3,500 |
| Design system and mockups | EUR 3,000 | EUR 5,000 | EUR 7,000 |
| Next.js development | EUR 6,000 | EUR 10,000 | EUR 15,000 |
| Headless CMS (Sanity, Strapi, Payload) | EUR 1,500 | EUR 2,500 | EUR 3,000 |
| Content migration and 301 map | EUR 1,000 | EUR 2,500 | EUR 3,000 |
| QA, cutover, 60-day follow-up | EUR 1,000 | EUR 1,500 | EUR 500 extra |
| Indicative total | EUR 14,000 | EUR 24,000 | EUR 32,000 |
Add hosting (EUR 20 to 80 per month depending on the option) and the headless CMS, often free up to 3 editors then USD 15 to 99 per month.
Stay, go headless or rebuild: the decision grid
Next.js is not always the answer. Three scenarios stand out depending on the state of your WordPress and how commercially important the site is.
| Criterion | Stay on cleaned-up WordPress | Headless WordPress + Next.js | Full Next.js rebuild + new CMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront budget | EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | EUR 12,000 to 20,000 | EUR 16,000 to 32,000 |
| Plugins after project | 12 to 15 | 5 to 8 (back office only) | 0 |
| Target mobile LCP | 2.5 to 3 s | 1.5 s | 1.2 to 1.4 s |
| Public attack surface | High | Low | Very low |
| Annual maintenance | EUR 3,600 to 6,000 | EUR 2,400 to 3,600 | EUR 1,800 to 3,000 |
| Editor training | None | None | Half a day |
| Best fit | Under 30 pages, few leads | Team attached to the WordPress editor | Strategic site, security required by clients |
For an aerospace supplier, security audits from prime contractors carry real weight: an exposed WordPress with 38 plugins becomes a weak spot in supplier questionnaires. That criterion, more than speed, usually triggers the decision.
The real risks and how to neutralise them
The first risk is SEO. Every indexed URL that returns a 404 after cutover loses its traffic. Extract every URL (Search Console, sitemap, Screaming Frog crawl), map each one to its new address and test the redirect file in staging. For 420 URLs, allow 2 to 3 days of work.
The second risk is functional: forms, tracking, HubSpot or Pipedrive integrations that relied on a plugin. A plugin inventory sorted into three columns (replace with code, delete, keep in the back office) prevents surprises.
The third risk is organisational: the marketing team loses its bearings. A well-configured headless CMS with live preview takes half a day to learn.
Mini case study
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James, IT director of a 120-person aerospace components supplier near London, a tier-2 supplier to Airbus. His WordPress runs 38 plugins, had 3 emergency security fixes in 2025 and a mobile LCP of 4.1 s. Maintenance costs EUR 550 per month plus around EUR 2,000 of emergency work per year, so EUR 8,600 annually.
He chooses a Next.js rebuild with a headless CMS at EUR 26,000, including a 301 map for 420 URLs. After cutover, LCP drops to 1.3 s, maintenance falls to EUR 300 per month and emergencies disappear: EUR 3,600 per year. That saves EUR 5,000 a year. Adding 4 extra quote requests per quarter thanks to speed (conversion rate up from 0.9% to 1.4%), the project pays back in 26 months by his estimate.
FAQ
Will I lose my rankings by moving to Next.js?
Not if every URL is 301-redirected and titles, meta tags and structured data are carried over. A temporary 5 to 15% dip over 3 to 6 weeks is common, then traffic recovers and often grows thanks to speed.
How long does a migration take?
Allow 8 to 12 weeks for a 200 to 450 URL site, including 2 weeks of audit and 2 weeks of QA. A 50-page site can switch over in 5 to 6 weeks.
Can my team still publish on its own?
Yes, a headless CMS such as Sanity or Payload offers a visual editor and preview. Half a day of training is enough for 2 to 5 editors.
Is Next.js really safer than WordPress?
The public site no longer exposes a database or PHP plugins, which removes most attack vectors. More than 90% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins, according to Patchstack's annual reports.
What hosting should I plan for?
An OVH or Scaleway VPS at EUR 25 to 80 per month handles 50,000 monthly visits. Vercel is simpler to run but hosts your data outside your jurisdiction by default.
Let's scope your project. Send us your WordPress URL: plugin audit, number of URLs to redirect, migration budget and cutover schedule. 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.
