The verdict in three sentences
WordPress is excellent to start, but for a high-traffic B2B site its slowness and plugin attack surface become hidden costs. Migrating to headless Next.js costs 5,000-11,000 USD including content recovery, over 8 to 12 weeks. Measurable gains: LCP from 5s to under 2s, -70% security incidents, and hosting falling to 60-150 USD/month.
Before / after: what the migration changes
The decision is justified by metrics, not tech fashion. Here is the measured comparison on a typical Nairobi B2B site.
| Criterion | Current WordPress | Headless Next.js | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCP (load) | ~5s | < 2s | -60% |
| Security incidents/yr | 8-12 (plugins) | 2-3 | -70% |
| Monthly hosting | 90 - 220 USD | 60 - 150 USD | -35% |
| Critical updates | weekly | rare | time saved |
| Lighthouse score | 45-65 | 90-98 | +40 pts |
| Estimated conversion | baseline | +10 to 20% | leads |
The LCP gain is not cosmetic: every second saved improves conversion and Google ranking, especially on mobile over 3G/4G.
Detailed quote and 3-year TCO
A migration is judged on total cost of ownership, not the initial quote alone. 2026 ballpark figures.
| Item | WordPress (3 yrs) | Next.js (3 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build / migration | 2,200 USD | 5,000 - 11,000 USD |
| Hosting (36 months) | 3,240 - 7,900 | 2,160 - 5,400 |
| Security maintenance | 2,700 - 4,500 | 900 - 1,800 |
| Incidents / downtime | 1,200 - 2,200 | 220 - 600 |
| Estimated total TCO | 9,340 - 16,600 | 8,280 - 18,800 |
Next.js' higher upfront cost is offset by lower recurring costs: over 3 years the TCO converges, with markedly better performance and security.
Mini case study
Mr. Kamau, head of a B2B services firm in Nairobi, runs a WordPress site at 5.2s LCP with 10 security incidents a year. Next.js quote: migration 7,500 USD + content recovery + redirects 1,800 USD = 9,300 USD. After migration: LCP at 1.8s, +15% conversion on 200 leads/month, i.e. 30 extra leads. At a 350 USD margin per contract (8% conversion), that is about 840 USD of additional monthly margin. The investment pays back in 11 months, excluding security and hosting savings.
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FAQ
Will I lose my rankings by leaving WordPress?
No, if the migration includes a full 301 redirect plan. The URL structure is kept or redirected, and SEO is preserved.
Can I keep a CMS to edit content?
Yes: in headless, you plug in a CMS (Sanity, Strapi) your teams use as before, but the front end is rendered by Next.js.
Why Next.js rather than an optimized WordPress?
Optimized WordPress improves performance but keeps the plugin attack surface. Next.js removes that security debt at the root.
How long does the migration take?
8 to 12 weeks depending on page volume: 2-3 weeks of content recovery, 3-5 of development, 2-3 of testing and cutover.
Is the TCO really better?
Over 3 years, the upfront cost is offset by fewer incidents, cheaper hosting and security maintenance divided by three.
Let's scope your project. Share your page volume, critical plugins and traffic: we will price the Next.js migration, content recovery and 3-year TCO. 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.
