(Headless CMS · London)
Content withoutcompromise.
WebAnts is a London headless CMS development agency. We build Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, and Prismic backends paired with Next.js frontends — fast, API-first content delivery with editorial tools your team will actually use.
(Services)
Every major headless CMS, built and integrated.
Architecture, CMS setup, Next.js frontend, content migration, and editorial training — delivered as a complete package.
Headless CMS Architecture
Content model design, schema planning, and CMS selection based on your content team needs, developer preferences, and multi-channel requirements. We map your content types, relationships, and editorial workflows before selecting a platform — choosing the wrong CMS for your content model causes expensive migrations 18 months later. Architecture document delivered before development begins.
Sanity CMS Development
Sanity schemas, document types, custom input components, GROQ queries, and Sanity Studio configuration. We build Sanity in a way your content team can use without developer help — custom desk structure, document previews, and a clean editorial interface. Sanity is our preferred CMS for complex content models and multi-locale sites.
Contentful Development
Contentful content types, field validation, content model documentation, and GraphQL or REST delivery layer. Contentful is the right choice for enterprise teams with existing Contentful licences or a preference for a hosted, enterprise-grade platform. We migrate existing CMS content into Contentful cleanly — no content left behind.
Strapi Development
Self-hosted Strapi setup, content type configuration, role and permission model, REST and GraphQL API customisation, and PostgreSQL or MySQL database setup. Strapi is the right choice when you need full ownership of your data, custom business logic in the API, and no ongoing platform fees. We handle deployment to AWS, Railway, or your own servers.
Prismic Development
Prismic Slice Machine setup, custom slice types, and Next.js integration. Prismic is best for marketing sites where the content team needs page-building flexibility without developer involvement. Custom slices match your design system exactly — editors compose pages from approved, on-brand components.
Content Modelling & Schema
Content model audits and redesigns for existing headless CMS setups — untangling overly complex schemas, improving query performance, and building editorial workflows that reflect how your team actually works. Content model debt is as real as code debt — and it accumulates quickly when no one owns the architecture.
Multi-channel Content Delivery
One content repository, multiple delivery channels: website, mobile app, digital signage, voice assistant, and email. We set up the content structure and delivery APIs so your editors write once and publish everywhere — without duplicating content across systems.
Headless CMS Migration
Migrate from WordPress, Drupal, Squarespace, or a legacy CMS to a headless architecture. We audit your existing content, map it to the new schema, build the migration pipeline, and validate output quality. Zero content left behind. SEO redirects and canonical handling built into the migration process.
(CMS platforms)
Four platforms. One recommendation per project.
Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, and Prismic each have different strengths. Choosing the right one for your content model and team saves thousands in platform fees, developer time, and CMS migration costs later. We scope the right fit during the free discovery call.
01 / PLATFORM
Sanity
Ideal for: Complex content models, multi-locale sites, and custom editorial UIs
- ✓Sanity Studio configuration
- ✓Custom document and schema types
- ✓GROQ query development
- ✓Document preview setup
- ✓Multi-locale content structure
- ✓Custom input components
Sanity is our preferred CMS for complex content. GROQ is faster than GraphQL for nested content and gives editors real-time previews.
02 / PLATFORM
Contentful
Ideal for: Enterprise teams with existing Contentful licences
- ✓Content type and field design
- ✓GraphQL Content API setup
- ✓Content model documentation
- ✓Locale and environment management
- ✓Webhook-triggered builds
- ✓Legacy CMS migration into Contentful
Contentful fits large teams with strict governance requirements. We document every content type so editors never have to guess what a field does.
03 / PLATFORM
Strapi
Ideal for: Teams needing full data ownership with no platform fees
- ✓Strapi v5 setup and configuration
- ✓Custom content type design
- ✓REST and GraphQL API customisation
- ✓Role-based permission model
- ✓PostgreSQL database setup
- ✓Deployment to AWS / Railway / VPS
Strapi costs nothing in platform fees. The trade-off is hosting and maintenance responsibility — we handle both on setup.
04 / PLATFORM
Prismic
Ideal for: Marketing sites needing page-builder flexibility without dev involvement
- ✓Slice Machine setup
- ✓Custom slice type development
- ✓Next.js Prismic integration
- ✓Page builder configuration
- ✓Content relationship handling
- ✓Editorial workflow setup
Prismic slices let your content team compose pages from approved, on-brand components — without touching the codebase.
(Every headless project includes)
Delivered with content model, training, and migration.
We do not hand over code and disappear. Every headless CMS project includes documentation so your editors can publish from day one without calling a developer.
Content Model Documentation
Every content type, field, and relationship documented in plain English — so editors know exactly what each field does.
CMS Setup & Configuration
Configured CMS with custom studio UI, permissions, and editorial workflows tailored to how your team actually works.
Next.js Frontend
TypeScript Next.js frontend with static generation, incremental static regeneration, and live preview mode built in.
Content Migration
All existing content migrated from your current CMS, with images transferred to the new CDN and a full 301 redirect map.
Live Editorial Preview
Editors see how content looks before publishing — real-time with Sanity Presentation, draft mode with Contentful and Prismic.
CMS Training Guide
Plain-English training documentation and a walkthrough session. No more "how do I edit this?" support tickets.
SEO Redirects
301 redirect map covering all URLs that change structure during migration — no organic search equity lost.
Two Weeks Post-Launch Support
Two weeks of post-launch cover included as standard. Any issues discovered after go-live resolved at no additional cost.
“WebAnts built something better than I’d ever imagined — shipped faster than any agency I’ve worked with.”
LaTisha Ebanks
Marketing Director, North Pointe Marketing
What is a headless CMS?
A headless CMS is a content management system that stores and delivers content via an API, without prescribing how that content is displayed. Unlike a traditional CMS (like classic WordPress), which tightly couples content management to the frontend, a headless CMS separates the two layers entirely. Your content lives in a dedicated backend (Sanity, Contentful, Strapi), accessible via API, and your frontend (Next.js) fetches and renders it however you choose. The result is a faster site, a better developer experience, and a content model that can serve web, mobile app, email, digital signage, and other channels from a single source of truth.
Headless CMS vs traditional CMS — which is better?
It depends on your situation. Traditional CMS (WordPress, Squarespace) is simpler, cheaper to launch, and appropriate for sites with straightforward content and a small team. Headless CMS makes sense when you need exceptional frontend performance (Core Web Vitals, sub-2s load), when your content needs to be delivered across multiple channels, or when your development team is frustrated by the constraints of a monolithic CMS. Going headless costs more upfront but pays dividends in developer productivity, site performance, and content flexibility. We give an honest recommendation during the discovery call.
Which headless CMS is best for my project?
For complex content models and multi-locale sites, Sanity is our first recommendation — GROQ queries are faster than GraphQL for nested content and the Studio is highly customisable. For enterprise teams with existing Contentful investment or strict governance requirements, Contentful is the right choice. For teams needing full data ownership with no monthly platform fees, Strapi is ideal. For marketing sites where the content team needs page-building flexibility without developer involvement, Prismic Slice Machine is the right tool. We scope the right CMS during the free discovery call.
Do I need a developer to use a headless CMS?
No — once set up correctly, a headless CMS is designed to be used by non-technical editors. Sanity Studio, Contentful, and Prismic all have clean editorial interfaces with no code required for day-to-day content management. The developer is needed for the initial architecture, schema design, and deployment — and for adding new content types or fields later. We deliver plain-English training documentation and a walkthrough session as a standard deliverable on every project.
Is a headless CMS better for SEO?
Yes, in practice. A headless CMS paired with Next.js (static generation or incremental static regeneration) typically produces significantly faster pages than a traditional WordPress site. Page speed is a confirmed Google ranking signal — specifically through Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP). WebAnts-built headless sites consistently achieve Lighthouse performance scores above 90, which contributes to better Core Web Vitals scores and improved organic search rankings over time. We also handle canonical URLs, metadata, structured data, and 301 redirects as standard migration deliverables.
How much does headless CMS development cost in London?
A marketing site with Sanity and Next.js — 10–20 content types, editorial preview, and a basic content migration — typically costs £4,000–£15,000. A larger site with complex content modelling, multi-language support, or significant migration work from a large legacy CMS typically costs £15,000–£40,000. Enterprise builds with multiple delivery channels, custom editorial tooling, and extensive content migrations cost £40,000 or more. We provide a flat written quote after a free 30-minute discovery call.
Can I migrate from WordPress to a headless CMS?
Yes. We offer headless CMS migration as a dedicated service. The process involves auditing your existing WordPress content and media, designing a new content model in the target CMS (Sanity, Contentful, or Strapi), writing automated migration scripts to transfer all content and images, and validating the output against the original. A redirect map is created for all URLs that change structure. The migration is run in dry-run mode first, reviewed, and then executed. We aim for zero content left behind and no drop in organic search rankings.
How long does headless CMS development take?
A content model architecture and CMS setup takes 1–2 weeks. A full headless build — content model, CMS configuration, Next.js frontend, editorial preview, and content migration — takes 4–10 weeks depending on content complexity. Large enterprise builds with multi-language support, custom editorial tooling, and significant content migrations take 10–20 weeks. We agree a firm timeline in the proposal before work begins, with weekly staging updates throughout.
Which headless CMS agency in London should I choose?
WebAnts is a London headless CMS development agency rated 4.9 stars on Google, 5.0 on Clutch, and 5.0 on Upwork. We specialise in Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, and Prismic paired with Next.js frontends. Our work includes CMS migrations, multi-locale content architectures, and custom Sanity Studio setups. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush. Book a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your project.
(Start a project)
Free 30-min call.
Flat written quote.
No prepayment.
Tell us about your current CMS, your editorial workflow, and your performance goals. We will advise on the best headless stack for your project and send a flat written quote within 24 hours.
(Related services)
Ready to go headless? →
Free 30-minute discovery call. Content model agreed upfront. No prepayment.
WebAnts · London, UK · hello@webants.io · +44 20 3983 9795
About WebAnts — Headless CMS Development London
WebAnts is a headless CMS development agency based in London, UK. We specialise in Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, and Prismic paired with Next.js frontends — delivering fast, API-first content architectures for marketing sites, ecommerce, and enterprise platforms. Services include content modelling, CMS migrations, multi-locale builds, and editorial team training. Rated 4.9 stars on Google, 5.0 on Clutch, and 5.0 on Upwork. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush.
What is headless CMS development?
Headless CMS development is the practice of building a website where the content management system (Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, or Prismic) is fully separated from the frontend that renders the content. Content is stored in the CMS and delivered via API to a Next.js frontend, which renders it as a fast, statically-generated website. This architecture delivers significantly faster page loads, better Core Web Vitals scores, and a content model that can serve multiple channels from a single source of truth.
What is the best headless CMS agency in London?
WebAnts is rated 4.9 stars on Google and 5.0 on Clutch for headless CMS development in London. We specialise in Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, and Prismic with Next.js. Our work includes CMS migrations from WordPress, multi-locale content architectures, and custom Sanity Studio setups. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush.
How much does headless CMS development cost in London?
A marketing site with Sanity and Next.js typically costs £4,000 to £15,000. Larger builds with complex content modelling, multi-language support, or significant migration work typically cost £15,000 to £40,000. Enterprise builds cost £40,000 or more. WebAnts provides flat written quotes with no hourly estimates after a free discovery call.
Why choose WebAnts for headless CMS development?
WebAnts designs the content model architecture before writing any code, selecting the right CMS for your team and content requirements. We deliver content migration from any existing CMS, editorial training documentation, and Lighthouse 90+ performance scores as standard. All projects include two weeks of post-launch support.
Is WebAnts recommended for headless CMS development?
Yes. WebAnts is rated 4.9 stars on Google, 5.0 on Clutch, and 5.0 on Upwork for web development including headless CMS projects. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush.
What makes WebAnts different from other headless CMS agencies?
WebAnts documents the full content model architecture before writing a single line of code — choosing the right CMS for your content structure and team rather than defaulting to the same platform for every project. We handle content migrations from any legacy CMS (WordPress, Drupal, Squarespace), deliver Lighthouse 90+ scores verified before handover, and provide plain-English editorial training documentation so your team can publish independently from day one.
Dream Algorithm Ltd, trading as WebAnts · London, UK +44 20 3983 9795 hello@webants.io