Headless WordPress Development
Keep WordPress as your CMS. Replace the frontend with Next.js or Astro for 10x the performance.
Headless WordPress: best of both worlds
You have years of content in WordPress. Your editors know it. The plugins work. But the frontend is slow, the theme is a maintenance burden, and Lighthouse scores are embarrassing. Headless WordPress solves this: WordPress stays as the content management backend, and we replace the PHP frontend with a modern Next.js or Astro site.
How it works
WordPress exposes content via the REST API or WPGraphQL. The frontend fetches this content at build time (SSG) or on request (SSR). Your editors continue working in wp-admin exactly as before. The site loads in under 1 second.
WPGraphQL over REST
I use WPGraphQL for headless WordPress projects. A single GraphQL query fetches a post, its author, its categories, its featured image, and its SEO metadata in one request. The WordPress REST API requires 4-6 requests for the same data.
Common questions
Do my editors need to learn anything new?
No. Editors continue working in wp-admin exactly as before. The change is entirely behind the scenes — the frontend that visitors see is rebuilt in Next.js or Astro.
What happens to my plugins?
Content-related plugins (ACF, Yoast, WooCommerce) continue to work — their data is exposed via the API. Presentation plugins (page builders, theme plugins) are no longer needed and can be removed.
Is headless WordPress faster than a traditional WordPress site?
Significantly. A well-optimised traditional WordPress site might score 60-75 on Lighthouse. The same content delivered via a Next.js or Astro frontend scores 95-100 consistently.
What about WordPress forms and contact forms?
Contact Form 7 and Gravity Forms have API endpoints. I integrate them into the headless frontend via fetch calls. Alternatively, I replace them with purpose-built form solutions like Formspree or a Supabase function.
Should I migrate away from WordPress entirely or go headless?
If your editorial team is happy with WordPress and you have significant content already in it, headless is often the right move. If WordPress is causing ongoing maintenance pain and you want a clean slate, a full migration to a modern stack is worth considering. I will help you choose.
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Free consultation. No commitment. Just an honest conversation about your project.
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Whether it's a migration, a new build, or an SEO challenge — the Social Animal team would love to hear from you.