A CMS your editors love. A frontend your users don't wait for.
Headless (decoupled) builds separate the two jobs a website does: Drupal or WordPress manages the content; a React frontend delivers it — fast, app-like, and reusable across your website and mobile app.
Headless, without the buzzwords
In a traditional build, your CMS does everything: stores content and renders the pages. In a headless build, the CMS becomes a content API, and a separate frontend — we use React — fetches that content and presents it. Why bother?
- Speed. React frontends with server-side rendering and static generation routinely outperform theme-rendered pages — better Core Web Vitals, better conversion, better SEO.
- One content source, many destinations. The same Drupal or WordPress content can feed your website, your mobile app, screens in reception, a partner's site — write once, publish everywhere.
- Editors keep their tools. Your team still works in the Drupal or WordPress admin they know. Nothing changes for them except the site getting faster.
- Frontend freedom. Interactive configurators, dashboards, maps, live data — things that fight against a traditional theme come naturally to React.
When headless is the wrong answer
Headless adds an extra system to build and maintain. If your site is a straightforward brochure or blog with no app, no complex interactivity, and no multi-channel needs, a well-built traditional theme is cheaper to create and cheaper to run — and we'll tell you so in the first call.
Headless earns its keep when you have at least one of: a mobile app sharing content, heavy interactivity, serious performance requirements, multiple output channels, or a frontend team who want to work in React.
Our headless & React services
Headless Drupal + React
Drupal 11 as the structured-content engine (JSON:API / GraphQL), Next.js on the front. The pairing behind many of the fastest large content sites — and our favourite architecture for organisations with complex content and compliance needs.
headless drupal →Headless WordPress + React
The same pattern at a lighter weight: WordPress (REST API / WPGraphQL) feeding a React frontend. A good fit when your team knows WordPress but the frontend needs more than a theme can deliver.
headless wordpress →Next.js websites & applications
Next.js is our default React framework: server-side rendering and static generation for SEO and speed. We build marketing sites, web apps and headless frontends on it — standalone, or backed by Drupal, WordPress, Laravel or Node.js APIs.
next.js services →React frontends & SPAs
Standalone React applications: dashboards, portals, booking interfaces, internal tools — typically talking to a Laravel or Node API we build alongside.
react frontend services →Component libraries & design systems
Your designer's system, turned into a documented, reusable React component library — so every future page and product ships faster and looks consistent.
react frontend services →Frontend performance optimization
A fixed-price overhaul of an existing React (or JS-heavy) frontend: bundle analysis, rendering strategy, image and font handling, Core Web Vitals — measured before and after.
react frontend services →Our approach on decoupled builds
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Architecture decision first
Fully headless, hybrid, or traditional — we recommend based on your content, team and budget, not fashion.
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Content model before components
Structured content design in the CMS comes first; the frontend consumes it cleanly instead of fighting it.
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Design-to-component
We build pixel-accurately from your Figma files into a component library — or pair you with a design partner if you need designs created.
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SEO treated as engineering
Server-side rendering, metadata, structured data and redirects handled properly — headless done carelessly can hurt SEO; done properly, it helps.
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Handover or care plan
Documented components, editor training, and optional ongoing maintenance covering both halves of the stack — one plan, one fee, both systems patched.
Common questions
Is headless more expensive than a normal build?
Usually, yes — you're building two systems. Simple headless projects start around £15,000; most land £20,000–£50,000. That's why we're upfront when a traditional build serves you better.
Will our editors need to learn new tools?
No — that's much of the point. Content stays in the Drupal/WordPress admin they already use.
What about SEO on a React site?
Handled with server-side rendering / static generation. Done right, headless sites often outrank their predecessors because they're faster.
Can you add a React frontend to our existing Drupal or WordPress site?
Often, yes — if the content model is sound. We start with an audit of the existing site to confirm.
Who maintains a headless site?
Both halves need care: CMS updates on one side, JavaScript dependencies on the other. Our care plans cover the full stack — one plan, one monthly fee, both systems patched.
Talk architecture with someone who's built it
Bring your requirements — or just your current site's URL — and we'll give you a straight recommendation: headless, traditional, or hybrid, with honest numbers for each.
Plan your project