Content model and schema
Document types, fields, references, and validation written in TypeScript and approved before the build.
The Problem
Your Content Is Stuck Inside Pages Built for One Website
Most CMSs store content as finished pages. That works until the same product description, author bio, or FAQ needs to appear on a website, an app, and a partner feed at once.
01 · Copied content
Product copy is pasted by hand into three channels.
Each piece of content lives once in Sanity and every channel reuses it.
02 · No field rules
Editors can publish with missing images or empty fields.
Validation rules in the schema block publishing until required fields are filled.
03 · Page HTML
Content is stored as finished page HTML.
Portable Text stores rich text as structured data each channel renders its own way.
04 · Unfamiliar tool
Nobody on the team knows how to model content for Sanity.
We design the content model with you and document every type and field.
Your product team wants the same descriptions on the website, in the mobile app, and in emails. But your current CMS stores them as page HTML, so someone copies them by hand and they drift apart. Editors paste content into fields with no rules, and the front end breaks when a required image is missing. Your developers lose days to a page builder they didn't choose. You've looked at Sanity, but nobody on the team knows how to model content for it.
As a Sanity CMS development agency, we start with your content, not your pages. That means a content model: document types, fields, references, and validation rules written in TypeScript. Sanity Studio gets a desk structure your editors understand, and GROQ queries deliver the right fields to each channel. Content gets written once and reused everywhere, instead of copied and patched.
Content modeled once
Document types, fields, and references designed around how your team writes and reuses content.
Delivered to every channel
GROQ queries send the same content to your website, app, and other front ends.
Preview while editing
Visual Editing shows editors their changes on the real page before they publish.
Our Sanity CMS Development Process
From Content Model to Live Studio in Five Clear Steps
You approve the content model before any code, try Sanity Studio with your own content, and see Visual Editing on the real front end before launch.
We look at your current CMS, content types, channels, and team roles. You get an honest answer on whether Sanity fits, how its seat-based pricing compares with what you pay today, and a fixed quote.
What's Included
What You Get With Sanity CMS Development Services
Every project covers the content model, Sanity Studio, queries, the front-end connection, content migration where needed, and training, sized to your document types and channels.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs Starter Template vs In-House Developer
A Sanity starter template gets a simple site live fast, and an in-house developer already knows your product. The gaps show in content modeling, editor experience, and migration.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Starter template | In-house developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content model | Designed with your editors | Generic blog and page types | Built as features need it |
| Studio setup | Desk structure and custom inputs | Default Studio | Depends on spare time |
| Visual Editing | Set up and tested | Included in some starters | Often left for later |
| Migration | HTML converted to Portable Text | Not included | Possible, but slows other work |
| Upfront cost | From $1,300, fixed scope | Free or low cost | Salary already paid |
| First working page | 2 to 3 weeks | Hours for a demo | Depends on priorities |
| Documentation | Schema and Studio guide | Starter README only | Varies by developer |
| Ownership | Project and repository are yours | Yours | Yours |
DeveloperLook
Starter template
- Content model
- DeveloperLook: Designed with your editorsStarter template: Generic blog and page types
- Studio setup
- DeveloperLook: Desk structure and custom inputsStarter template: Default Studio
- Visual Editing
- DeveloperLook: Set up and testedStarter template: Included in some starters
- Migration
- DeveloperLook: HTML converted to Portable TextStarter template: Not included
- Upfront cost
- DeveloperLook: From $1,300, fixed scopeStarter template: Free or low cost
- First working page
- DeveloperLook: 2 to 3 weeksStarter template: Hours for a demo
- Documentation
- DeveloperLook: Schema and Studio guideStarter template: Starter README only
- Ownership
- DeveloperLook: Project and repository are yoursStarter template: Yours
Projects We've Built
Content-Rich Website Projects We Have Built
IT, finance, SaaS, and e-learning websites our team designed and built: content-rich sites where a structured content model pays off.
Herile IT Agency Web Design & Development
- Agency
- Website
Oasic Finance SaaS Web Design & Development
- Finance
- SaaS Platform
- Dashboard
Gradely E-Learning Website Design & Development
- Education
- Dashboard
- Membership Platform
Finto Corporate Website Design & Development
- Finance
- Dashboard
- Website
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built content-rich websites and platforms for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Content Teams Choose DeveloperLook as Their Sanity CMS Agency
Sanity lets you model almost anything, which is also how projects go wrong. These habits keep Sanity CMS development grounded in how your editors work.
Sanity only when it fits
If one website is your only channel and your team likes WordPress, a headless WordPress setup may cost less. We'll tell you that before we quote.
Editors in the modeling room
Content models are designed with the people who write every day, not only developers. A model editors understand is one they keep clean.
Validation in the schema
Required fields, character limits, and reference rules live in the schema itself. Mistakes get caught in Studio before they reach your live pages.
Seat costs explained upfront
Sanity prices its paid plans per seat, so we count your editors before you commit. You see the yearly platform cost next to our quote, not after launch.
Typed queries end to end
GROQ results are typed from your schema, so front-end code knows the shape of every field. Schema changes surface during the build instead of on your live site.
Your project, your account
The Sanity project, Studio code, and front-end repository sit in your organization's accounts. Any developer who knows Sanity can continue the work.
Overview
What does a Sanity CMS development agency do?
DeveloperLook is a Sanity CMS development agency for teams that publish structured content to more than one place. We design the content model, configure Sanity Studio, write GROQ queries, set up Visual Editing, and migrate content from WordPress. Projects start at $1,300, take 2 to 14 weeks, and the code is yours.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Sanity CMS Development
- Service
- Sanity CMS Development (content modeling, Sanity Studio, GROQ queries, migration)
- Typical timeline
- 2 to 3 weeks for a Studio setup, 6 to 14 weeks for a site or migration
- Platforms
- Sanity Content Lake and Sanity Studio, with Next.js or any front end
- Built with
- Sanity Studio, GROQ, Portable Text, TypeScript, Next.js, Vercel
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 to 90 days, depending on plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $1,300 USD, fixed scope after a free content review
Reviewed 8 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Teams publishing to a site and an app
Your website and mobile app show the same products and articles, and you want one content source instead of two copies drifting apart.
Developers choosing a headless CMS
Your developers picked Sanity and need Sanity CMS experts to design a content model that won't need rebuilding in a year.
Teams leaving WordPress
You want to migrate WordPress to Sanity CMS and keep years of posts, authors, and categories without anyone retyping them.
Sanity projects that grew messy
Your Sanity Studio grew without a plan, editors can't find documents, and you need a Sanity CMS development company to restructure it.
Agencies needing Sanity capacity
Your agency won a Sanity project and needs a team to build the Studio and front end under your name.
Not a fit
Keeping the WordPress editor
Your editors want to stay in WordPress and only need a faster front end. Our Headless WordPress Development page keeps the editor and adds Next.js.
A small static site
You need a small marketing site with a few pages and rare edits. Our Jamstack Static Site Development page covers lighter options.
Self-hosting required
You must host your CMS and content on your own servers. Sanity hosts the Content Lake itself, so a self-hosted open-source CMS suits you better.
Budget under $1,300
Your budget is under $1,300 for the whole project. Starting from one of Sanity's own templates on the free plan is the better fit for now.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Sanity CMS Development
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on document types, channels, and content to migrate, and you get a fixed proposal after a free content review.
For teams with a front end in place that need Sanity modeled and set up properly.
$1,300one-time, USD
- Content model for up to 6 document types
- Sanity Studio with a custom desk structure
- Validation rules on required fields
- GROQ queries for up to 6 page types
- Publish webhooks to your front end
- 30 days of post-launch support
Recommended
For marketing and content sites built new on Sanity with a Next.js front end.
$4,100one-time, USD
- Everything in Sanity Studio Setup
- Next.js front end with up to 12 templates
- Visual Editing with the Presentation tool
- Portable Text rendered with custom components
- Image pipeline with crops and hotspots
- 60 days of post-launch support
For teams moving off WordPress or feeding a website, an app, and other channels.
$8,200one-time, USD
- Everything in Sanity and Next.js Site
- WordPress content migrated, HTML converted to Portable Text
- Localized content at document or field level
- Content delivered to an app or second front end
- Custom Studio inputs and editor workflows
- 90 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
White-Label Sanity CMS Development for Agencies and Studios
You own the client relationship. We supply the Sanity engineering behind it: content models, Studio configuration, front-end queries, and migrations. Everything is delivered under your agency's name, and your team stays the client's contact.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the brief
Send the client's content types, channels, and current CMS access.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We model and price
You get a draft content model and a fixed price.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Build, test, deliver
Studio and front end built, tested with editors, and documented for you.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Delivered as your work
Schemas, Studio guides, and preview links carry your agency's name.
Modeling done properly
Content models designed with your client's editors and documented for your team.
Fixed quotes per scope
Prices by document types, channels, and migration size.
Extra Sanity developers
More hands when client deadlines stack up on Sanity builds.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We use Sanity's own tooling and mainstream front-end frameworks, so your developers can maintain the setup without us.
- Sanity
GraphQL
Node.js- TypeScript
Next.js
React- Astro
Tailwind CSS
Vercel
Netlify
Cloudflare
AWS
Algolia- GitHub
WordPress
Lighthouse
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on Sanity costs, timelines, licensing, open source, and moving content from WordPress.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Sanity work at DeveloperLook starts at $1,300 for a content model and configured Studio connected to your existing front end. A new Sanity and Next.js site starts at $4,100, and WordPress migration with several channels starts at $8,200. Sanity's own plan is billed separately by Sanity.
A Studio setup with a content model takes 2 to 3 weeks, and a full site or migration takes 6 to 14 weeks. The number of document types, channels, and posts to migrate drives that range. Content modeling takes the first 1 to 2 weeks either way, because everything else depends on it.
Sanity is a content platform where structured content lives in a hosted database called the Content Lake and is edited in Sanity Studio. Developers define content types in code, editors work in Studio, and websites or apps fetch content through APIs and the GROQ query language.
Yes, Sanity is a content management system, though it now calls itself a Content Operating System. It covers what a CMS does: editing, drafts, media, and publishing. Unlike WordPress, it doesn't render web pages itself, so you pair it with a front end such as Next.js.
Yes, Sanity is a headless CMS: it stores content and delivers it through APIs, with no built-in front end. Your website, app, or other channel requests exactly the fields it needs with GROQ or GraphQL. That's why one Sanity project can feed several front ends at once.
Yes, Sanity has a free plan, which its pricing page lists with up to 20 seats and 2 public datasets. The Growth plan costs $15 per seat per month and adds private datasets and more roles, while Enterprise is custom. Our fee is separate, and we size your Sanity plan before you commit.
Partly: Sanity Studio is open source under the MIT license, but the Content Lake that stores your content is a hosted service run by Sanity. You can customize and host the Studio code yourself, while your content lives on Sanity's platform. If you need a fully self-hosted CMS, we'll suggest one.
Choose Sanity if you publish structured content to several channels, and WordPress if you run one website that relies on plugins. Sanity needs developers for the front end, while WordPress comes with themes. Sanity's paid plans are priced per seat, so we compare the yearly cost of both in the free review.
Yes, we migrate WordPress content to Sanity with a script that maps posts, pages, authors, and categories to document types. HTML is converted into Portable Text, images move into Sanity's asset pipeline, and old URLs get redirects on the new front end. Sanity's own learning platform teaches the same approach.
Find a Sanity CMS agency by asking to see a content model before you sign, not only finished websites. Ask how they handle validation, Visual Editing, migration, and documentation, and who owns the Sanity project afterward. With us, you own the project, Studio code, and repository, with 30 to 90 days of support.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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