Redesign or new website? Evolving the existing site costs less and protects what you have; starting over gives full freedom but needs more work and care. The right choice depends on four criteria.
The four criteria
- Is the technology still sound? A maintained CMS that fits your needs favours a redesign; an obsolete or patched one favours a new build.
- Content and SEO: significant organic traffic must be protected with a redirect plan either way — see redesign without losing SEO.
- Scale of change: new design, same offer → redesign; new positioning, new audience or a site becoming an application → new build.
- Budget and timing: a redesign reuses content, structure and integrations — see website redesign cost.
You do not choose by the site’s age, but by how solid its foundations are.
Either way, start from what exists
Audit the current site, then write a brief — use our redesign brief template.
Redesign or new website: FAQ
Does a new build lose SEO?
Not if old URLs are redirected and ranking content is reused, on the same domain.
Is a redesign cheaper than a new build?
Usually, but redesigning on obsolete foundations can cost more in the medium term.
Get advice
Our website redesign agency in Paris recommends the most cost-effective option after an audit. Ask for advice.