What’s the Difference?

Website Refresh: Minor visual and content updates, same structure and navigation. Backend mostly unchanged.
Website Redesign: Full rebuild with new layout, structure, and performance improvements. Like remodeling versus repainting.

Pros and Cons of a Refresh

• Faster to implement
• More affordable
• Minimal disruption
• Familiar layout stays intact

But it doesn’t solve deep technical issues or limitations of an old build.

Pros and Cons of a Redesign

• Improves UX, SEO, speed
• Clean slate for code and strategy
• Better long-term flexibility

More expensive upfront, but often better for developers and business growth.

Why Developers Often Prefer a Redesign

Clean code, scalability, and fewer limitations. Refreshing old code is usually more painful than starting clean.

When a Refresh Might Be Enough

• You still like the site structure
• You’re not ready to relaunch
• Content is still relevant

When It’s Time to Redesign

• Not mobile-friendly
• Slow load speeds
• Business or brand changed
• Planning major launch or rebrand

Brand Refreshes in the Wild

Dropbox, Burger King, and Slack each shifted their brand visuals and site UX to reflect larger business changes—not just style tweaks.

Bottom Line

If your website is holding you back, change it. Whether it’s a full redesign or quick refresh depends on your needs. Let FiveFold Designs help you figure out what’s right.