Comparisons
Renewing your website: agency, site builder or AI? An honest comparison
Revivra team ·
There are three common routes to a new website: hire a web agency, build the website yourself with a site builder, or have your existing website modernised with AI. None of them is always the best. What matters is what you already have, how much time you want to invest and how individual the result needs to be.
As of October 2026. Revivra is our own product. We have tried to present the alternatives fairly.
The three routes at a glance
| Web agency | Website builder | AI modernisation with Revivra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Briefing and workshop | Blank template | Your existing website |
| Carrying over content | Done by the agency, usually at extra cost | You do it yourself | Automatic, from the existing website |
| Your time commitment | Meetings, feedback rounds | High, you build it yourself | Low: questionnaire and fine-tuning |
| Time to first version | Typically weeks | Depends on your time | Preview in a few minutes |
| Individuality | Very high | Limited by templates | Custom design based on your brand |
| Cost structure | Project price plus maintenance | Monthly subscription | Monthly subscription (from CHF 29) |
| Technology and updates | Depends on the contract | Handled by the provider | Handled by Revivra |
Web agency: when strategy and special functions are needed
A good agency brings something that no tool can replace: consulting. It helps sharpen your positioning, develops a new brand if needed, and also implements complex requirements such as integrations with industry software, member areas or custom booking logic.
Pros: personal consulting, maximum individuality, implementation of complex functions. Cons: longer project duration, a higher budget and, depending on the contract, dependence on the agency for later changes.
Website builder: when you like designing things yourself
Site builders such as Wix, Jimdo or Squarespace are made for assembling your website yourself, using templates and increasingly AI support as well. The provider takes care of hosting and technology.
Pros: full control, manageable monthly costs, no programming required. Cons: you invest the time for design, text and images yourself. You transfer the content of your old website by hand, and the result depends heavily on your design skills.
AI modernisation with Revivra: when the content already exists
Revivra starts from your existing website. It takes over text, images, colours and contact details and uses them to create a modern, individual design. In the questionnaire you decide on style, layout, colours and languages. In the editor you then adjust text, images and videos. Hosting, SSL and a contact form are included.
Pros: very fast, little effort on your side, content is preserved, free analysis and preview before any decision. The plans cost CHF 29 (Managed) or CHF 49 (Growth) per month, each with a 14-day free trial. Cons: Revivra does not replace brand strategy consulting. For very specific functions that go beyond a classic company website, an agency is often the better choice.
Which route suits you?
If you need a new brand, a strategy or special functions, an agency is the right place. If you are starting from scratch and enjoy designing yourself, a site builder is a good choice. If you have a website whose content is still correct but which has aged, AI modernisation gets you to a contemporary presence fastest.
The routes do not exclude each other, by the way: many agencies use Revivra themselves to deliver redesigns faster. You can read more in the article Revivra for web agencies.
Not sure where your website stands today? The free Website Age Check rates design, mobile, speed and SEO in under 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Is a web agency or an AI solution better for my SME?
It depends on the project. For brand development, complex functionality or intensive consulting, an agency is the right choice. If you already have a website with usable content and mainly want a modern look quickly, AI modernisation is usually the faster and cheaper route.
Can I build a website myself with a site builder?
Yes. Site builders are made for that. Expect to spend time on design, text and images, though. You also transfer the content of your old website yourself.
Do agencies also work with Revivra?
Yes. Web agencies use Revivra through the reseller programme to deliver redesigns to their clients faster, under their own brand if they wish.