When to Rebuild vs Refactor Your Legacy App
Team Forrza January 12, 2025 8 min read Legacy Systems

When to Rebuild vs Refactor Your Legacy App

A bloated, unmaintainable app can crush your velocity. But do you need to rebuild — or refactor?

Refactor If:

  • Your tech stack is modern but messy
  • Performance issues are localized
  • You have tests — or can add them

Rebuild If:

  • Tech stack is outdated or unsupported
  • Your team dreads touching the codebase
  • New features take forever to build
Warning: Rewrites can fail without clear scope, specs, and leadership.