Droplet resize vs rebuild – which one is safer for existing data?

Hi, I’m planning to upgrade my DigitalOcean Droplet to a larger size because the current resources are starting to feel limiting. While checking the options, I noticed there are different approaches like resizing the Droplet or rebuilding it from an image.

I’ve read some discussions where people mention potential data risks depending on the method, especially when resizing down or changing disk types. I want to make sure I don’t accidentally lose application data or system configurations.

For someone running a single production Droplet, which option is generally considered safer, and what precautions should be taken beforehand?

Any real-world experiences would be helpful.