Clay vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.0/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Clay is the stronger option for B2B SaaS, AI, fintech — big-tech credibility, low profile. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 70+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Clay vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Clay
Clay — clay.global, not to be confused with the unrelated AI sales-data company at clay.com — keeps an unusually low public profile for a studio whose client list includes Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung. Neither its founding year nor its team size is published or independently confirmed, which is itself worth flagging to prospective clients doing due diligence. What is clear from its portfolio is deep, repeated experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design, based out of San Francisco with significant NYC-based client work.
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011, and the studio now works from Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London with a 70-person team that mixes multiple computer-science PhDs into its design and engineering practice. Recent work includes shaping conversational AI products with Sierra and building decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside clients like IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio positions itself around building digital products end to end — from early exploration through launch — rather than a single design phase.
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Clay | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Clay | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Clay | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Clay | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clay vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list — Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon — is exceptional for a studio that doesn't publish its own size |
| + | Deep, repeated experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with substantial NYC-based client engagement history |
| + | Combines UX, branding, and web/product design under one team |
| - | Founding year isn't published or independently confirmed by any source outside the company |
| - | Team size isn't published either, making capacity planning harder for larger programs |
| - | Easily confused online with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) — confirm you're looking at clay.global |
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage |
| + | Combines design with computer-science research depth, unusual among boutique product studios |
| + | Recent, high-profile AI and crypto/fintech work (Sierra, Coinbase) demonstrates currency in fast-moving categories |
| + | Client list also includes established consumer brands like IKEA, broadening its portfolio beyond pure tech |
| - | Minimum engagement size and pricing model aren't published, making early budgeting harder |
| - | European-only office footprint may mean less overlap with US business hours for some clients |
| - | AI/crypto-forward recent portfolio may read as a narrower fit for clients outside technology-heavy categories |
Who should choose Clay?
A typical fit: AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup.
An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clay |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Clay fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Bakken & Bæck
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase.
Clay (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand. If your situation matches that, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Clay better than Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay's strongest advantage: client list — Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon — is exceptional for a studio that doesn't publish its own size. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage.
How do Clay and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Clay or Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Clay and Bakken & Bæck?
Clay's primary differentiator is: an unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 70+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.