Clay vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.2/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for saaS and fintech product teams that want a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency pricing.. Clay is the stronger option for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2018 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best for | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility. | SaaS and fintech product teams that want a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency pricing. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Clay vs Excited: overview
Clay
Clay (clay.global) is a product design studio based in San Francisco with extensive NYC-based client work; the company does not publish a founding year in available sources, so it is tagged here as unconfirmed. Team size is likewise not independently confirmed, best treated as boutique-to-mid-size. Clay's client list includes Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung, with deep B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech experience. Note: this is the design studio at clay.global, distinct from the unrelated AI sales-data company Clay (clay.com).
Excited
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Lviv, Ukraine, Excited has grown to a team of 100+ designers and is consistently ranked among the Top 5 UX agencies worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviewers citing quality and creativity specifically. The agency covers UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, built specifically for SaaS and fintech clients, with work shipped to 20+ countries and products reportedly used by 15M+ people (per company; independently unverifiable exact reach figure).
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Excited
| Capability | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Criterion | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Dimension | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clay vs Excited: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon) is exceptional for a studio of unconfirmed, boutique-to-mid size |
| + | Deep, specific experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with a strong track record of NYC-based client work |
| + | UX design plus branding and web/product design under one roof |
| - | Founding year is not independently confirmed by any source outside the company itself — treat as unconfirmed |
| - | Team size is not published or independently verifiable, making capacity planning harder for large programs |
| - | Easily confused with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) when researching online — verify you are looking at clay.global |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Consistently ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch — an independently verified, repeated ranking rather than a one-off |
| + | Roughly 70% of Clutch reviewers cite quality/creativity specifically, a strong qualitative signal |
| + | Built specifically around SaaS and fintech, giving genuine vertical depth |
| + | Work shipped to 20+ countries demonstrates broad delivery experience |
| - | The 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported by the company and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team introduces the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted studios |
| - | SaaS/fintech focus means less fit for buyers in healthcare, consumer, or other verticals |
Who should choose Clay?
Clay is the right choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility..
Deep B2B/SaaS/AI/fintech design experience with a client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong for an unconfirmed-size boutique. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Excited?
Excited is the right choice for saaS and fintech product teams that want a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency pricing..
Consistently ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Excited
| 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 | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| 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 Excited
| Use case | Clay fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Consistently ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name. It is best for saaS and fintech product teams that want a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency pricing..
Clay (4.2/5) is the better choice when b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility.. If your situation matches those criteria, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Excited FAQ
Is Clay better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay is better for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility.. Excited is better for saaS and fintech product teams that want a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency pricing..
How do Clay and Excited differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Clay or Excited?
Excited 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 Excited?
Clay's primary differentiator is: deep b2b/saas/ai/fintech design experience with a client list (coinbase, uber, meta, google, slack) unusually strong for an unconfirmed-size boutique. Excited's primary differentiator is: consistently ranked top 5 ux agency worldwide by clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), 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.