Excited vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible pricing. Bakken & Bæck is the stronger option for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Excited vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Excited | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | 100+ | 70+ |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name | 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, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, After Effects | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Excited vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Excited
Founded in 2018 in Lviv, Ukraine, Excited has scaled to 100+ designers while holding a spot among Clutch's Top 5 UX agencies worldwide — not a one-time placement, but a repeated ranking. Roughly 70% of its Clutch reviewers cite quality and creativity by name, an unusually specific signal. The agency's practice is deliberately narrow: UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, built specifically around SaaS and fintech clients, with work shipped to 20+ countries.
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: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Excited | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Excited | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Excited | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Excited | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Excited vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch — a sustained ranking, not a one-off |
| + | About 70% of Clutch reviewers cite quality and 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 claimed 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted studios here |
| - | SaaS/fintech focus limits fit for buyers in healthcare, consumer, or other verticals |
| 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 Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
Repeatedly 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.
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: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Excited |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Excited fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Limited | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Limited | Excited |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Excited vs Bakken & Bæck
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name.
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need decentralized or crypto platform design and build. If your situation matches that, Bakken & Bæck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Excited vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Excited better than Bakken & Bæck?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Excited's strongest advantage: repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch — a sustained ranking, not a one-off. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage.
How do Excited and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). 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: Excited or Bakken & Bæck?
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 Excited and Bakken & Bæck?
Excited's primary differentiator is: repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name. 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 (100+ vs 70+), minimum engagement ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) 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.