Fantasy vs Netguru: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Netguru (4.0/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Netguru is the better choice for companies wanting design plus full development, one team. Fantasy is the stronger option for Consumer/tech brands, independent studio, growing AI practice. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fantasy vs Netguru: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | Not published | 600–900+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list | Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
Fantasy vs Netguru: overview
Fantasy
Fantasy — originally Fantasy Interactive — has operated independently since 1999 out of studios in San Francisco and New York, which alone sets it apart from most large agencies on this list that have since been folded into a holding company. Its client history reads like a highlight reel: Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Ford, Google, and Samsung, with more recent work for 23andMe and Rokid. The studio has leaned increasingly into AI-native product design in recent years, positioning itself at the intersection of AI, product strategy, and human-centered design across categories from automotive to wearables.
Netguru
Wiktor Schmidt and Jakub Filipowski started Netguru in Poznań, Poland, in May 2008. Nearly two decades later it runs six Polish offices — Poznań, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Białystok — and a team reported between 600 and 900+ people, delivering more than 1,000 projects. Netguru pairs product design with full software development for brands like IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, Wolt, and Vinted, plus fintech client Solarisbank, and has picked up a Clutch Leader Award and a spot on the FT 1000 Europe's Fastest Growing Companies list.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Capability | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Criterion | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Dimension | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development, Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs Netguru: pros and cons
| Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently owned since 1999, avoiding the holding-company consolidation that's absorbed several peers on this list |
| + | Client history spans Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify — a roster on par with much larger agencies |
| + | Increasingly positioned around AI-native product design, not just legacy interface work |
| + | Two studio locations (San Francisco, New York) support both coasts without a large global footprint to manage |
| - | Team size isn't published, making it hard to judge delivery capacity against studios that disclose headcount |
| - | Marquee client list suggests enterprise-level pricing, though no minimum engagement is published |
| - | Recent AI-native repositioning means less of a public track record in that specific specialization than its legacy design work |
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs |
| + | 1,000+ delivered projects and a Clutch Leader Award back up the scale claim with independent recognition |
| + | Client list spans IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, and fintech client Solarisbank |
| + | Pairs design with full development, reducing hand-off risk between design and engineering vendors |
| - | Reported team size varies by source (600 to 900+), making exact capacity harder to pin down |
| - | Scale suited to larger programs may mean less individualized attention than a boutique studio offers |
| - | Broad software-development focus means somewhat less concentrated design-only specialization than research-led boutiques |
Who should choose Fantasy?
A typical fit: consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand.
Stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility.
Who should choose Netguru?
A typical fit: large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development.
Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fantasy |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs Netguru (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fantasy |
| 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: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Use case | Fantasy fit | Netguru fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Limited | Fantasy |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Strong | Limited | Fantasy |
| Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs Netguru
Netguru (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match.
Fantasy (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need AI feature design layered onto an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fantasy is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fantasy vs Netguru FAQ
Is Fantasy better than Netguru?
Netguru (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fantasy's strongest advantage: independently owned since 1999, avoiding the holding-company consolidation that's absorbed several peers on this list. Netguru's strongest advantage: 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs.
How do Fantasy and Netguru differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Netguru uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m 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: Fantasy or Netguru?
Netguru 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 Fantasy and Netguru?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list. Netguru's primary differentiator is: combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 600–900+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.