Huge Inc vs Clay: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Clay (4.0/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.7/5) overall. Clay is the better choice for B2B SaaS, AI, fintech — big-tech credibility, low profile. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands, big recently-restructured agency. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs Clay: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2015 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | San Francisco, CA, USA |
| Team size | ~1,240 | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the longest-running agency names on this list, now reset under new private-equity ownership and merged with Hero Digital | An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Framer, Webflow |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Huge Inc vs Clay: overview
Huge Inc
David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro started Huge in Brooklyn in 1999; the agency moved to Manhattan in October 2025. Most of Huge's history was spent inside Interpublic Group, until private equity firm AEA Investors bought it in December 2024 and merged it with Hero Digital — recent enough that clients should ask how integration is going. Post-merger, the combined agency runs around 1,240 people, with engagement sizes typical of a large agency rather than published per project.
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.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Capability | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Dimension | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs Clay: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design case studies and brand history |
| + | Post-merger headcount of roughly 1,240 gives significant delivery capacity |
| + | Service range spans brand, product, and web design and development |
| + | The Hero Digital merger brings additional capabilities into the combined agency |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a structural change that's still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned studio offers |
| - | Large-agency engagement sizes aren't published, making budget planning harder for smaller teams |
| 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 |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
One of the longest-running agency names on this list, now reset under new private-equity ownership and merged with Hero Digital. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
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.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs Clay (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: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | Clay fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Limited | Strong | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs Clay
Clay (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size.
Huge Inc (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs Clay FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than Clay?
Clay (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: 26 years of enterprise digital design case studies and brand history. 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.
How do Huge Inc and Clay differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Clay uses fixed project 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: Huge Inc or Clay?
Huge Inc 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 Huge Inc and Clay?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the longest-running agency names on this list, now reset under new private-equity ownership and merged with Hero Digital. 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. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.