Huge Inc vs MetaLab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.1/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.7/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack design through design systems. 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 MetaLab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) |
| Team size | ~1,240 | 160+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 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 | A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: 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.
MetaLab
Andrew Wilkinson founded MetaLab in 2006, and the studio became a subsidiary of his holding company Tiny in January 2017 — worth knowing since it's no longer independently owned. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, and staffed remote-first across 17 countries with 160+ people, MetaLab has designed products used daily by hundreds of millions: Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace all appear in its portfolio. Engagements typically run full-stack — research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems handled by one team.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Capability | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $150K+ (per industry roundups; 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: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Dimension | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | SaaS product design from research through design system delivery, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: 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 |
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — an exceptional client list for a 160-person studio |
| + | Remote-first team across 17 countries supports near-continuous delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack model covers research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems without switching vendors |
| + | Nearly two decades operating under the same founding brand |
| - | Became a subsidiary of holding company Tiny in 2017 — the founding team remains, but it's no longer independently owned |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) puts it out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client list can mean longer lead times for new engagements |
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 MetaLab?
A typical fit: SaaS product design from research through design system delivery.
A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| 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 | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs MetaLab ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | MetaLab |
| 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 MetaLab
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | MetaLab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| SaaS product design from research through design system delivery | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
MetaLab (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems.
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 MetaLab FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than MetaLab?
MetaLab (4.1/5) 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. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — an exceptional client list for a 160-person studio.
How do Huge Inc and MetaLab differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Huge Inc or MetaLab?
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 MetaLab?
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. MetaLab's primary differentiator is: a design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs 160+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)), 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.