MetaLab vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of MetaLab (4.1/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible pricing. MetaLab is the stronger option for well-funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack design through design systems. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MetaLab vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2018 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 160+ | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems | Repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
MetaLab vs Excited: overview
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.
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.
Services and capabilities: MetaLab vs Excited
| Capability | MetaLab | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Excited
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Excited
| Criterion | MetaLab | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: MetaLab vs Excited
| Dimension | MetaLab | 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 | SaaS product design from research through design system delivery, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
MetaLab vs Excited: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Decision matrix: MetaLab vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | MetaLab |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Excited |
| 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: MetaLab vs Excited
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system delivery | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: MetaLab vs Excited
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.
MetaLab (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need fintech app redesign for a funded startup. If your situation matches that, MetaLab is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MetaLab vs Excited FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — an exceptional client list for a 160-person studio. Excited's strongest advantage: repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch — a sustained ranking, not a one-off.
How do MetaLab and Excited differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). 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: MetaLab or Excited?
MetaLab 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 MetaLab and Excited?
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. 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. They also differ in team size (160+ vs 100+), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) 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.