MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) edges ahead of MetaLab (4.2/5) overall. Gapsy Studio is the better choice for fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated boutique with a large completed-project track record.. MetaLab is the stronger option for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | Dnipro, Ukraine |
| Team size | 160+ | Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best for | Well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems. | Fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated boutique with a large completed-project track record. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Webflow, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail |
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: overview
MetaLab
Founded in 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson, MetaLab became a subsidiary of Canadian holding company Tiny in January 2017 — an ownership detail worth disclosing. Headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia and operating remote-first across 17 countries with 160+ employees, MetaLab has designed products for Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. The studio runs full product engagements spanning research, strategy, UX, UI, design systems, and front-end.
Gapsy Studio
Gapsy Studio states it has operated 'since 2014' (also citing '9+ years of experience'; the founding year is treated as self-reported), and is headquartered in Dnipro, Ukraine. Rather than publishing a specific headcount, the studio describes itself as a 'collective of creative professionals' with 500+ completed projects. Gapsy holds a 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews and 13+ international awards from Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush, covering UI/UX, branding, motion, and web/app development for fintech, SaaS, health, education, and retail clients.
Services and capabilities: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Capability | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Criterion | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $10K (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 Gapsy Studio
| Dimension | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | SaaS product design from research through design system, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work, Healthcare or EdTech product redesign |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: pros and cons
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Design portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — an exceptional client list for a 160-person studio |
| + | Remote-first across 17 countries gives genuine round-the-clock delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack engagement model covers research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems in one team |
| + | Nearly two decades of continuous operation under the same founding brand |
| - | Became a subsidiary of holding company Tiny in 2017 — worth disclosing though the founding team and brand remain in place |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) puts it out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client roster means longer lead times for new engagements |
| Gapsy Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this roster |
| + | 13+ international design awards spanning Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush |
| + | 500+ completed projects demonstrates a substantial delivery track record |
| + | Serves five distinct industries (fintech, SaaS, health, education, retail), offering broad vertical coverage |
| - | Does not publish a specific headcount, describing itself as a 'collective' — harder to assess delivery capacity than studios with published team sizes |
| - | Founding year is self-reported ('since 2014') rather than independently confirmed |
| - | Broad five-industry positioning means somewhat less deep specialization than single-vertical boutiques like UXDA |
Who should choose MetaLab?
MetaLab is the right choice for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems..
Design credits spanning Slack, Uber, Coinbase, and Midjourney give MetaLab one of the strongest SaaS/fintech portfolios in this list. 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 Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy Studio is the right choice for fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated boutique with a large completed-project track record..
5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international design awards from Behance, Awwwards, and FWA. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| 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 | Gapsy Studio |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Gapsy Studio |
| 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 Gapsy Studio
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Gapsy Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Healthcare or EdTech product redesign | Limited | Strong | Gapsy Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international design awards from Behance, Awwwards, and FWA. It is best for fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated boutique with a large completed-project track record..
MetaLab (4.2/5) is the better choice when well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems.. If your situation matches those criteria, MetaLab is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MetaLab is better for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems.. Gapsy Studio is better for fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated boutique with a large completed-project track record..
How do MetaLab and Gapsy Studio differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Gapsy Studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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 Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy Studio 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 Gapsy Studio?
MetaLab's primary differentiator is: design credits spanning slack, uber, coinbase, and midjourney give metalab one of the strongest saas/fintech portfolios in this list. Gapsy Studio's primary differentiator is: 5.0/5.0 clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international design awards from behance, awwwards, and fwa. They also differ in team size (160+ vs Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects)), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.