MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.2/5) edges ahead of Spaceberry Studio (3.8/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems.. Spaceberry Studio is the stronger option for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2016 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | Ukraine (also London, UK) |
| Team size | 160+ | 12–50 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Best for | Well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems. | Budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Monthly subscription (dedicated designer) |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Framer, Webflow |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
MetaLab vs Spaceberry 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.
Spaceberry Studio
Spaceberry Studio was founded in 2016 as 'MainCode Agency' and rebranded to Spaceberry in 2020; 2016 is used as the founding year here since it is the same continuous team and entity. Headquartered in Ukraine with an additional London, UK location, the studio reports 12–50 employees depending on source. Spaceberry offers subscription-style UI/UX design for SaaS, AI, and mobile apps — one of two subscription-model comparators in this roster alongside Eleken, giving budget-conscious teams a lower-commitment entry point.
Services and capabilities: MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio
| Capability | MetaLab | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio
| Criterion | MetaLab | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio
| Dimension | MetaLab | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | SaaS product design from research through design system, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription, AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
MetaLab vs Spaceberry 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 |
| Spaceberry Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry in this roster |
| + | Focused specifically on SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than spreading across many verticals |
| + | London, UK location alongside its Ukraine base gives some geographic diversification |
| + | Continuous operation since 2016, including through its 2020 rebrand from MainCode Agency |
| - | Smallest reported team size band (12–50) among the boutiques in this list, limiting capacity for large programs |
| - | Rebranded from MainCode Agency in 2020, meaning some pre-2020 case studies may be under the earlier name |
| - | Subscription-only model may not suit clients who prefer a single fixed-price contract with a defined end date |
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 Spaceberry Studio?
Spaceberry Studio is the right choice for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract..
One of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription-style engagement model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. Minimum engagement starts at $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: MetaLab vs Spaceberry 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 | Spaceberry Studio |
| 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 Spaceberry Studio
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Spaceberry Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio
MetaLab (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Design credits spanning Slack, Uber, Coinbase, and Midjourney give MetaLab one of the strongest SaaS/fintech portfolios in this list. It is best for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems..
Spaceberry Studio (3.8/5) is the better choice when budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. If your situation matches those criteria, Spaceberry Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MetaLab vs Spaceberry Studio FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Spaceberry Studio?
MetaLab (4.2/5) 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.. Spaceberry Studio is better for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract..
How do MetaLab and Spaceberry Studio differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Spaceberry Studio uses monthly subscription (dedicated designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $4.5K/month (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 Spaceberry Studio?
Spaceberry 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 Spaceberry 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. Spaceberry Studio's primary differentiator is: one of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription-style engagement model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. They also differ in team size (160+ vs 12–50), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.