R/GA vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible pricing. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands, product design bundled with marketing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2018 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 100+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades | Repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch, with roughly 70% of reviews citing quality and creativity by name |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs Excited: overview
R/GA
R/GA has operated out of New York since 1977 and today works from ten countries, including offices in Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. For 23 years it sat inside Interpublic Group before completing an independent buyout with private equity partner Truelink Capital in March 2025 — recent enough that prospective clients should ask how the transition has settled. The firm's pitch has always leaned toward pairing digital product design with marketing and brand strategy, which shows up in its enterprise and consumer platform work for large brands.
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: R/GA vs Excited
| Capability | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Criterion | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; 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: R/GA vs Excited
| Dimension | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Excited: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy, useful for clients who'd otherwise need two vendors |
| + | Ten-country footprint covers North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of brand history and case studies |
| + | Now independently owned following its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | The 2025 ownership change from Interpublic Group to a private-equity-backed independent structure is still recent and worth asking about directly |
| - | Marketing-led positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique studios built around design alone |
| - | Scale and pricing tend to suit large brand budgets more than startup-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Excited
| Use case | R/GA fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Excited FAQ
Is R/GA better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy, useful for clients who'd otherwise need two vendors. Excited's strongest advantage: repeatedly ranked Top 5 UX agency worldwide by Clutch — a sustained ranking, not a one-off.
How do R/GA and Excited differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. 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: R/GA or Excited?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Excited?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; 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.