R/GA vs Netguru: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Netguru (4.0/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Netguru is the better choice for companies wanting design plus full development, one team. 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 Netguru: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2008 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 600–900+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.0 / 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 | Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
R/GA vs Netguru: 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.
Netguru
Wiktor Schmidt and Jakub Filipowski started Netguru in Poznań, Poland, in May 2008. Nearly two decades later it runs six Polish offices — Poznań, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Białystok — and a team reported between 600 and 900+ people, delivering more than 1,000 projects. Netguru pairs product design with full software development for brands like IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, Wolt, and Vinted, plus fintech client Solarisbank, and has picked up a Clutch Leader Award and a spot on the FT 1000 Europe's Fastest Growing Companies list.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs Netguru
| Capability | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Criterion | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Dimension | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| 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, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development, Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Netguru: 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 |
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs |
| + | 1,000+ delivered projects and a Clutch Leader Award back up the scale claim with independent recognition |
| + | Client list spans IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, and fintech client Solarisbank |
| + | Pairs design with full development, reducing hand-off risk between design and engineering vendors |
| - | Reported team size varies by source (600 to 900+), making exact capacity harder to pin down |
| - | Scale suited to larger programs may mean less individualized attention than a boutique studio offers |
| - | Broad software-development focus means somewhat less concentrated design-only specialization than research-led boutiques |
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 Netguru?
A typical fit: large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development.
Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs Netguru
| 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 | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Netguru (Not published) |
| 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 Netguru
| Use case | R/GA fit | Netguru fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs Netguru
Netguru (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match.
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 Netguru FAQ
Is R/GA better than Netguru?
Netguru (4.0/5) 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. Netguru's strongest advantage: 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs.
How do R/GA and Netguru differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Netguru uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: R/GA or Netguru?
Netguru 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 Netguru?
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. Netguru's primary differentiator is: combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 600–900+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), 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.