R/GA vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.3/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for banks and fintech, exclusively financial-services UX. 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 UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2015 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 25+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
Alex Kreger co-founded UXDA (Financial UX Design) in 2015, building a deliberately narrow practice from Riga, Latvia, with a 25-person multidisciplinary team. A decade in, UXDA has shaped or governed 150+ banking and fintech digital platforms across 39 countries — a level of single-vertical repetition none of the generalist studios on this list can claim. There's no branding or consumer-product work here; every engagement is financial-services UX.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs UXDA
| Capability | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Dimension | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Exclusive financial-services focus builds deep domain expertise generalist studios can't match |
| + | 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries over a decade |
| + | A small, senior 25-person team keeps relationships direct rather than layered through account management |
| + | A decade of single-vertical operation compounds domain knowledge project over project |
| - | Exclusive fintech focus is a liability for any client outside financial services |
| - | $30K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) runs high for a 25-person boutique |
| - | Small team size caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
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 UXDA?
A typical fit: bank digital platform redesign.
The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs UXDA
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs UXDA ($30K (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 UXDA
| Use case | R/GA fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs UXDA
UXDA (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries.
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 UXDA FAQ
Is R/GA better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.3/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: exclusive financial-services focus builds deep domain expertise generalist studios can't match.
How do R/GA and UXDA differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UXDA uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of $30K (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 UXDA?
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 UXDA?
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. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 25+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.