Clearleft vs Goji Labs: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Clearleft (4.0/5) edges ahead of Goji Labs (3.9/5) overall. Clearleft is the better choice for UK/EU orgs, independently owned UX consultancy. Goji Labs is the stronger option for Startups, entrepreneurs, nonprofits — strategy-led, accessible. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clearleft vs Goji Labs: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clearleft | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
| HQ | Brighton, UK | West Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Team size | Not published | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents | A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, Miro | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Clearleft vs Goji Labs: overview
Clearleft
Andy Budd, Richard Rutter, and Jeremy Keith started Clearleft in Brighton, UK in 2005, at a point when "UX agency" barely existed as a category in Europe. Two decades later the company has worked with 100+ clients across five continents — Virgin Holidays, Channel 4, Penguin Random House, and public-sector clients like Brighton & Hove City Council among them — spanning user research, service design, prototyping, and front-end engineering. Unlike several names in this list, Clearleft has stayed independently owned since founding.
Goji Labs
David Barlev and Adam Sumner founded Goji Labs in 2014 (one source says 2015), building a strategy-led practice from West Hollywood/Los Angeles that now runs 11–50 employees. The company made the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and carries 84 Clutch reviews, with deep edtech, fintech, and healthtech experience. What separates Goji from most names here: it explicitly takes on nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only venture-funded companies.
Services and capabilities: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Capability | Clearleft | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Framework / platform | Clearleft | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Criterion | Clearleft | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Dimension | Clearleft | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | UK or European enterprise UX research and service design, Public-sector digital service design | Nonprofit or mission-driven product design, EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clearleft vs Goji Labs: pros and cons
| Clearleft | |
|---|---|
| + | One of the earliest dedicated UX agencies in Europe, founded in 2005 |
| + | Independently owned for two decades, unlike several acquired names in this list |
| + | 100+ clients across five continents, spanning financial services, government, media, and technology |
| + | Service range covers user research, service design, prototyping, and front-end engineering |
| - | Team size isn't published in available sources, making capacity planning harder without a direct conversation |
| - | UK-based office footprint offers less multi-region coverage than global agency networks |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| Goji Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition |
| + | 84 Clutch reviews provide a substantial independent feedback sample |
| + | Explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| + | Strategy-led approach pairs product discovery with delivery inside one team |
| - | The 11–50 employee band is smaller than most other boutiques here, limiting capacity for very large programs |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2014 vs. 2015) |
| - | Focus on edtech/fintech/healthtech means less depth for consumer or enterprise-only projects |
Who should choose Clearleft?
A typical fit: UK or European enterprise UX research and service design.
One of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose Goji Labs?
A typical fit: nonprofit or mission-driven product design.
A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clearleft |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clearleft (Not published) vs Goji Labs ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clearleft |
| 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: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
| Use case | Clearleft fit | Goji Labs fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK or European enterprise UX research and service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| Public-sector digital service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| Nonprofit or mission-driven product design | Limited | Strong | Goji Labs |
| EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup | Limited | Strong | Goji Labs |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clearleft vs Goji Labs
Clearleft (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. One of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents.
Goji Labs (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup. If your situation matches that, Goji Labs is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clearleft vs Goji Labs FAQ
Is Clearleft better than Goji Labs?
Clearleft (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clearleft's strongest advantage: one of the earliest dedicated UX agencies in Europe, founded in 2005. Goji Labs's strongest advantage: independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition.
How do Clearleft and Goji Labs differ in pricing?
Clearleft uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Goji Labs uses fixed project, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (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: Clearleft or Goji Labs?
Goji Labs is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Clearleft and Goji Labs?
Clearleft's primary differentiator is: one of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents. Goji Labs's primary differentiator is: a 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs EdTech, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.