Clearleft vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.4/5) edges ahead of Clearleft (4.0/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for E-commerce/web-app teams, Dribbble-top-ranked. Clearleft is the stronger option for UK/EU orgs, independently owned UX consultancy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clearleft vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clearleft | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
| HQ | Brighton, UK | Multiple offices across 3 time zones (Ukraine-rooted) |
| Team size | Not published | 130+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 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 | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, Miro | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Clearleft vs Halo Lab: 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.
Halo Lab
Halo Lab doesn't publish an exact founding date — the company states "12 years" of experience as of 2026, implying a start around 2014. What's verifiable: 130+ people across multiple offices in three time zones, Ukraine-rooted, holding a 4.9 Clutch rating, 70+ design awards, and the current #1 spot in Dribbble's global team rankings — a live signal that has to be defended continuously rather than a badge earned once and kept forever.
Services and capabilities: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Clearleft | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Clearleft | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | 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: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Clearleft | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K (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: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Clearleft | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | UK or European enterprise UX research and service design, Public-sector digital service design | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clearleft vs Halo Lab: 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 |
| Halo Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal |
| + | 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating make it one of the most consistently recognized companies here |
| + | 130+ person team spans multiple offices and three time zones, supporting larger programs |
| + | Broad service coverage from complex web apps through marketing sites, e-commerce, and mobile |
| - | Exact founding year isn't confirmed — the '12 years as of 2026' claim implies ~2014 but isn't independently verified |
| - | Ukraine-rooted origins carry the same regional-continuity considerations as other companies in this list |
| - | Its broad service range trades some singular specialization against fintech- or research-focused boutiques |
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 Halo Lab?
A typical fit: e-commerce platform redesign.
Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
| 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 | Halo Lab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clearleft (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K (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 Halo Lab
| Use case | Clearleft fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK or European enterprise UX research and service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| Public-sector digital service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| E-commerce platform redesign | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Marketing site plus product design bundle | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clearleft vs Halo Lab
Halo Lab (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating.
Clearleft (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need public-sector digital service design. If your situation matches that, Clearleft is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clearleft vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Clearleft better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.4/5) 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. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal.
How do Clearleft and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Clearleft uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Halo Lab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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 Halo Lab?
Halo Lab 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 Halo Lab?
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. Halo Lab's primary differentiator is: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 130+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.