Clearleft vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Clearleft (4.0/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for Fintech, logistics, healthcare — MVP to enterprise redesign. 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 Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clearleft | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2006 |
| HQ | Brighton, UK | London, UK (Canary Wharf), Ukraine-based delivery team |
| Team size | Not published | 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 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 Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI company worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, Miro | Figma, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Clearleft vs Qubstudio: 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.
Qubstudio
Qubstudio's founding sits around 2006 or 2007, depending on the source, but its current position is unambiguous: Clutch's 2026 rankings put it #1 among UX/UI companies with 90+ reviews. The company runs from London's Canary Wharf with a Ukraine-based delivery team, stating roughly 70 creative professionals within a broader 51–200 employee band. Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition sit alongside the ranking, with client work spanning fintech, logistics, healthcare, and EdTech.
Services and capabilities: Clearleft vs Qubstudio
| Capability | Clearleft | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clearleft vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | Clearleft | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clearleft vs Qubstudio
| Criterion | Clearleft | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (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 Qubstudio
| Dimension | Clearleft | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | UK or European enterprise UX research and service design, Public-sector digital service design | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clearleft vs Qubstudio: 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 |
| Qubstudio | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently ranked #1 UX/UI company on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews |
| + | Independently verified via Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition |
| + | Nearly two decades of operation with a stable London HQ and Ukraine delivery team |
| + | Covers everything from MVP launches to enterprise digital transformation |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2006 vs. 2007) — treated as approximate |
| - | Ukraine-based delivery team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted companies |
| - | The 51–200 directory band is wide; the company's own ~70 figure is more precise but self-reported |
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 Qubstudio?
A typical fit: fintech MVP launch design.
Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI company worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Clearleft vs Qubstudio
| 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 | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clearleft (Not published) vs Qubstudio ($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 Qubstudio
| Use case | Clearleft fit | Qubstudio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK or European enterprise UX research and service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| Public-sector digital service design | Strong | Limited | Clearleft |
| Fintech MVP launch design | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clearleft vs Qubstudio
Qubstudio (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI company worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top.
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 Qubstudio FAQ
Is Clearleft better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) 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. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: currently ranked #1 UX/UI company on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews.
How do Clearleft and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
Clearleft uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Qubstudio uses fixed project, dedicated team 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 Qubstudio?
Qubstudio 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 Qubstudio?
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. Qubstudio's primary differentiator is: currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI company worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.