Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.4/5) edges ahead of Cyber-Duck (3.7/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for E-commerce/web-app teams, Dribbble-top-ranked. Cyber-Duck is the stronger option for public-sector UK orgs, proven public-trust client list. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Cyber-Duck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
| HQ | Elstree, Hertfordshire, UK | Multiple offices across 3 time zones (Ukraine-rooted) |
| Team size | 90+ | 130+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI | 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, React | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab: overview
Cyber-Duck
Danny Bluestone founded Cyber-Duck in 2005 in Elstree, Hertfordshire, building a UX and software development practice that grew to 90+ staff across the UK and Europe before CACI acquired it, an ownership change worth disclosing. Client relationships include the Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify partner CitizenSafe, the Commonwealth of Nations, Sport England, and Mitsubishi Electric — a client list skewed toward public-sector and regulated-industry work.
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: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Cyber-Duck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Cyber-Duck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Cyber-Duck | 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: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Cyber-Duck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Government or public-sector digital service UX, Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab: pros and cons
| Cyber-Duck | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify, Commonwealth of Nations) demonstrates genuine public-sector trust |
| + | 90+ staff across the UK and Europe supports mid-size delivery capacity |
| + | Two decades of continuous operation since 2005 |
| + | CACI acquisition provides access to a larger UK consulting and data-analytics organization |
| - | Acquired by CACI — no longer an independently owned agency, worth disclosing to prospective clients |
| - | Public-sector-heavy client list may be a less direct fit for consumer or startup-stage clients |
| - | 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 Cyber-Duck?
A typical fit: government or public-sector digital service UX.
A UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation.
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: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Cyber-Duck |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Halo Lab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Cyber-Duck (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Cyber-Duck |
| 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: Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab
| Use case | Cyber-Duck fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government or public-sector digital service UX | Strong | Limited | Cyber-Duck |
| Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design | Strong | Limited | Cyber-Duck |
| 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: Cyber-Duck 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.
Cyber-Duck (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design. If your situation matches that, Cyber-Duck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Cyber-Duck vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Cyber-Duck better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Cyber-Duck's strongest advantage: client list (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify, Commonwealth of Nations) demonstrates genuine public-sector trust. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal.
How do Cyber-Duck and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Cyber-Duck 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: Cyber-Duck 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 Cyber-Duck and Halo Lab?
Cyber-Duck's primary differentiator is: a UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI. 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 (90+ vs 130+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.