Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Cyber-Duck (3.7/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for Fintech, logistics, healthcare — MVP to enterprise redesign. 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 Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Cyber-Duck | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2006 |
| HQ | Elstree, Hertfordshire, UK | London, UK (Canary Wharf), Ukraine-based delivery team |
| Team size | 90+ | 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 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 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, React | Figma, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio: 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.
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: Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio
| Capability | Cyber-Duck | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | Cyber-Duck | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio
| Criterion | Cyber-Duck | 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: Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio
| Dimension | Cyber-Duck | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Government or public-sector digital service UX, Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio: 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 |
| 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 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 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: Cyber-Duck vs Qubstudio
| 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 | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Cyber-Duck (Not published) vs Qubstudio ($15K (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 Qubstudio
| Use case | Cyber-Duck fit | Qubstudio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government or public-sector digital service UX | Strong | Limited | Cyber-Duck |
| Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design | Strong | Limited | Cyber-Duck |
| 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: Cyber-Duck 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.
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 Qubstudio FAQ
Is Cyber-Duck better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) 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. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: currently ranked #1 UX/UI company on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews.
How do Cyber-Duck and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
Cyber-Duck 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: Cyber-Duck 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 Cyber-Duck and Qubstudio?
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. 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 (90+ 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, Healthcare vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.