Fresh Consulting vs UX studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UX studio (4.3/5) edges ahead of Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) overall. UX studio is the better choice for B2B SaaS, research-first before any UI work. Fresh Consulting is the stronger option for Hardware/robotics product design alongside software UX. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fresh Consulting vs UX studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fresh Consulting | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| HQ | Bellevue, WA, USA | Budapest, Hungary |
| Team size | 150+ | 60–71 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale | A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, CAD tools, React | Figma, Dovetail, Maze |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
Fresh Consulting vs UX studio: overview
Fresh Consulting
Fresh Consulting has run out of Bellevue, Washington since 2007, growing to 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering. That combination shows up in its project list: a robotic arm accelerated to launch for Ally Robotics, a first-of-its-kind robotic air hockey table built with Microsoft AI. The company's work spans medical, robotic, and industrial equipment alongside standard consumer and software product design — a physical-plus-digital range shared by only a handful of names in this list.
UX studio
David Pasztor founded UX studio in Budapest, Hungary in 2013; the team has since grown to 60–71 people depending on source. The entire practice runs on research coming first, applied specifically to B2B SaaS products complex enough that jumping straight into interface design would be a mistake — a methodology genuinely comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach.
Services and capabilities: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Capability | Fresh Consulting | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Framework / platform | Fresh Consulting | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Criterion | Fresh Consulting | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Dimension | Fresh Consulting | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering, Medical device UX and hardware design | Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign, Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fresh Consulting vs UX studio: pros and cons
| Fresh Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof |
| + | Client work spans medical, robotic, and industrial equipment alongside consumer software |
| + | Named projects (Ally Robotics, Microsoft AI robotic air hockey table) demonstrate genuine hardware engineering capability |
| + | Nearly two decades of continuous operation since 2007 |
| - | Hardware-and-robotics emphasis may be a narrower fit for clients needing pure software/UI work |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| - | Single primary office location (Bellevue) offers less multi-region delivery than larger networks |
| UX studio | |
|---|---|
| + | A genuine research-first specialty, evidenced by the company's own published case studies, not just marketing copy |
| + | Over a decade of continuous operation (since 2013) under its founding team |
| + | Focused specifically on B2B SaaS, giving real depth in untangling complex product workflows |
| + | 60–71 person team is large enough for multi-workstream engagements while staying boutique in culture |
| - | Exclusive B2B SaaS focus means less fit for consumer, healthcare, or fintech-specific projects |
| - | The research-first approach can extend project timelines for clients wanting to move straight to UI |
| - | $20K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) is mid-tier, not the cheapest option here |
Who should choose Fresh Consulting?
A typical fit: robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering.
Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose UX studio?
A typical fit: complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign.
A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fresh Consulting |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Consulting |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fresh Consulting (Not published) vs UX studio ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fresh Consulting |
| 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: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
| Use case | Fresh Consulting fit | UX studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering | Strong | Limited | Fresh Consulting |
| Medical device UX and hardware design | Strong | Limited | Fresh Consulting |
| Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fresh Consulting vs UX studio
UX studio (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products.
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need medical device UX and hardware design. If your situation matches that, Fresh Consulting is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fresh Consulting vs UX studio FAQ
Is Fresh Consulting better than UX studio?
UX studio (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fresh Consulting's strongest advantage: 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof. UX studio's strongest advantage: a genuine research-first specialty, evidenced by the company's own published case studies, not just marketing copy.
How do Fresh Consulting and UX studio differ in pricing?
Fresh Consulting uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UX studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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: Fresh Consulting or UX studio?
UX studio 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 Fresh Consulting and UX studio?
Fresh Consulting's primary differentiator is: combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale. UX studio's primary differentiator is: a research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products. They also differ in team size (150+ vs 60–71), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.