Huge Inc vs Clearleft: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Clearleft (4.0/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.6/5) overall. Clearleft is the better choice for UK/EU orgs, independently owned UX consultancy. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large brands, big agency mid-ownership-transition. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs Clearleft: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clearleft |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2005 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | Brighton, UK |
| Team size | ~1,240 | Not published |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the largest, longest-running digital companies in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors | One of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Sketch, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment |
Huge Inc vs Clearleft: overview
Huge Inc
Huge started in Brooklyn in 1999 under David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro, spending most of its life inside Interpublic Group. AEA Investors bought the agency in December 2024 and merged it with Hero Digital; a relocation to Manhattan followed in October 2025. Post-merger headcount sits around 1,240, with engagement sizes that follow large-agency norms rather than a published rate.
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.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Capability | Huge Inc | Clearleft |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | Clearleft |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clearleft |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Dimension | Huge Inc | Clearleft |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | UK or European enterprise UX research and service design, Public-sector digital service design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs Clearleft: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies |
| + | Post-merger headcount (~1,240) supports significant delivery capacity |
| + | Covers brand, product, and web design/development under one roof |
| + | Recent Hero Digital merger brings additional capabilities into the brand |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent ownership change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned company |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, complicating budget planning for smaller teams |
| 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 |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
One of the largest, longest-running digital companies in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
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.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs Clearleft (Not published) |
| 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: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | Clearleft fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| UK or European enterprise UX research and service design | Limited | Strong | Clearleft |
| Public-sector digital service design | Limited | Strong | Clearleft |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs Clearleft
Clearleft (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. One of the first dedicated UX agencies in Europe (2005), still independently owned two decades later, with 100+ clients across five continents.
Huge Inc (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs Clearleft FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than Clearleft?
Clearleft (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies. Clearleft's strongest advantage: one of the earliest dedicated UX agencies in Europe, founded in 2005.
How do Huge Inc and Clearleft differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Clearleft uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Huge Inc or Clearleft?
Huge Inc 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 Huge Inc and Clearleft?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the largest, longest-running digital companies in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors. 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. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.