R/GA vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates.. R/GA is the stronger option for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2018 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 100+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best for | Large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy. | SaaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs Excited: overview
R/GA
R/GA has operated out of New York City since 1977 and now spans ten countries, including Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. Twenty-three years inside Interpublic Group ended with an independent buyout in March 2025, backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — a recent structural shift worth disclosing. Its differentiator is fusing digital product design with marketing and brand strategy for large consumer and enterprise brands.
Excited
Excited started in 2018 out of Lviv, Ukraine and has grown to 100+ designers, with Clutch consistently ranking it among the Top 5 UX companies globally — roughly 70% of its reviewers cite quality and creativity by name. Its work covers UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, aimed squarely at SaaS and fintech, with delivery across 20+ countries and a self-reported reach of 15M+ product users (per company; independently unverifiable exact reach figure).
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs Excited
| Capability | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Criterion | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (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: R/GA vs Excited
| Dimension | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Excited: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy, useful for clients needing both from one vendor |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and APAC |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Now independently owned following the March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | Still stabilizing operationally after a recent (2025) private-equity-backed ownership change |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique companies |
| - | Scale and pricing suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeated Top 5 UX company ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | Roughly 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality/creativity, a strong qualitative signal |
| + | Purpose-built around SaaS and fintech, giving real vertical depth |
| + | Delivery experience across 20+ countries demonstrates broad operational reach |
| - | The 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted companies |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
Who should choose R/GA?
R/GA is the right choice for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy..
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now independent after its 2025 buyout from IPG. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose Excited?
Excited is the right choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates..
A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Excited
| Use case | R/GA fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. It is best for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates..
R/GA (3.7/5) is the better choice when large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy.. If your situation matches those criteria, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Excited FAQ
Is R/GA better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA is better for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy.. Excited is better for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates..
How do R/GA and Excited differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Excited 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: R/GA or Excited?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Excited?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now independent after its 2025 buyout from ipg. Excited's primary differentiator is: a repeat clutch top-5 global ux ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.