Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.4/5) edges ahead of Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for e-commerce and web-app teams wanting design and build at mid-market rates. Bakken & Bæck is the stronger option for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2013 |
| HQ | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) | Dubai, UAE (per Clutch; Ukraine-rooted, 20+ listed locations) |
| Team size | 70+ | 150+ (company figure; Clutch lists 50–249) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase | A 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews, the largest review base among boutiques here, with design and development in one 150-person team |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: overview
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011; Bæck still runs it as CEO. Around 70 people work across Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London, and several hold computer-science PhDs, which shows in the work. Recent projects include conversational AI products with Sierra and decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio takes products from early exploration through launch instead of handing over a design phase and leaving.
Halo Lab
Halo Lab has the largest review base among the boutiques here: a 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews as of November 2026. Clutch dates the company to 2013, lists its headquarters in Dubai, and shows more than 20 locations, though the team's roots are in Ukraine. The company describes 150+ specialists in design, engineering, and product management, 300+ clients, and 500+ projects. Its Clutch minimum is $10K+ with $25–$49 hourly rates. Halo Lab used to be described as Dribbble's #1 team, but that ranking doesn't appear on Dribbble's current team listings.
Services and capabilities: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: pros and cons
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | Design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique |
| + | Recent AI and crypto work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| + | Offices in five European cities |
| + | Consumer clients like IKEA and Vipps alongside deep-tech work |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement |
| - | Europe-only offices give US clients limited working-hour overlap |
| - | Its AI- and crypto-heavy recent portfolio is a narrower fit for traditional industries |
| Halo Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews |
| + | $10K+ minimum and $25–$49 hourly rates (per Clutch listing) |
| + | 150+ specialists cover design, engineering, and product management |
| + | Covers web apps, marketing sites, e-commerce, and mobile |
| - | Earlier '#1 Dribbble team' claims couldn't be verified against Dribbble's current listings |
| - | Headquarters, founding year, and team size differ between Clutch and the company's own site |
| - | Broad service range means less depth than fintech- or research-focused boutiques |
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Halo Lab?
A typical fit: e-commerce platform redesign.
A 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews, the largest review base among boutiques here, with design and development in one 150-person team. Minimum engagement starts at $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Bakken & Bæck |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Bakken & Bæck (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Use case | Bakken & Bæck fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Strong | Limited | Bakken & Bæck |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Strong | Limited | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
Halo Lab (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews, the largest review base among boutiques here, with design and development in one 150-person team.
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need decentralized or crypto platform design and build. If your situation matches that, Bakken & Bæck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Bakken & Bæck better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews.
How do Bakken & Bæck and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Halo Lab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Bakken & Bæck 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 agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Bakken & Bæck and Halo Lab?
Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Halo Lab's primary differentiator is: a 4.9 Clutch rating across 100 reviews, the largest review base among boutiques here, with design and development in one 150-person team. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 150+ (company figure; Clutch lists 50–249)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.