Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of UXDA (4.1/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. UXDA is the stronger option for banks and large fintechs with enterprise design budgets. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| HQ | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | 70+ | 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 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 | The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, retainer ($200–$300/hour per Clutch listing) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech |
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
UXDA (Financial UX Design) does one thing: financial-services UX. Alex Kreger co-founded it in Riga in 2015, and the team has since shaped or governed 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries. Recent wins include a German Design Award 2025 for Mauritius Telecom's my.t money super-app and a 2025 Red Dot for UAE digital bank Liv X. The bigger change for buyers is price: its Clutch listing now shows a $250K+ minimum project and $200–$300 hourly rates, against the $30K figure quoted earlier. Clutch reviews average 4.8 across 21.
Services and capabilities: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Capability | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Dimension | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Works only on financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries |
| + | German Design Award 2025 and Red Dot 2025 wins for financial super-app and digital bank work |
| + | 4.8 Clutch rating across 21 reviews |
| + | Small senior team means clients deal directly with the people doing the work |
| - | $250K+ minimum and $200–$300 hourly rates (per Clutch listing) put it out of reach for most fintech startups |
| - | Exclusive financial-services focus rules it out for every other vertical |
| - | Clutch lists 10–49 employees, which caps capacity for multi-product programs |
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 UXDA?
A typical fit: bank digital platform redesign.
The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $250K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| 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 UXDA ($250K+ (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 UXDA
| Use case | Bakken & Bæck fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase.
UXDA (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need fintech app UX for a regulated market. If your situation matches that, UXDA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA FAQ
Is Bakken & Bæck better than UXDA?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: works only on financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries.
How do Bakken & Bæck and UXDA differ in pricing?
Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UXDA uses fixed project, retainer ($200–$300/hour per clutch listing) pricing with a minimum engagement of $250K+ (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 UXDA?
UXDA 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 UXDA?
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. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $250K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.