Clay vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Clay (4.2/5) edges ahead of Eleken (4.2/5) overall. Clay is the better choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility.. Eleken is the stronger option for saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best for | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility. | SaaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software |
Clay vs Eleken: overview
Clay
Clay (clay.global) is a product design studio based in San Francisco with extensive NYC-based client work; the company does not publish a founding year in available sources, so it is tagged here as unconfirmed. Team size is likewise not independently confirmed, best treated as boutique-to-mid-size. Clay's client list includes Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung, with deep B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech experience. Note: this is the design studio at clay.global, distinct from the unrelated AI sales-data company Clay (clay.com).
Eleken
Founded in 2015 with roots in Kyiv, Ukraine, Eleken operates as a distributed team and reports 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source (treated as approximate). The studio uses a subscription pricing model — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, with part-time also available — a distinctive engagement model versus the project-based competitors elsewhere in this roster. Eleken holds a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects and 70+ published case studies, and is SaaS-only, working on complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial and low-code/no-code products through an embedded-team model.
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Eleken
| Capability | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Criterion | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Dimension | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Clay vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon) is exceptional for a studio of unconfirmed, boutique-to-mid size |
| + | Deep, specific experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with a strong track record of NYC-based client work |
| + | UX design plus branding and web/product design under one roof |
| - | Founding year is not independently confirmed by any source outside the company itself — treat as unconfirmed |
| - | Team size is not published or independently verifiable, making capacity planning harder for large programs |
| - | Easily confused with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) when researching online — verify you are looking at clay.global |
| Eleken | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies |
| + | Subscription embedded-team model gives predictable monthly cost versus a large fixed-price contract |
| + | SaaS-only focus, including complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial products, builds genuine vertical depth |
| + | Part-time subscription option available for teams that don't need a full-time dedicated designer |
| - | Reported team size varies widely by source (40+ to 100+), making capacity planning less precise |
| - | SaaS-only positioning means no fit for consumer, healthcare, or brand-led engagements |
| - | Subscription model can cost more than a fixed-price project for short, well-defined engagements |
Who should choose Clay?
Clay is the right choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility..
Deep B2B/SaaS/AI/fintech design experience with a client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong for an unconfirmed-size boutique. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Eleken?
Eleken is the right choice for saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract..
Subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month) exclusively for SaaS, backed by a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. Minimum engagement starts at $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clay |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| 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: Clay vs Eleken
| Use case | Clay fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Eleken
Clay (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Deep B2B/SaaS/AI/fintech design experience with a client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong for an unconfirmed-size boutique. It is best for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility..
Eleken (4.2/5) is the better choice when saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract.. If your situation matches those criteria, Eleken is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Eleken FAQ
Is Clay better than Eleken?
Clay (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay is better for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies that want a boutique studio with big-tech client credibility.. Eleken is better for saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract..
How do Clay and Eleken differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (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: Clay or Eleken?
Eleken 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 Clay and Eleken?
Clay's primary differentiator is: deep b2b/saas/ai/fintech design experience with a client list (coinbase, uber, meta, google, slack) unusually strong for an unconfirmed-size boutique. Eleken's primary differentiator is: subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month) exclusively for saas, backed by a 4.9 clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.