Clay vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.1/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for banks and fintechs, from MVP through enterprise redesign. Clay is the stronger option for B2B SaaS, AI, fintech — big-tech credibility, low profile. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2006 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine (also London, UK) |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 50–249 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size | Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech, Logistics |
Clay vs Qubstudio: overview
Clay
Clay (clay.global, unrelated to the AI sales-data company at clay.com) publishes little about itself and a lot about its clients: Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung. Its Clutch profile fills some gaps with a 4.8 rating across 30 verified reviews, a $50K+ minimum project, and hourly rates of $150–$199. Reviewers mostly praise its project management and delivery timing. Founding year and team size remain unconfirmed outside the company.
Qubstudio
Clutch ranked Qubstudio the #1 UX/UI agency of 2026, and its client results show why. Kuwait's Gulf Bank saw its App Store rating climb from 1.9 to 4.8 after a Qubstudio redesign, and logistics marketplace BluePallet reports a 151% rise in daily and monthly active users (both per company case studies). The studio has 15+ years behind it and dates its founding to 2006 or 2007, depending on the source. Clutch lists headquarters in Lviv with an office in London, 50–249 employees, and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Before 2026, the company says, it held a Clutch top-five spot every year from 2017, and its Red Dot recognition includes a Best of the Best award. Most of its work is in retail and corporate banking and fintech, with logistics, EdTech, HR tech, and healthcare alongside.
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Capability | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Criterion | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Dimension | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clay vs Qubstudio: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.8 Clutch rating across 30 verified reviews, with reviewers praising structured project management |
| + | Client list includes Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, and Amazon |
| + | Repeated work across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech products |
| + | Branding, UX, and product design come from one team |
| - | Founding year and team size aren't published or independently confirmed |
| - | $50K+ minimum and $150–$199 hourly rates (per Clutch listing) put it above most boutiques here |
| - | Easily confused with the unrelated AI company at clay.com |
| Qubstudio | |
|---|---|
| + | Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews |
| + | Published client results, including Gulf Bank's App Store rating rising from 1.9 to 4.8 (per company case study) |
| + | Red Dot recognition, including a Best of the Best award, plus UX Design Awards honors |
| + | Banking depth across retail and corporate clients such as Gulf Bank and ila Bank |
| - | Clutch lists 50–249 employees, a wide band that makes exact capacity hard to judge |
| - | Founding year differs by source (2006 vs. 2007) |
| - | The main delivery team is in Lviv, which raises the same continuity questions as other Ukraine-based studios |
Who should choose Clay?
A typical fit: AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup.
An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Minimum engagement starts at $50K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Qubstudio?
A typical fit: fintech MVP launch design.
Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Minimum engagement starts at $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech, Logistics.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Qubstudio
| 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 | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Qubstudio |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Qubstudio |
| 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 Qubstudio
| Use case | Clay fit | Qubstudio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Fintech MVP launch design | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Qubstudio
Qubstudio (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews.
Clay (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand. If your situation matches that, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Qubstudio FAQ
Is Clay better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay's strongest advantage: 4.8 Clutch rating across 30 verified reviews, with reviewers praising structured project management. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews.
How do Clay and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of $50K+ (per Clutch listing). Qubstudio 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: Clay or Qubstudio?
Qubstudio 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 Qubstudio?
Clay's primary differentiator is: an unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Qubstudio's primary differentiator is: ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 50–249 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement ($50K+ (per Clutch listing) vs $10K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.