Fantasy vs Netguru: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Netguru (3.9/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Netguru is the better choice for companies wanting design plus full development, one team. Fantasy is the stronger option for enterprises designing AI products, independent senior studio. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fantasy vs Netguru: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | Not published | 401–500 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce | Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
Fantasy vs Netguru: overview
Fantasy
Fantasy, originally Fantasy Interactive, has stayed independent since 1999 while most agencies its age sold to a holding company. Its studios in San Francisco and New York have worked for Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Ford, Google, and Samsung. What's changed lately is the type of work. LBB Online credits list a Salesforce digital ecosystem redesign in June 2026 and a BNY enterprise AI platform and design system in July 2026, and the studio's own essays now focus on generative software. Team size still isn't published.
Netguru
Netguru pairs product design with full software development, and it has done so since Wiktor Schmidt and Jakub Filipowski founded it in Poznań in 2008. The firm has changed shape recently. It bought Bitcraft in December 2024, adding a Białystok office, and Polish tech outlet ITwiz reports that Robert Scholz, a board member since August 2026, became CEO. Clutch now lists 401–500 employees at headquarters, well below the 600–900+ figures older sources gave, plus a 4.8 rating across 73 reviews and a $50K+ minimum. Clients include IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, Wolt, and Vinted.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Capability | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| 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: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Criterion | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Dimension | Fantasy | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development, Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs Netguru: pros and cons
| Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently owned since 1999, so there's no holding-company layer between you and the studio |
| + | Recent enterprise AI work, including a BNY AI platform and design system credited in July 2026 |
| + | Client history covering Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify |
| + | Offers full-stack engineering alongside research and experience design |
| - | No published team size, so delivery capacity is hard to judge |
| - | Marquee clients suggest enterprise pricing, and no minimum is published |
| - | The AI-platform portfolio is recent, with fewer finished case studies than its older consumer work |
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.8 Clutch rating across 73 reviews |
| + | Design and engineering in one firm, which removes the hand-off between vendors |
| + | Client list spans IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, and Vinted |
| + | Six Polish offices, including Białystok added through the 2024 Bitcraft acquisition |
| - | New CEO in 2026 (per ITwiz reporting), so expect some leadership changes during your engagement |
| - | Headcount is now listed at 401–500, below earlier 600–900+ figures, which suggests a smaller bench |
| - | $50K+ minimum (per Clutch listing) and a development-heavy focus suit larger builds better than design-only work |
Who should choose Fantasy?
A typical fit: consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand.
Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility.
Who should choose Netguru?
A typical fit: large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development.
Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted. Minimum engagement starts at $50K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fantasy |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs Netguru ($50K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fantasy |
| 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: Fantasy vs Netguru
| Use case | Fantasy fit | Netguru fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Limited | Fantasy |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Strong | Limited | Fantasy |
| Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs Netguru
Netguru (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted.
Fantasy (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need AI feature design layered onto an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fantasy is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fantasy vs Netguru FAQ
Is Fantasy better than Netguru?
Netguru (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fantasy's strongest advantage: independently owned since 1999, so there's no holding-company layer between you and the studio. Netguru's strongest advantage: 4.8 Clutch rating across 73 reviews.
How do Fantasy and Netguru differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Netguru uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $50K+ (per Clutch listing). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Fantasy or Netguru?
Netguru 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 Fantasy and Netguru?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. Netguru's primary differentiator is: product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 401–500 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $50K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.