Fantasy vs ustwo: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
ustwo (4.0/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. ustwo is the better choice for Health, finance, and consumer teams wanting an employee-owned studio. 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 ustwo: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2004 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | London, UK (also Malmö, Lisbon, and New York) |
| Team size | Not published | ~260 (last company figure, 2022; directories list 201–500) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce | An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, Sketch, Swift |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
Fantasy vs ustwo: 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.
ustwo
ustwo is owned by its employees and certified as a B Corp, an unusual structure for a studio of its size. Matt Miller and John Sinclair founded it in Shoreditch in 2004. Today it lists studios in London, Malmö, Lisbon, and New York, and its client logos include Google, DeepMind, HSBC, Lilly, Peloton, and National Grid. Healthcare is the growth area: the company said in 2025 that health and life sciences now make up a larger share of its work than ever, and that US expansion would continue through 2026. Monument Valley came from ustwo games, a separate company with its own leadership.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs ustwo
| Capability | Fantasy | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs ustwo
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fantasy vs ustwo
| Criterion | Fantasy | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Fantasy vs ustwo
| Dimension | Fantasy | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Patient-facing digital health service design, Financial services app design for an enterprise bank |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs ustwo: 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 |
| ustwo | |
|---|---|
| + | Employee-owned and a Certified B Corp, so there's no outside owner to answer to |
| + | Healthcare and life sciences work is growing, per the company's 2025 update |
| + | Clients include Google, DeepMind, HSBC, Lilly, and National Grid |
| + | Studios in London, Malmö, Lisbon, and New York |
| - | Latest public headcount is from 2022, so current capacity needs confirming |
| - | Monument Valley belongs to ustwo games, a separate company, so the studio's own credentials are client work |
| - | No published minimum engagement |
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 ustwo?
A typical fit: patient-facing digital health service design.
An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs ustwo
| 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 | ustwo |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs ustwo (Not published) |
| 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 ustwo
| Use case | Fantasy fit | ustwo fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Strong | Limited | Fantasy |
| Patient-facing digital health service design | Limited | Strong | ustwo |
| Financial services app design for an enterprise bank | Limited | Strong | ustwo |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs ustwo
ustwo (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC.
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 ustwo FAQ
Is Fantasy better than ustwo?
ustwo (4.0/5) 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. ustwo's strongest advantage: employee-owned and a Certified B Corp, so there's no outside owner to answer to.
How do Fantasy and ustwo differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ustwo uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Fantasy or ustwo?
ustwo 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 ustwo?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. ustwo's primary differentiator is: an employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC. They also differ in team size (Not published vs ~260 (last company figure, 2022; directories list 201–500)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Consumer products, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.