Fantasy vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.1/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for banks and large fintechs with enterprise design budgets. 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 UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | Not published | 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce | The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, retainer ($200–$300/hour per Clutch listing) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Financial services / fintech |
Fantasy vs UXDA: 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.
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: Fantasy vs UXDA
| Capability | Fantasy | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | 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: Fantasy vs UXDA
| Criterion | Fantasy | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Fantasy vs UXDA
| Dimension | Fantasy | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs UXDA: 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 |
| 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 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 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: Fantasy vs UXDA
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs UXDA ($250K+ (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 UXDA
| Use case | Fantasy fit | UXDA 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 |
| 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: Fantasy vs UXDA
UXDA (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries.
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 UXDA FAQ
Is Fantasy better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.1/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: works only on financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries.
How do Fantasy and UXDA differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) 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: Fantasy 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 Fantasy and UXDA?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. 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 (Not published vs 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $250K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.