Frog vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.2/5) edges ahead of Frog (3.9/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract.. Frog is the stronger option for enterprises needing design that spans both digital products and physical hardware, delivered within a large consulting engagement.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Frog vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best for | Enterprises needing design that spans both digital products and physical hardware, delivered within a large consulting engagement. | SaaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise consulting engagements | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
Frog vs Eleken: overview
Frog
Frog traces back to 1969 as Esslinger Design in Germany, later rebranding as frog design and being acquired by Aricent, then Altran, and finally absorbed into Capgemini Invent in 2019 — a chain of ownership changes worth disclosing to prospective clients. Capgemini has folded additional agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) into the frog brand, bringing headcount to roughly 2,000 across 35 global studios. Frog's differentiator is spanning both software and physical hardware — IoT, smart-home, automotive, and medical devices — rather than digital-only work.
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: Frog vs Eleken
| Capability | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Criterion | Frog | 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: Frog vs Eleken
| Dimension | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Connected hardware and IoT product design, Automotive and smart-home interface design | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Frog vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Frog | |
|---|---|
| + | Rare combined software + physical hardware design capability (IoT, automotive, medical devices) |
| + | 35 global studios provide multi-region enterprise coverage |
| + | Half a century of brand history and case studies to draw on |
| + | Capgemini Invent backing gives access to broader technology-consulting resources |
| - | Now a consulting-firm brand inside Capgemini Invent, not an independent boutique — clients should factor in the ownership structure |
| - | Multiple legacy agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) were absorbed into the frog brand, which can mean inconsistent team continuity project to project |
| - | Consulting-firm overhead and process can slow smaller, faster-moving engagements |
| 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 Frog?
Frog is the right choice for enterprises needing design that spans both digital products and physical hardware, delivered within a large consulting engagement..
One of the few agencies in this list spanning both software and physical/IoT hardware design, at Capgemini Invent scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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: Frog vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Frog |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Frog (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Eleken
| Use case | Frog fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected hardware and IoT product design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Automotive and smart-home interface design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Eleken
Eleken (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month) exclusively for SaaS, backed by a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. It is best for saaS companies that want an embedded designer on a predictable monthly subscription instead of a fixed-price project contract..
Frog (3.9/5) is the better choice when enterprises needing design that spans both digital products and physical hardware, delivered within a large consulting engagement.. If your situation matches those criteria, Frog is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Frog vs Eleken FAQ
Is Frog better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Frog is better for enterprises needing design that spans both digital products and physical hardware, delivered within a large consulting engagement.. 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 Frog and Eleken differ in pricing?
Frog uses project-based, enterprise consulting engagements 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: Frog 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 Frog and Eleken?
Frog's primary differentiator is: one of the few agencies in this list spanning both software and physical/iot hardware design, at capgemini invent scale. 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 (2,000+ 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 (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.