Huge Inc vs MetaLab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.1/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.7/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack design through design systems. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands comfortable with a recently rebuilt agency. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | Vancouver, BC, Canada (also Victoria; remote-first) |
| Team size | ~1,240 | 50–249 (Clutch listing; company has cited 160+) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A 1999 agency name rebuilt through a 2024 private-equity sale, the Hero Digital merger, and a new CEO in 2026 | A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $100K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: overview
Huge Inc
Huge has had a busy two years. Private equity firm AEA Investors bought it from Interpublic Group in December 2024 and merged it with Hero Digital, retiring the Hero brand. Huge then acquired creative studio Both&Yes in October 2025, moved its New York base from Brooklyn to Manhattan the same month, and on January 1, 2026 handed the CEO role to Josh Campo, previously CEO of Publicis' Razorfish. The combined agency runs about 1,240 people. Founded in Brooklyn in 1999, it brings a long enterprise portfolio, but the team you meet today was assembled recently.
MetaLab
MetaLab designed interfaces that hundreds of millions of people use daily: Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Headspace, and Midjourney, plus newer work for Windsurf and The Athletic. Andrew Wilkinson founded it in 2006, and it has been part of his holding company Tiny since 2017, now sitting in Tiny's Beam operating group. Clutch lists the studio with a Vancouver headquarters, a Victoria office, and 50–249 employees working largely remotely. Engagements cover research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems from one team. Its Clutch listing gives a $100K+ minimum, below the $150K figure older industry roundups cited.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Capability | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $100K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Dimension | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | SaaS product design from research through design system delivery, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | More than 25 years of enterprise digital design case studies |
| + | About 1,240 people after the Hero Digital merger |
| + | Covers brand, product, web design, and development in one agency |
| + | Both&Yes acquisition (October 2025) added AI-focused creative capacity |
| - | Ownership, structure, and leadership have all changed since December 2024; CEO Josh Campo started in January 2026 |
| - | The company's own claims of double-digit growth since the merger are self-reported |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, which makes early budgeting harder for smaller teams |
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Portfolio covers Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Midjourney, and Windsurf |
| + | Remote-first team spread across many countries supports long delivery days |
| + | Research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems come from one team |
| + | Two decades under the same founding brand |
| - | Owned by Andrew Wilkinson's holding company Tiny since 2017 |
| - | A $100K+ minimum (per Clutch listing) is still beyond most early-stage budgets |
| - | No client reviews on its Clutch profile, so references have to come from the studio |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
A 1999 agency name rebuilt through a 2024 private-equity sale, the Hero Digital merger, and a new CEO in 2026. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Who should choose MetaLab?
A typical fit: SaaS product design from research through design system delivery.
A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems. Minimum engagement starts at $100K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs MetaLab ($100K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | MetaLab |
| 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: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | MetaLab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| SaaS product design from research through design system delivery | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
MetaLab (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems.
Huge Inc (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs MetaLab FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than MetaLab?
MetaLab (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: more than 25 years of enterprise digital design case studies. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio covers Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Midjourney, and Windsurf.
How do Huge Inc and MetaLab differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $100K+ (per Clutch listing). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Huge Inc or MetaLab?
MetaLab 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 Huge Inc and MetaLab?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: a 1999 agency name rebuilt through a 2024 private-equity sale, the Hero Digital merger, and a new CEO in 2026. MetaLab's primary differentiator is: a design portfolio (Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Midjourney) that outsizes its 160-person headcount, covering the full stack from research through design systems. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs 50–249 (Clutch listing; company has cited 160+)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $100K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.