Huge Inc vs MetaLab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.2/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.8/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems.. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands comfortable with a big, recently-restructured agency rather than an independent boutique.. 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) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) |
| Team size | ~1,240 | 160+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best for | Large enterprise brands comfortable with a big, recently-restructured agency rather than an independent boutique. | Well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) |
| 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 Inc was founded in 1999 in Brooklyn by David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro, and relocated to Manhattan in October 2025. The agency was long part of Interpublic Group before being sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent restructuring worth disclosing to prospective clients. Post-merger headcount sits around 1,240, and engagement sizes are typical of a large agency rather than published per-project.
MetaLab
Founded in 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson, MetaLab became a subsidiary of Canadian holding company Tiny in January 2017 — an ownership detail worth disclosing. Headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia and operating remote-first across 17 countries with 160+ employees, MetaLab has designed products for Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. The studio runs full product engagements spanning research, strategy, UX, UI, design systems, and front-end.
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 | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) |
| 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, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of brand history and enterprise digital design case studies |
| + | Large post-merger headcount (~1,240) gives significant delivery capacity |
| + | Broad service range covering brand, product, and web design/development |
| + | Recent relocation and merger bring fresh Hero Digital capabilities into the brand |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent ownership and structural change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned boutique |
| - | Large-agency engagement sizes are not published, making budget planning harder for smaller teams |
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Design portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — an exceptional client list for a 160-person studio |
| + | Remote-first across 17 countries gives genuine round-the-clock delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack engagement model covers research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems in one team |
| + | Nearly two decades of continuous operation under the same founding brand |
| - | Became a subsidiary of holding company Tiny in 2017 — worth disclosing though the founding team and brand remain in place |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) puts it out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client roster means longer lead times for new engagements |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
Huge Inc is the right choice for large enterprise brands comfortable with a big, recently-restructured agency rather than an independent boutique..
One of the largest and longest-running digital agencies on this list, post-merger with Hero Digital under AEA Investors ownership. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Who should choose MetaLab?
MetaLab is the right choice for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems..
Design credits spanning Slack, Uber, Coinbase, and Midjourney give MetaLab one of the strongest SaaS/fintech portfolios in this list. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). 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 ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) |
| 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 | 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 (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Design credits spanning Slack, Uber, Coinbase, and Midjourney give MetaLab one of the strongest SaaS/fintech portfolios in this list. It is best for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems..
Huge Inc (3.8/5) is the better choice when large enterprise brands comfortable with a big, recently-restructured agency rather than an independent boutique.. If your situation matches those criteria, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs MetaLab FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than MetaLab?
MetaLab (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc is better for large enterprise brands comfortable with a big, recently-restructured agency rather than an independent boutique.. MetaLab is better for well-funded SaaS and fintech companies that need full-stack product design from research through design systems..
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 $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). 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?
Huge Inc 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: one of the largest and longest-running digital agencies on this list, post-merger with hero digital under aea investors ownership. MetaLab's primary differentiator is: design credits spanning slack, uber, coinbase, and midjourney give metalab one of the strongest saas/fintech portfolios in this list. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs 160+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)), 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.