Instrument vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.5/5) edges ahead of Instrument (3.8/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams wanting an award-winning specialist at mid-market rates. Instrument is the stronger option for brands wanting design bundled with marketing, Stagwell-network. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Instrument vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Instrument | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2018 |
| HQ | Portland, OR, USA (also Brooklyn, NY) | Lviv, Ukraine (also Tallinn, Estonia) |
| Team size | ~300 | 10–49 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Campaign US 2026 Design Studio of the Year, combining product, brand, and marketing design inside Stagwell's Code and Theory Network | A 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 reviews and four Red Dot awards, focused narrowly on SaaS and fintech |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Instrument vs Excited: overview
Instrument
Instrument began in Portland in 2006 as a 15-person production studio and became a full creative agency around 2010. The Code and Theory Network, part of Stagwell, bought the remaining 49% stake in 2022, so it runs inside a holding-company network. That hasn't slowed it down. Campaign US named Instrument Design Studio of the Year in its 2026 Agency of the Year awards, and in August 2026 Jack De Caluwé returned as chief creative officer after nearly nine earlier years at the agency. Around 300 people work from Portland and Brooklyn for clients such as Nike, Google, Airbnb, Sonos, LinkedIn, and Spotify.
Excited
Excited holds a 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 verified reviews as of November 2026, and the agency says Clutch has consistently placed it in the top 5 of its global UX leaders matrix. Founded in Lviv in 2018, it added a Tallinn office and keeps its practice narrow: UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion for SaaS and fintech clients. Its awards shelf has grown too, with four Red Dot, three Webby, two Lovie, and one iF award listed on its site. Clutch reviewers most often mention project management and communication, and the listed minimum is $10K+.
Services and capabilities: Instrument vs Excited
| Capability | Instrument | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Instrument vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Instrument | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Instrument vs Excited
| Criterion | Instrument | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K+ (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: Instrument vs Excited
| Dimension | Instrument | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Brand and product design bundle for a consumer tech company, Marketing-led product launch requiring both design and campaign work | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Instrument vs Excited: pros and cons
| Instrument | |
|---|---|
| + | Named Design Studio of the Year at Campaign US's 2026 Agency of the Year awards |
| + | Client list includes Nike, Google, Airbnb, Sonos, LinkedIn, and Spotify |
| + | About 300 people across Portland and Brooklyn handle multi-workstream programs |
| + | Brand, marketing, and product design are available from one team |
| - | Fully owned by Stagwell's Code and Theory Network since 2022 |
| - | Marketing and brand work take up much of its portfolio, which dilutes its product design focus |
| - | No published minimum, and the client list points to enterprise budgets |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 verified reviews, with 5.0 sub-scores for quality and willingness to refer |
| + | Four Red Dot, three Webby, two Lovie, and one iF award (per company website) |
| + | SaaS and fintech focus builds genuine domain depth |
| + | $10K+ minimum and $50–$99 hourly rates (per Clutch listing) |
| - | Clutch lists 10–49 employees, which limits capacity for large parallel workstreams |
| - | Lviv headquarters carries the same continuity questions as other Ukraine-based teams, partly offset by the Tallinn office |
| - | SaaS/fintech focus makes it a weaker fit for healthcare or consumer work |
Who should choose Instrument?
A typical fit: brand and product design bundle for a consumer tech company.
Campaign US 2026 Design Studio of the Year, combining product, brand, and marketing design inside Stagwell's Code and Theory Network. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
A 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 reviews and four Red Dot awards, focused narrowly on SaaS and fintech. Minimum engagement starts at $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Instrument vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Instrument |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Instrument (Not published) vs Excited ($10K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Instrument |
| 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: Instrument vs Excited
| Use case | Instrument fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand and product design bundle for a consumer tech company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Marketing-led product launch requiring both design and campaign work | Strong | Limited | Instrument |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Instrument vs Excited
Excited (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 reviews and four Red Dot awards, focused narrowly on SaaS and fintech.
Instrument (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need marketing-led product launch requiring both design and campaign work. If your situation matches that, Instrument is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Instrument vs Excited FAQ
Is Instrument better than Excited?
Excited (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Instrument's strongest advantage: named Design Studio of the Year at Campaign US's 2026 Agency of the Year awards. Excited's strongest advantage: 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 verified reviews, with 5.0 sub-scores for quality and willingness to refer.
How do Instrument and Excited differ in pricing?
Instrument uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Instrument or Excited?
Excited 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 Instrument and Excited?
Instrument's primary differentiator is: campaign US 2026 Design Studio of the Year, combining product, brand, and marketing design inside Stagwell's Code and Theory Network. Excited's primary differentiator is: a 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 reviews and four Red Dot awards, focused narrowly on SaaS and fintech. They also differ in team size (~300 vs 10–49 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.