Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for banks and fintechs, from MVP through enterprise redesign. Bakken & Bæck is the stronger option for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Qubstudio | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (also London, UK) | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | 50–249 (Clutch listing) | 70+ |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, Webflow | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech, Logistics | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Qubstudio
Clutch ranked Qubstudio the #1 UX/UI agency of 2026, and its client results show why. Kuwait's Gulf Bank saw its App Store rating climb from 1.9 to 4.8 after a Qubstudio redesign, and logistics marketplace BluePallet reports a 151% rise in daily and monthly active users (both per company case studies). The studio has 15+ years behind it and dates its founding to 2006 or 2007, depending on the source. Clutch lists headquarters in Lviv with an office in London, 50–249 employees, and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Before 2026, the company says, it held a Clutch top-five spot every year from 2017, and its Red Dot recognition includes a Best of the Best award. Most of its work is in retail and corporate banking and fintech, with logistics, EdTech, HR tech, and healthcare alongside.
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011; Bæck still runs it as CEO. Around 70 people work across Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London, and several hold computer-science PhDs, which shows in the work. Recent projects include conversational AI products with Sierra and decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio takes products from early exploration through launch instead of handing over a design phase and leaving.
Services and capabilities: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Qubstudio | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Qubstudio | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Qubstudio | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Qubstudio | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Qubstudio | |
|---|---|
| + | Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews |
| + | Published client results, including Gulf Bank's App Store rating rising from 1.9 to 4.8 (per company case study) |
| + | Red Dot recognition, including a Best of the Best award, plus UX Design Awards honors |
| + | Banking depth across retail and corporate clients such as Gulf Bank and ila Bank |
| - | Clutch lists 50–249 employees, a wide band that makes exact capacity hard to judge |
| - | Founding year differs by source (2006 vs. 2007) |
| - | The main delivery team is in Lviv, which raises the same continuity questions as other Ukraine-based studios |
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | Design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique |
| + | Recent AI and crypto work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| + | Offices in five European cities |
| + | Consumer clients like IKEA and Vipps alongside deep-tech work |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement |
| - | Europe-only offices give US clients limited working-hour overlap |
| - | Its AI- and crypto-heavy recent portfolio is a narrower fit for traditional industries |
Who should choose Qubstudio?
A typical fit: fintech MVP launch design.
Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Minimum engagement starts at $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech, Logistics.
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Qubstudio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Qubstudio ($10K+ (per Clutch listing)) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Qubstudio |
| 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: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Qubstudio fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fintech MVP launch design | Strong | Limited | Qubstudio |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Strong | Limited | Qubstudio |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck
Qubstudio (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews.
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need decentralized or crypto platform design and build. If your situation matches that, Bakken & Bæck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Qubstudio vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Qubstudio better than Bakken & Bæck?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique.
How do Qubstudio and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Qubstudio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Qubstudio or Bakken & Bæck?
Qubstudio 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 Qubstudio and Bakken & Bæck?
Qubstudio's primary differentiator is: ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with measurable banking results (Gulf Bank's app rating rose from 1.9 to 4.8) and a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews. Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. They also differ in team size (50–249 (Clutch listing) vs 70+), minimum engagement ($10K+ (per Clutch listing) vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.