R/GA vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.5/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams wanting an award-winning specialist at mid-market rates. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands that want product design and marketing from one partner. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2018 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Lviv, Ukraine (also Tallinn, Estonia) |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 10–49 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | A 5.0 Clutch rating across 56 reviews and four Red Dot awards, focused narrowly on SaaS and fintech |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs Excited: overview
R/GA
Since buying itself back from Interpublic Group in March 2025, with majority backing from Truelink Capital, R/GA has moved quickly. It set up a $50M innovation fund, launched a global AI products team, and made the first acquisition in its nearly 50-year history: Addition, an AI system design studio. In September 2026 it hired former Google executive Sadie Thoma as its first global chief business officer. The agency has run out of New York since 1977 and now works from ten countries, including Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. Product design still arrives bundled with brand and marketing strategy.
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: R/GA vs Excited
| Capability | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Excited
| Criterion | R/GA | 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: R/GA vs Excited
| Dimension | R/GA | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Excited: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Product design and marketing strategy come from one team, which saves large brands a second vendor |
| + | Acquired AI system design studio Addition, its first acquisition, funded from a $50M innovation fund |
| + | Offices in ten countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Leadership bench keeps growing after the buyout, including a first global chief business officer hired in September 2026 |
| - | Ownership changed in 2025 and the AI products team is new, so ask how much of that capability would touch your project |
| - | Trade-press reports of 25% year-on-year revenue growth in Q1 2026 come from the agency itself |
| - | Marketing-led positioning and large-brand pricing fit early-stage product teams poorly |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Excited ($10K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Excited
| Use case | R/GA fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Excited FAQ
Is R/GA better than Excited?
Excited (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: product design and marketing strategy come from one team, which saves large brands a second vendor. 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 R/GA and Excited differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA or Excited?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Excited?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability. 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 (~2,000 vs 10–49 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K+ (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.