R/GA vs Netguru: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Netguru (3.9/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. Netguru is the better choice for companies wanting design plus full development, one team. 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 Netguru: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2008 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 401–500 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail |
R/GA vs Netguru: 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.
Netguru
Netguru pairs product design with full software development, and it has done so since Wiktor Schmidt and Jakub Filipowski founded it in Poznań in 2008. The firm has changed shape recently. It bought Bitcraft in December 2024, adding a Białystok office, and Polish tech outlet ITwiz reports that Robert Scholz, a board member since August 2026, became CEO. Clutch now lists 401–500 employees at headquarters, well below the 600–900+ figures older sources gave, plus a 4.8 rating across 73 reviews and a $50K+ minimum. Clients include IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, Wolt, and Vinted.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs Netguru
| Capability | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Criterion | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $50K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs Netguru
| Dimension | R/GA | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| 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, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development, Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Netguru: 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 |
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.8 Clutch rating across 73 reviews |
| + | Design and engineering in one firm, which removes the hand-off between vendors |
| + | Client list spans IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, and Vinted |
| + | Six Polish offices, including Białystok added through the 2024 Bitcraft acquisition |
| - | New CEO in 2026 (per ITwiz reporting), so expect some leadership changes during your engagement |
| - | Headcount is now listed at 401–500, below earlier 600–900+ figures, which suggests a smaller bench |
| - | $50K+ minimum (per Clutch listing) and a development-heavy focus suit larger builds better than design-only 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 Netguru?
A typical fit: large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development.
Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted. Minimum engagement starts at $50K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs Netguru
| 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 | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Netguru ($50K+ (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 Netguru
| Use case | R/GA fit | Netguru fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs Netguru
Netguru (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted.
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 Netguru FAQ
Is R/GA better than Netguru?
Netguru (3.9/5) 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. Netguru's strongest advantage: 4.8 Clutch rating across 73 reviews.
How do R/GA and Netguru differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Netguru uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $50K+ (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 Netguru?
Netguru 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 Netguru?
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. Netguru's primary differentiator is: product design plus full software delivery from a 400-plus-person team, with client work for IKEA, Volkswagen, and Vinted. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 401–500 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $50K+ (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.