R/GA vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for banks and fintechs, from MVP through enterprise redesign. 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 Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Lviv, Ukraine (also London, UK) |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 50–249 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | 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 |
| 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, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech, Logistics |
R/GA vs Qubstudio: 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.
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.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs Qubstudio
| Capability | R/GA | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | 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 Qubstudio
| Criterion | R/GA | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Qubstudio
| Dimension | R/GA | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Qubstudio: 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 |
| 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 |
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 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.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs Qubstudio
| 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 | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Qubstudio ($10K+ (per Clutch listing)) |
| 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: R/GA vs Qubstudio
| Use case | R/GA fit | Qubstudio 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 |
| Fintech MVP launch design | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs Qubstudio
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.
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 Qubstudio FAQ
Is R/GA better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) 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. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: ranked #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch in 2026, with a 4.9 rating across 94 reviews.
How do R/GA and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Qubstudio 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 Qubstudio?
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 R/GA and Qubstudio?
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. 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. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 50–249 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.