R/GA vs ustwo: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
ustwo (4.0/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. ustwo is the better choice for Health, finance, and consumer teams wanting an employee-owned studio. 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 ustwo: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2004 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | London, UK (also Malmö, Lisbon, and New York) |
| Team size | ~2,000 | ~260 (last company figure, 2022; directories list 201–500) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch, Swift |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
R/GA vs ustwo: 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.
ustwo
ustwo is owned by its employees and certified as a B Corp, an unusual structure for a studio of its size. Matt Miller and John Sinclair founded it in Shoreditch in 2004. Today it lists studios in London, Malmö, Lisbon, and New York, and its client logos include Google, DeepMind, HSBC, Lilly, Peloton, and National Grid. Healthcare is the growth area: the company said in 2025 that health and life sciences now make up a larger share of its work than ever, and that US expansion would continue through 2026. Monument Valley came from ustwo games, a separate company with its own leadership.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs ustwo
| Capability | R/GA | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs ustwo
| Framework / platform | R/GA | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs ustwo
| Criterion | R/GA | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs ustwo
| Dimension | R/GA | ustwo |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Patient-facing digital health service design, Financial services app design for an enterprise bank |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs ustwo: 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 |
| ustwo | |
|---|---|
| + | Employee-owned and a Certified B Corp, so there's no outside owner to answer to |
| + | Healthcare and life sciences work is growing, per the company's 2025 update |
| + | Clients include Google, DeepMind, HSBC, Lilly, and National Grid |
| + | Studios in London, Malmö, Lisbon, and New York |
| - | Latest public headcount is from 2022, so current capacity needs confirming |
| - | Monument Valley belongs to ustwo games, a separate company, so the studio's own credentials are client work |
| - | No published minimum engagement |
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 ustwo?
A typical fit: patient-facing digital health service design.
An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs ustwo
| 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 | ustwo |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs ustwo (Not published) |
| 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 ustwo
| Use case | R/GA fit | ustwo fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Patient-facing digital health service design | Limited | Strong | ustwo |
| Financial services app design for an enterprise bank | Limited | Strong | ustwo |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs ustwo
ustwo (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. An employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC.
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 ustwo FAQ
Is R/GA better than ustwo?
ustwo (4.0/5) 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. ustwo's strongest advantage: employee-owned and a Certified B Corp, so there's no outside owner to answer to.
How do R/GA and ustwo differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ustwo 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: R/GA or ustwo?
ustwo 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 ustwo?
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. ustwo's primary differentiator is: an employee-owned, B Corp-certified studio with a growing healthcare portfolio and clients like Google, DeepMind, and HSBC. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs ~260 (last company figure, 2022; directories list 201–500)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Consumer products, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.