R/GA vs UX studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UX studio (4.4/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. UX studio is the better choice for complex B2B SaaS, research-first design partner. 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 UX studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2013 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Budapest, Hungary |
| Team size | ~2,000 | ~50 (per company job postings; Clutch lists 10–49) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | Research-first B2B SaaS design with a 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews, comparable in method to Phenomenon Studio's discovery-first approach |
| 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, Dovetail, Maze |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software |
R/GA vs UX studio: 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.
UX studio
UX studio's Clutch profile reads 5.0 across 41 reviews, with a $10K+ minimum and $50–$99 hourly rates. David Pasztor founded the Budapest studio in 2013, and it now presents itself as a dedicated UX partner for B2B SaaS teams, with research coming before interface work on every project. The team is smaller than older figures suggested: the company's own 2026 job posts describe a 50-person studio, and Clutch lists 10–49. It also builds its own products, UXfolio and Copyfolio, so its designers know what shipping SaaS feels like from the inside.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs UX studio
| Capability | R/GA | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs UX studio
| Framework / platform | R/GA | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | 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 UX studio
| Criterion | R/GA | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| 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 UX studio
| Dimension | R/GA | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign, Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs UX studio: 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 |
| UX studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews |
| + | Research comes before UI on every project, documented in its published case studies |
| + | Builds and runs its own SaaS products (UXfolio, Copyfolio) |
| + | $10K+ minimum (per Clutch listing) is accessible for a research-led studio |
| - | Team is around 50 people, smaller than earlier 60–71 figures, which limits parallel projects |
| - | B2B SaaS focus makes it a weaker fit for consumer, healthcare, or fintech-specific products |
| - | Research-first sequencing adds time before screens appear |
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 UX studio?
A typical fit: complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign.
Research-first B2B SaaS design with a 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews, comparable in method to Phenomenon Studio's discovery-first approach. Minimum engagement starts at $10K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs UX studio
| 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 | UX studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs UX studio ($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 UX studio
| Use case | R/GA fit | UX studio 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 |
| Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs UX studio
UX studio (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Research-first B2B SaaS design with a 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews, comparable in method to Phenomenon Studio's discovery-first approach.
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 UX studio FAQ
Is R/GA better than UX studio?
UX studio (4.4/5) 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. UX studio's strongest advantage: 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews.
How do R/GA and UX studio differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UX studio 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 UX studio?
UX studio 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 UX studio?
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. UX studio's primary differentiator is: research-first B2B SaaS design with a 5.0 Clutch rating across 41 reviews, comparable in method to Phenomenon Studio's discovery-first approach. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs ~50 (per company job postings; Clutch lists 10–49)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.