R/GA vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.1/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.8/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for banks and large fintechs with enterprise design budgets. 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 UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2015 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with brand and marketing strategy, and since going independent has been buying and building AI design capability | The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, retainer ($200–$300/hour per Clutch listing) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
UXDA (Financial UX Design) does one thing: financial-services UX. Alex Kreger co-founded it in Riga in 2015, and the team has since shaped or governed 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries. Recent wins include a German Design Award 2025 for Mauritius Telecom's my.t money super-app and a 2025 Red Dot for UAE digital bank Liv X. The bigger change for buyers is price: its Clutch listing now shows a $250K+ minimum project and $200–$300 hourly rates, against the $30K figure quoted earlier. Clutch reviews average 4.8 across 21.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs UXDA
| Capability | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $250K+ (per Clutch listing) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Dimension | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Works only on financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries |
| + | German Design Award 2025 and Red Dot 2025 wins for financial super-app and digital bank work |
| + | 4.8 Clutch rating across 21 reviews |
| + | Small senior team means clients deal directly with the people doing the work |
| - | $250K+ minimum and $200–$300 hourly rates (per Clutch listing) put it out of reach for most fintech startups |
| - | Exclusive financial-services focus rules it out for every other vertical |
| - | Clutch lists 10–49 employees, which caps capacity for multi-product programs |
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 UXDA?
A typical fit: bank digital platform redesign.
The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $250K+ (per Clutch listing). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs UXDA
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs UXDA ($250K+ (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 UXDA
| Use case | R/GA fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs UXDA
UXDA (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries.
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 UXDA FAQ
Is R/GA better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.1/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: works only on financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms across 39 countries.
How do R/GA and UXDA differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UXDA uses fixed project, retainer ($200–$300/hour per clutch listing) pricing with a minimum engagement of $250K+ (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 UXDA?
UXDA 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 UXDA?
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. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 10–49 (Clutch listing; company cites 25+)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $250K+ (per Clutch listing)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.