Clay vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.0/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. Clay is the stronger option for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list. | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software |
Clay vs Eleken: overview
Clay
Clay (clay.global), based in San Francisco with substantial NYC client history, doesn't publish a founding year — tagged here as unconfirmed — and its team size is likewise not independently verifiable, best treated as boutique-to-mid-size. Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung round out a client list reflecting deep B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech experience. Note: this is the design studio at clay.global, distinct from the unrelated AI sales-data company also named Clay (clay.com).
Eleken
Eleken, rooted in Kyiv, Ukraine since 2015, operates today as a distributed team reported anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source (treated as approximate). Instead of quoting a project fee, Eleken sells a subscription — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, part-time also available — a genuinely different model from the fixed-price and T&M norm elsewhere in this list. A 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects and 70+ published case studies backs its SaaS-only focus on complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Eleken
| Capability | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Criterion | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Eleken
| Dimension | Clay | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Clay vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon) is exceptional for a boutique-to-mid-size studio |
| + | Deep, specific track record across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with strong NYC client relationships |
| + | Combines UX design, branding, and web/product design under one roof |
| - | Founding year is not independently confirmed outside the company's own materials |
| - | Team size is neither published nor independently verifiable, complicating capacity planning for large programs |
| - | Easily confused with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) — confirm you're researching clay.global |
| Eleken | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies |
| + | Subscription pricing gives predictable monthly cost instead of a large fixed-price contract |
| + | SaaS-only focus, including complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial products, builds real vertical depth |
| + | Part-time subscription option available for teams that don't need a full-time designer |
| - | Reported team size varies widely by source (40+ to 100+), making capacity planning imprecise |
| - | SaaS-only positioning rules it out for consumer, healthcare, or brand-led engagements |
| - | Subscription pricing can cost more than a fixed-price project for a short, well-defined engagement |
Who should choose Clay?
Clay is the right choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list..
A client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Eleken?
Eleken is the right choice for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
A subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), SaaS-only, with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. Minimum engagement starts at $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clay |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| 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: Clay vs Eleken
| Use case | Clay fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Eleken
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), SaaS-only, with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. It is best for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
Clay (4.0/5) is the better choice when b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. If your situation matches those criteria, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Eleken FAQ
Is Clay better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay is better for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
How do Clay and Eleken differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Clay or Eleken?
Eleken is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each studio before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Clay and Eleken?
Clay's primary differentiator is: a client list (coinbase, uber, meta, google, slack) unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), saas-only, with a 4.9 clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.