Eleken vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.3/5) edges ahead of Eleken (4.1/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. Eleken is the stronger option for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Eleken vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Eleken | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2016 |
| HQ | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best for | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention. |
| Pricing model | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Eleken vs The Gradient: overview
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.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year in available sources, though its Clutch profile carries 55 reviews implying several years of track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the studio keeps a deliberately small team of 11–50 employees by design, stating it works with fewer clients at a time to preserve senior attention on each engagement — and its client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a self-consciously boutique studio positioned as AI-native across fintech, healthcare, and retail.
Services and capabilities: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Capability | Eleken | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Eleken | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Eleken | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Subscription | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Eleken | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Subscription | Fixed project |
Eleken vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| 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 |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small studio |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the studio frames as preserving senior attention per project |
| + | 55 Clutch reviews imply a substantial track record despite the unconfirmed founding year |
| - | Founding year is not confirmed in available sources beyond an implied multi-year track record |
| - | Deliberately small team (11–50) by design limits capacity for very large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, requiring a direct conversation for budget planning |
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.
Who should choose The Gradient?
The Gradient is the right choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | The Gradient |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs The Gradient (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | The Gradient |
| 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: Eleken vs The Gradient
| Use case | Eleken fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Eleken vs The Gradient
The Gradient (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. It is best for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
Eleken (4.1/5) is the better choice when saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. If your situation matches those criteria, Eleken is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Eleken vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Eleken better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. The Gradient is better for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
How do Eleken and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer 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: Eleken or The Gradient?
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 Eleken and The Gradient?
Eleken's primary differentiator is: a subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), saas-only, with a 4.9 clutch rating across 200+ projects. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, ai-native studio with a notable client list (qatar airways, philips, daimler ag) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.