Excited vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of The Gradient (4.3/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates.. The Gradient is the stronger option for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Excited vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2016 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 100+ | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best for | SaaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates. | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, After Effects | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Excited vs The Gradient: overview
Excited
Excited has grown from a 2018 start in Lviv, Ukraine to 100+ designers today, with Clutch consistently ranking it among the Top 5 UX studios globally — roughly 70% of its reviewers cite quality and creativity by name. Its work covers UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, purpose-built for SaaS and fintech, with delivery across 20+ countries and a self-reported reach of 15M+ product users (per company; independently unverifiable exact reach figure).
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: Excited vs The Gradient
| Capability | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Excited vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeated Top 5 UX studio ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | Roughly 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality/creativity, a strong qualitative signal |
| + | Purpose-built around SaaS and fintech, giving real vertical depth |
| + | Delivery experience across 20+ countries demonstrates broad operational reach |
| - | The 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted studios |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
| 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 Excited?
Excited is the right choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates..
A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech.
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: Excited vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Excited |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Excited ($20K (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: Excited vs The Gradient
| Use case | Excited fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Limited | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: Excited vs The Gradient
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. It is best for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates..
The Gradient (4.3/5) is the better choice when fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. If your situation matches those criteria, The Gradient is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Excited vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Excited better than The Gradient?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Excited is better for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without enterprise-agency rates.. 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 Excited and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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: Excited or The Gradient?
The Gradient 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 Excited and The Gradient?
Excited's primary differentiator is: a repeat clutch top-5 global ux ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. 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 (100+ vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.