Goji Labs vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Goji Labs (3.9/5) 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.. Goji Labs is the stronger option for startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Goji Labs vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Goji Labs | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
| HQ | West Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 11–50 | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | Startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing. | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, T&M | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Swift | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
Goji Labs vs Eleken: overview
Goji Labs
David Barlev and Adam Sumner founded Goji Labs in 2014 (one source cites 2015), based in West Hollywood/Los Angeles with 11–50 employees (roughly 50 per most sources). A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree with 84 Clutch reviews, the studio describes itself as strategy-led with deep edtech, fintech, and healthtech experience, and explicitly extends its client base to entrepreneurs and nonprofits alongside funded companies.
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: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Capability | Goji Labs | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Goji Labs | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Criterion | Goji Labs | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time & materials | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Dimension | Goji Labs | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Nonprofit or mission-driven product design, EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Goji Labs vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Goji Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition |
| + | 84 Clutch reviews provide a substantial independent feedback sample |
| + | Explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| + | Strategy-led approach pairs product discovery with delivery inside one team |
| - | The 11–50 employee band is smaller than most other boutiques here, limiting capacity for very large programs |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2014 vs. 2015) |
| - | Focus on edtech/fintech/healthtech means less depth for consumer or enterprise-only projects |
| 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 Goji Labs?
Goji Labs is the right choice for startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing..
A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly extends beyond funded startups to nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
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: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Goji Labs |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Goji Labs |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Goji Labs |
| 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: Goji Labs vs Eleken
| Use case | Goji Labs fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit or mission-driven product design | Strong | Limited | Goji Labs |
| EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup | Strong | Limited | Goji Labs |
| 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: Goji Labs 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..
Goji Labs (3.9/5) is the better choice when startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing.. If your situation matches those criteria, Goji Labs is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Goji Labs vs Eleken FAQ
Is Goji Labs better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Goji Labs is better for startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing.. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
How do Goji Labs and Eleken differ in pricing?
Goji Labs uses fixed project, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). 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: Goji Labs 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 Goji Labs and Eleken?
Goji Labs's primary differentiator is: a 2025 inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly extends beyond funded startups to nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs. 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 (11–50 vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (EdTech, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.