Goji Labs vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.3/5) edges ahead of Goji Labs (3.9/5) 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.. 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 The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Goji Labs | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
| HQ | West Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 11–50 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best for | Startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design without enterprise-agency pricing. | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, T&M | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Swift | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Goji Labs vs The Gradient: 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.
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: Goji Labs vs The Gradient
| Capability | Goji Labs | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Goji Labs vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Goji Labs | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Goji Labs vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Goji Labs | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Goji Labs vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Goji Labs | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Nonprofit or mission-driven product design, EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup | 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 |
Goji Labs vs The Gradient: 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 |
| 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 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 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: Goji Labs vs The Gradient
| 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 | Compare: Goji Labs ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs The Gradient (Not published) |
| 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 The Gradient
| Use case | Goji Labs fit | The Gradient 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 |
| 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: Goji Labs 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..
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 The Gradient FAQ
Is Goji Labs better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.3/5) 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.. 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 Goji Labs and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Goji Labs uses fixed project, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (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: Goji Labs or The Gradient?
Goji Labs 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 The Gradient?
Goji Labs's primary differentiator is: a 2025 inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly extends beyond funded startups to nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs. 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 (11–50 vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (EdTech, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.