Postlight vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Postlight (3.8/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription-based embedded designer. Postlight is the stronger option for Media, publishing, finance — now NTT DATA-backed. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Postlight vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Postlight | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| HQ | New York, NY, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 130+ (at last independently reported size) | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A publishing- and finance-heavy client list (Reuters, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs) built as an independent studio, now backed by NTT DATA's global engineering scale | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Node.js | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
Postlight vs Eleken: overview
Postlight
Postlight started in New York in 2015 as a product design and engineering studio, building client relationships with Reuters, Barnes & Noble, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, and Vice. NTT DATA acquired Postlight in September 2022, folding it into NTT DATA's much larger digital transformation and engineering practice — worth disclosing since the studio is no longer independently owned. At its last independently reported size, the team ran 130+ people spanning product design, architecture, and development.
Eleken
Eleken traces to 2015 with roots in Kyiv, Ukraine, operating today as a distributed team reported anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source. Rather than a fixed project fee, the studio sells a subscription — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, part-time also available — a genuinely different pricing model from the fixed-price and T&M norm found elsewhere in this list. SaaS-only by design, Eleken holds a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects, covering complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Services and capabilities: Postlight vs Eleken
| Capability | Postlight | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Postlight vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Postlight | 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: Postlight vs Eleken
| Criterion | Postlight | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Postlight vs Eleken
| Dimension | Postlight | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Media or publishing product design and engineering, Financial-services product design backed by a larger technology partner | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Postlight vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Postlight | |
|---|---|
| + | Named client relationships with Reuters, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Barnes & Noble, and Vice |
| + | 130+ person team (at last independently reported size) covers product design, architecture, and development |
| + | NTT DATA acquisition since September 2022 provides access to a much larger global engineering organization |
| + | A decade of continuous operation since its 2015 founding |
| - | Acquired by NTT DATA in 2022 — no longer an independently owned studio |
| - | Team size figures predate the acquisition; current standalone headcount isn't published |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| 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 Postlight?
A typical fit: media or publishing product design and engineering.
A publishing- and finance-heavy client list (Reuters, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs) built as an independent studio, now backed by NTT DATA's global engineering scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Eleken?
A typical fit: embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap.
A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) 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: Postlight vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Postlight |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Postlight |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Postlight (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Postlight |
| 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: Postlight vs Eleken
| Use case | Postlight fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media or publishing product design and engineering | Strong | Limited | Postlight |
| Financial-services product design backed by a larger technology partner | Strong | Limited | Postlight |
| 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: Postlight vs Eleken
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects.
Postlight (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need financial-services product design backed by a larger technology partner. If your situation matches that, Postlight is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Postlight vs Eleken FAQ
Is Postlight better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Postlight's strongest advantage: named client relationships with Reuters, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Barnes & Noble, and Vice. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do Postlight and Eleken differ in pricing?
Postlight uses project-based (not published) 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: Postlight 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 Postlight and Eleken?
Postlight's primary differentiator is: a publishing- and finance-heavy client list (Reuters, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs) built as an independent studio, now backed by NTT DATA's global engineering scale. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (130+ (at last independently reported size) 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 (Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.