ustwo vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of ustwo (4.1/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked at accessible rates. ustwo is the stronger option for Enterprise/consumer teams, two decades of product craft. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
ustwo vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | ustwo | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2018 |
| HQ | London, UK | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | ~260 | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the few studios on this list that ships both enterprise client work and its own award-winning consumer product, Monument Valley | A sustained Top 5 global UX studio ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, Swift | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
ustwo vs Excited: overview
ustwo
Matt Miller and John Sinclair opened ustwo's doors in Shoreditch, London in November 2004; the studio now spans London, New York, Malmö, Tokyo, and Lisbon with around 260 employees (as of 2022). Early enterprise clients Sony Ericsson and JPMorgan sit alongside a rarer credential: ustwo's own award-winning game, Monument Valley, which demonstrates genuine consumer product craft through self-published IP rather than client work alone.
Excited
Excited opened in Lviv, Ukraine in 2018 and has scaled to 100+ designers while holding a repeated spot among Clutch's Top 5 UX studios worldwide. Roughly 70% of its Clutch reviewers specifically name quality and creativity — an unusually direct signal for review data most studios don't get. The studio deliberately narrows to SaaS and fintech clients, covering UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, with delivery experience across 20+ countries.
Services and capabilities: ustwo vs Excited
| Capability | ustwo | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: ustwo vs Excited
| Framework / platform | ustwo | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: ustwo vs Excited
| Criterion | ustwo | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: ustwo vs Excited
| Dimension | ustwo | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Enterprise financial services app design, Consumer mobile product design and development | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
ustwo vs Excited: pros and cons
| ustwo | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently owned and operating continuously since 2004 |
| + | Studio presence across five cities — London, New York, Malmö, Tokyo, Lisbon |
| + | Built and shipped its own consumer product (Monument Valley), evidence of design craft beyond client work |
| + | 260-person team is large enough for multi-stream engagements while staying boutique in culture |
| - | The 260-person figure is from 2022; no more recent public headcount is available |
| - | General digital product studio positioning means less vertical specialization than fintech- or healthcare-only boutiques |
| - | Minimum engagement isn't published, making early budget planning harder |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Sustained Top 5 UX studio ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | About 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality and 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 claimed 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 |
Who should choose ustwo?
A typical fit: enterprise financial services app design.
One of the few studios on this list that ships both enterprise client work and its own award-winning consumer product, Monument Valley. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
A sustained Top 5 global UX studio ranking on Clutch, with about 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.
Decision matrix: ustwo vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | ustwo |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | ustwo |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: ustwo (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | ustwo |
| 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: ustwo vs Excited
| Use case | ustwo fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise financial services app design | Strong | Limited | ustwo |
| Consumer mobile product design and development | Strong | Limited | ustwo |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: ustwo vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A sustained Top 5 global UX studio ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity.
ustwo (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need consumer mobile product design and development. If your situation matches that, ustwo is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
ustwo vs Excited FAQ
Is ustwo better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. ustwo's strongest advantage: independently owned and operating continuously since 2004. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX studio ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do ustwo and Excited differ in pricing?
ustwo uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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: ustwo or Excited?
ustwo 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 ustwo and Excited?
ustwo's primary differentiator is: one of the few studios on this list that ships both enterprise client work and its own award-winning consumer product, Monument Valley. Excited's primary differentiator is: a sustained Top 5 global UX studio ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. They also differ in team size (~260 vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.