Clay vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.0/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for Fintech, logistics, healthcare — MVP to enterprise redesign. Clay is the stronger option for B2B SaaS, AI, fintech — big-tech client credibility. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2006 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | London, UK (Canary Wharf), Ukraine-based delivery team |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size | Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI studio worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Clay vs Qubstudio: overview
Clay
Clay — clay.global, not to be confused with the unrelated AI sales-data company at clay.com — keeps an unusually thin public profile for a studio whose client list includes Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung. Neither its founding year nor its team size is published or independently confirmed. What's clear from the portfolio: deep, repeated experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design, based out of San Francisco with significant NYC-based client work.
Qubstudio
Qubstudio's exact founding year is disputed — 2006 or 2007, depending on the source — but its current standing isn't: Clutch's 2026 rankings place it #1 among UX/UI studios with 90+ reviews. The studio runs from London's Canary Wharf with a Ukraine-based delivery team, stating roughly 70 creative professionals within a broader 51–200 employee band. Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition sit alongside the ranking, with work spanning fintech, logistics, healthcare, and EdTech.
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Capability | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Criterion | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Dimension | Clay | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clay vs Qubstudio: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list — Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon — is exceptional for a studio that doesn't publish its own size |
| + | Deep, repeated experience across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with substantial NYC-based client engagement history |
| + | Combines UX, branding, and web/product design under one team |
| - | Founding year isn't published or independently confirmed by any source outside the company |
| - | Team size isn't published either, making capacity planning harder for larger programs |
| - | Easily confused online with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) — confirm you're looking at clay.global |
| Qubstudio | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently ranked #1 UX/UI studio on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews |
| + | Independently verified via Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition |
| + | Nearly two decades of operation with a stable London HQ and Ukraine delivery team |
| + | Covers everything from MVP launches to enterprise digital transformation |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2006 vs. 2007) — treated as approximate |
| - | Ukraine-based delivery team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted studios |
| - | The 51–200 directory band is wide; the company's own ~70 figure is more precise but self-reported |
Who should choose Clay?
A typical fit: AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup.
An unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Qubstudio?
A typical fit: fintech MVP launch design.
Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI studio worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clay |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Qubstudio ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| 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: Clay vs Qubstudio
| Use case | Clay fit | Qubstudio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Fintech MVP launch design | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Clay vs Qubstudio
Qubstudio (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI studio worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top.
Clay (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand. If your situation matches that, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Qubstudio FAQ
Is Clay better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay's strongest advantage: client list — Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon — is exceptional for a studio that doesn't publish its own size. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: currently ranked #1 UX/UI studio on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews.
How do Clay and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Qubstudio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (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: Clay or Qubstudio?
Qubstudio 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 Clay and Qubstudio?
Clay's primary differentiator is: an unusually large enterprise client roster (Coinbase, Meta, Google, Slack) for a studio that doesn't publish its own founding year or team size. Qubstudio's primary differentiator is: currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI studio worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) vs 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), 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.