Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) edges ahead of Eleken (4.1/5) overall. Phenomenon Studio is the better choice for companies whose brand, website, or product has outgrown its current design and need one senior studio to rebuild it end to end.. Eleken is the stronger option for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2015 |
| HQ | Europe (entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland) | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 70+ | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 4.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies whose brand, website, or product has outgrown its current design and need one senior studio to rebuild it end to end. | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | SaaS / B2B software |
Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken: overview
Phenomenon Studio
Phenomenon Studio, founded in 2019, is a boutique product design and development studio for companies whose brand, website, or product has stopped matching the business they've become. Instead of splitting work between separate design and engineering vendors, one senior team carries the project from the first strategy call through post-launch support. The studio's 70+ specialists are based in Europe, with legal entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland, serving SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and EdTech clients — 120+ launched products so far, with clients that have collectively raised $500M+.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Capability | Phenomenon Studio | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Phenomenon Studio | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Dimension | Phenomenon Studio | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Redesigning a SaaS platform ahead of a funding round, Rebuilding a fintech or healthcare product to modern, compliant UX standards | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Phenomenon Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating with Top 1000 Company 2025 and Top Design Company USA 2026 recognitions |
| + | HIPAA compliance independently verified and monitored by Compliancy Group |
| + | Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification and a four-tier Webflow Experts partnership |
| + | One studio owns the work from strategy through post-launch, avoiding the hand-off risk of separate vendors |
| + | Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement |
| + | 120+ launched products with a combined $500M+ in client fundraising |
| - | The discovery-first process takes more time upfront, which can feel slow to clients wanting to build immediately |
| - | No product or growth marketing services — a separate studio is needed for post-launch growth work |
| - | No public rate card; every engagement starts with a discovery call |
| 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 Phenomenon Studio?
Phenomenon Studio is the right choice for companies whose brand, website, or product has outgrown its current design and need one senior studio to rebuild it end to end..
A 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance, and NN/g certification behind 120+ shipped products and $500M+ in client fundraising. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Phenomenon Studio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Phenomenon Studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Phenomenon Studio (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Phenomenon Studio |
| 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
| Use case | Phenomenon Studio fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redesigning a SaaS platform ahead of a funding round | Strong | Limited | Phenomenon Studio |
| Rebuilding a fintech or healthcare product to modern, compliant UX standards | Strong | Limited | Phenomenon Studio |
| 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance, and NN/g certification behind 120+ shipped products and $500M+ in client fundraising. It is best for companies whose brand, website, or product has outgrown its current design and need one senior studio to rebuild it end to end..
Eleken (4.1/5) is the better choice when saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. If your situation matches those criteria, Eleken is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Phenomenon Studio vs Eleken FAQ
Is Phenomenon Studio better than Eleken?
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phenomenon Studio is better for companies whose brand, website, or product has outgrown its current design and need one senior studio to rebuild it end to end.. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
How do Phenomenon Studio and Eleken differ in pricing?
Phenomenon Studio uses project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) 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: Phenomenon Studio 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 Phenomenon Studio and Eleken?
Phenomenon Studio's primary differentiator is: a 5.0 clutch rating, hipaa compliance, and nn/g certification behind 120+ shipped products and $500m+ in client fundraising. 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 (70+ 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 (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.