Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) edges ahead of Excited (4.6/5) overall. Phenomenon Studio is the better choice for direct access to senior people, no account layers. Excited is the stronger option for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked at accessible rates. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2018 |
| HQ | Europe (entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 70+ | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Structured as an actual studio — senior specialists working directly with clients, no account-management layer — rather than a large agency that happens to use the word 'studio' | A sustained Top 5 global UX studio ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: overview
Phenomenon Studio
Plenty of names on this list call themselves a "studio" while running more like a large agency, with account managers sitting between the client and the people actually doing the work. Phenomenon Studio, founded in 2019, is structured the other way: 70+ senior specialists, based in Europe with legal entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland, work directly with clients across SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and EdTech, carrying each engagement from strategy through design, development, and post-launch support without handing it to a separate team partway through. That structure has produced 120+ shipped products for clients that have collectively raised $500M+, backed by a 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance monitored by Compliancy Group, and Nielsen Norman Group UX certification.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Capability | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Dimension | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | A company wanting direct access to senior designers, not an account-management layer, A SaaS platform needing one team from strategy through launch | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: pros and cons
| Phenomenon Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Genuine studio structure: senior specialists work directly with clients, without an account-management layer in between |
| + | One team spans strategy through post-launch support, avoiding the hand-off risk of switching teams mid-project |
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating with Top 1000 Company 2025 and Top Design Company USA 2026 recognition |
| + | HIPAA compliance independently verified and monitored by Compliancy Group |
| + | Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification and four-tier Webflow Experts partner status |
| + | 120+ shipped products behind a combined $500M+ in client fundraising |
| - | The discovery-first process front-loads time before visible design work begins |
| - | No product or growth marketing services — a separate studio is needed for post-launch growth work |
| - | No published rate card; pricing requires a discovery call |
| 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 Phenomenon Studio?
A typical fit: a company wanting direct access to senior designers, not an account-management layer.
Structured as an actual studio — senior specialists working directly with clients, no account-management layer — rather than a large agency that happens to use the word 'studio'. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| 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 Excited ($20K (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 Excited
| Use case | Phenomenon Studio fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A company wanting direct access to senior designers, not an account-management layer | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A SaaS platform needing one team from strategy through launch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Structured as an actual studio — senior specialists working directly with clients, no account-management layer — rather than a large agency that happens to use the word 'studio'.
Excited (4.6/5) is worth a look if you need fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish. If your situation matches that, Excited is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited FAQ
Is Phenomenon Studio better than Excited?
Phenomenon Studio (4.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phenomenon Studio's strongest advantage: genuine studio structure: senior specialists work directly with clients, without an account-management layer in between. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX studio ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do Phenomenon Studio and Excited 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. 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: Phenomenon Studio or Excited?
Excited 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 Excited?
Phenomenon Studio's primary differentiator is: structured as an actual studio — senior specialists working directly with clients, no account-management layer — rather than a large agency that happens to use the word 'studio'. 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 (70+ vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.