Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.3/5) edges ahead of Spaceberry Studio (3.7/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. Spaceberry Studio is the stronger option for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Spaceberry Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2016 |
| HQ | Ukraine (also London, UK) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 12–50 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best for | Budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract. | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention. |
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription (dedicated designer) | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient: overview
Spaceberry Studio
Spaceberry Studio launched in 2016 as 'MainCode Agency' before rebranding to Spaceberry in 2020; 2016 is used as the founding year since it's the same continuous team and entity. Based in Ukraine with an additional London, UK location, the studio reports 12–50 employees depending on source, offering subscription-style UI/UX design for SaaS, AI, and mobile apps — one of two subscription comparators in this list alongside Eleken.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year in available sources, though its Clutch profile carries 55 reviews implying several years of track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the studio keeps a deliberately small team of 11–50 employees by design, stating it works with fewer clients at a time to preserve senior attention on each engagement — and its client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a self-consciously boutique studio positioned as AI-native across fintech, healthcare, and retail.
Services and capabilities: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Capability | Spaceberry Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Spaceberry Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Spaceberry Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Subscription | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Spaceberry Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription, AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Subscription | Fixed project |
Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| Spaceberry Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry here |
| + | Focused specifically on SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than spreading thin across many verticals |
| + | London, UK location adds geographic diversification alongside its Ukraine base |
| + | Continuous operation since 2016, spanning its 2020 rebrand from MainCode Agency |
| - | Smallest reported team-size band (12–50) among the boutiques in this list, limiting capacity for large programs |
| - | Rebranded from MainCode Agency in 2020, so some pre-2020 case studies may appear under the earlier name |
| - | Subscription-only model may not suit clients preferring a single fixed-price contract with a defined end date |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small studio |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the studio frames as preserving senior attention per project |
| + | 55 Clutch reviews imply a substantial track record despite the unconfirmed founding year |
| - | Founding year is not confirmed in available sources beyond an implied multi-year track record |
| - | Deliberately small team (11–50) by design limits capacity for very large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, requiring a direct conversation for budget planning |
Who should choose Spaceberry Studio?
Spaceberry Studio is the right choice for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract..
One of the most accessible entry points in this list via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. Minimum engagement starts at $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products.
Who should choose The Gradient?
The Gradient is the right choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | The Gradient |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Spaceberry Studio ($4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs The Gradient (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | The Gradient |
| 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: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
| Use case | Spaceberry Studio fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription | Strong | Limited | Spaceberry Studio |
| AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient
The Gradient (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. It is best for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
Spaceberry Studio (3.7/5) is the better choice when budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. If your situation matches those criteria, Spaceberry Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Spaceberry Studio vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Spaceberry Studio better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Spaceberry Studio is better for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. The Gradient is better for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native studio that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
How do Spaceberry Studio and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Spaceberry Studio uses monthly subscription (dedicated designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Spaceberry Studio or The Gradient?
Spaceberry Studio 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 Spaceberry Studio and The Gradient?
Spaceberry Studio's primary differentiator is: one of the most accessible entry points in this list via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, ai-native studio with a notable client list (qatar airways, philips, daimler ag) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (12–50 vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.