Excited vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of Eleken (4.1/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, top-ranked specialist, accessible rates. Eleken is the stronger option for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Excited vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Excited | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2015 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 100+ | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A sustained Top 5 global UX firm ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, After Effects | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
Excited vs Eleken: overview
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 firms worldwide. Roughly 70% of its Clutch reviewers specifically name quality and creativity — an unusually direct signal for review data most firms don't get. The firm deliberately narrows to SaaS and fintech clients, covering UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, with delivery experience across 20+ countries.
Eleken
Eleken traces to 2015 with roots in Kyiv, Ukraine, operating today as a distributed team reported anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source. Rather than a fixed project fee, the firm sells a subscription — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, part-time also available — a genuinely different pricing model from the fixed-price and T&M norm found elsewhere in this list. SaaS-only by design, Eleken holds a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects, covering complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Services and capabilities: Excited vs Eleken
| Capability | Excited | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Excited vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Excited | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Excited vs Eleken
| Criterion | Excited | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Excited vs Eleken
| Dimension | Excited | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Excited vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Sustained Top 5 UX firm 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 firms |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
| 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 Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
A sustained Top 5 global UX firm 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.
Who should choose Eleken?
A typical fit: embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap.
A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) 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: Excited vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Excited |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Excited |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Excited |
| 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: Excited vs Eleken
| Use case | Excited fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Limited | Excited |
| 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: Excited vs Eleken
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A sustained Top 5 global UX firm ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity.
Eleken (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription. If your situation matches that, Eleken is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Excited vs Eleken FAQ
Is Excited better than Eleken?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX firm ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do Excited and Eleken differ in pricing?
Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). 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: Excited 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 firm before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Excited and Eleken?
Excited's primary differentiator is: a sustained Top 5 global UX firm ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (100+ vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) 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 firm before making a decision.