Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) edges ahead of The Gradient (4.2/5) overall. Gapsy Studio is the better choice for Fintech, SaaS, healthcare — perfect-rated boutique. The Gradient is the stronger option for Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Gapsy Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
| HQ | Dnipro, Ukraine | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a firm that doesn't publish its own headcount | A deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, After Effects | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient: overview
Gapsy Studio
Gapsy Studio describes its own history as running "since 2014" — treated here as self-reported since it isn't independently confirmed — from Dnipro, Ukraine. Instead of a headcount, the firm calls itself a "collective of creative professionals," pointing to 500+ completed projects and a 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews. Thirteen-plus international awards from Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush back that rating, spanning fintech, SaaS, health, education, and retail work.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year, though its 55 Clutch reviews imply several years of delivery history; 2016 is used here as an estimate consistent with that track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the firm keeps itself intentionally small — 11–50 people — a self-imposed cap it frames as necessary to keep senior attention on every engagement rather than scaling into account-management layers. Client names include Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, and Dubai Financial Market, an unusually strong list for a firm operating at this size, built around an explicitly AI-native design practice.
Services and capabilities: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Capability | Gapsy Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Gapsy Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Gapsy Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Gapsy Studio | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work, Healthcare or EdTech product redesign | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| Gapsy Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this list |
| + | 13+ international design awards across Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush |
| + | 500+ completed projects demonstrates a substantial delivery track record |
| + | Covers five distinct industries (fintech, SaaS, health, education, retail) from one team |
| - | Doesn't publish a specific headcount, describing itself as a 'collective' — harder to gauge delivery capacity |
| - | Founding year is self-reported ('since 2014') rather than independently confirmed |
| - | Its broad five-industry positioning trades off some depth against single-vertical specialists like UXDA |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small firm |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the firm 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 Gapsy Studio?
A typical fit: fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work.
A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a firm that doesn't publish its own headcount. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail.
Who should choose The Gradient?
A typical fit: AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform.
A deliberately small, AI-native firm 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: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Gapsy Studio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Gapsy Studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Gapsy Studio ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs The Gradient (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Gapsy 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: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
| Use case | Gapsy Studio fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Healthcare or EdTech product redesign | 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 | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a firm that doesn't publish its own headcount.
The Gradient (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need retail digital product design for an established brand. If your situation matches that, The Gradient is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Gapsy Studio vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Gapsy Studio better than The Gradient?
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Gapsy Studio's strongest advantage: 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this list. The Gradient's strongest advantage: notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small firm.
How do Gapsy Studio and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Gapsy Studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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: Gapsy Studio or The Gradient?
The Gradient 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 Gapsy Studio and The Gradient?
Gapsy Studio's primary differentiator is: a perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a firm that doesn't publish its own headcount. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects) vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.