Huge Inc vs Clay: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Clay (4.0/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.7/5) overall. Clay is the better choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique with a big-tech-caliber client list.. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big firm mid-way through a recent ownership transition.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs Clay: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2015 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | San Francisco, CA, USA |
| Team size | ~1,240 | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | Large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big firm mid-way through a recent ownership transition. | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique with a big-tech-caliber client list. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Framer, Webflow |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Huge Inc vs Clay: overview
Huge Inc
David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro founded Huge in Brooklyn in 1999; the firm relocated to Manhattan in October 2025. Years inside Interpublic Group preceded a December 2024 sale to private equity firm AEA Investors and a merger with Hero Digital — a recent restructuring worth weighing carefully. Post-merger headcount runs around 1,240, with engagement sizes following large-agency norms rather than a published per-project rate.
Clay
Clay (clay.global) operates out of San Francisco with substantial NYC client history. No founding year is published, so it's tagged here as unconfirmed; team size is likewise not independently verifiable — best treated as boutique-to-mid-size. Its roster — Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, Samsung — reflects deep B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech experience. This is the design firm at clay.global, distinct from the unrelated AI sales-data company also named Clay (clay.com).
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Capability | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Dimension | Huge Inc | Clay |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs Clay: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies |
| + | Post-merger headcount (~1,240) supports significant delivery capacity |
| + | Covers brand, product, and web design/development under one roof |
| + | Recent Hero Digital merger brings additional capabilities into the brand |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent ownership change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned firm |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, complicating budget planning for smaller teams |
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon) is exceptional for a boutique-to-mid-size firm |
| + | Deep, specific track record across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with strong NYC client relationships |
| + | Combines UX design, branding, and web/product design under one roof |
| - | Founding year is not independently confirmed outside the company's own materials |
| - | Team size is neither published nor independently verifiable, complicating capacity planning for large programs |
| - | Easily confused with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) — confirm you're researching clay.global |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
Huge Inc is the right choice for large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big firm mid-way through a recent ownership transition..
One of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Who should choose Clay?
Clay is the right choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique with a big-tech-caliber client list..
A client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs Clay (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| 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: Huge Inc vs Clay
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | Clay fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Limited | Strong | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs Clay
Clay (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. It is best for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique with a big-tech-caliber client list..
Huge Inc (3.7/5) is the better choice when large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big firm mid-way through a recent ownership transition.. If your situation matches those criteria, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs Clay FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than Clay?
Clay (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc is better for large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big firm mid-way through a recent ownership transition.. Clay is better for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies wanting a boutique with a big-tech-caliber client list..
How do Huge Inc and Clay differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Clay uses fixed project 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: Huge Inc or Clay?
Huge Inc 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 Huge Inc and Clay?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with hero digital under aea investors. Clay's primary differentiator is: a client list (coinbase, uber, meta, google, slack) unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.