MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) edges ahead of MetaLab (4.1/5) overall. Gapsy Studio is the better choice for Fintech, SaaS, healthcare — perfect-rated boutique. MetaLab is the stronger option for funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack research-to-systems. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | Dnipro, Ukraine |
| Team size | 160+ | Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects) |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems | 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 |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Webflow, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail |
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: overview
MetaLab
Andrew Wilkinson founded MetaLab in 2006; since January 2017 it has operated as a subsidiary of his holding company Tiny, worth disclosing since the firm is no longer independently owned. From Victoria, British Columbia, a remote-first team of 160+ people across 17 countries has designed products for Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. Engagements run full-stack — research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems handled by one team rather than split across vendors.
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.
Services and capabilities: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Capability | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Criterion | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Dimension | MetaLab | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | SaaS product design from research through design system, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work, Healthcare or EdTech product redesign |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio: pros and cons
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — exceptional for a 160-person firm |
| + | Remote-first across 17 countries enables round-the-clock delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack engagement model spans research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems in one team |
| + | Nearly two decades under the same founding brand |
| - | Became a Tiny subsidiary in 2017 — worth disclosing even though the founding team and brand remain |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) is out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client roster can mean longer lead times for new engagements |
| 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 |
Who should choose MetaLab?
A typical fit: SaaS product design from research through design system.
A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
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.
Decision matrix: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | MetaLab |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Gapsy Studio |
| 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: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Gapsy Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Healthcare or EdTech product redesign | Limited | Strong | Gapsy Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio
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.
MetaLab (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need fintech app redesign for a funded startup. If your situation matches that, MetaLab is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MetaLab vs Gapsy Studio FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy Studio (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — exceptional for a 160-person firm. Gapsy Studio's strongest advantage: 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this list.
How do MetaLab and Gapsy Studio differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Gapsy Studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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: MetaLab or Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy 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 firm before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between MetaLab and Gapsy Studio?
MetaLab's primary differentiator is: a Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. 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. They also differ in team size (160+ vs Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects)), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.