Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) edges ahead of Excited (4.6/5) overall. Phenomenon Studio is the better choice for repeat-client rate proof, one senior team throughout. Excited is the stronger option for SaaS/fintech teams, top-ranked specialist, accessible rates. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2018 |
| HQ | Europe (entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 70+ | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support | A sustained Top 5 global UX firm ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: overview
Phenomenon Studio
A repeat-engagement rate is one of the more honest signals a design firm can offer, because it reflects what happened after the invoice was paid, not before. At Phenomenon Studio, founded in 2019, roughly half of clients return for a second project — a result the firm attributes to keeping the same senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support, rather than handing a project between separate vendors partway through. That team numbers 70+ specialists based in Europe, with legal entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland, working across SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and EdTech. The firm has shipped 120+ products for clients that have collectively raised over $500M, backed by a 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance monitored by Compliancy Group, and Nielsen Norman Group UX certification.
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.
Services and capabilities: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Capability | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Dimension | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | A company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth, A SaaS platform needing one senior team from strategy through launch | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: pros and cons
| Phenomenon Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement, an honest post-project signal |
| + | One senior team spans strategy through post-launch, removing the hand-off risk of switching vendors mid-project |
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating with Top 1000 Company 2025 and Top Design Company USA 2026 recognition |
| + | HIPAA compliance independently verified and monitored by Compliancy Group |
| + | Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification and four-tier Webflow Experts partner status |
| + | 120+ shipped products behind a combined $500M+ in client fundraising |
| - | The discovery-first process front-loads time before visible design work begins |
| - | No product or growth marketing services — a separate firm is needed for post-launch growth work |
| - | No published rate card; pricing requires a discovery call |
| 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 |
Who should choose Phenomenon Studio?
A typical fit: a company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth.
Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech.
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.
Decision matrix: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Phenomenon Studio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Phenomenon Studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Phenomenon Studio (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Phenomenon 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Use case | Phenomenon Studio fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A SaaS platform needing one senior team from strategy through launch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support.
Excited (4.6/5) is worth a look if you need fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish. If your situation matches that, Excited is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited FAQ
Is Phenomenon Studio better than Excited?
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phenomenon Studio's strongest advantage: roughly half of clients return for a second engagement, an honest post-project signal. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX firm ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do Phenomenon Studio and Excited differ in pricing?
Phenomenon Studio uses project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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: Phenomenon Studio or Excited?
Excited 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 Phenomenon Studio and Excited?
Phenomenon Studio's primary differentiator is: roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support. 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. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.