Projects by IF vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer. Projects by IF is the stronger option for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Projects by IF vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 |
| HQ | London, UK | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Not published | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
Projects by IF vs Eleken: overview
Projects by IF
Sarah Gold founded Projects by IF in London in 2016, building a strategic design practice around a specific problem: helping technology-enabled organizations design for trust at scale. That focus — spanning product and experience design, digital strategy, regulation and policy work, and technology architecture — has produced client relationships with Google, the UK Government, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, an unusual combination of big tech and public-sector work for a studio this size.
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: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Capability | Projects by IF | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Projects by IF | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Dimension | Projects by IF | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Projects by IF vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Projects by IF | |
|---|---|
| + | Purpose-built around trust and regulation-aware design, a genuine specialty few boutiques on this list offer |
| + | Client list combines big tech (Google) with public-sector work (UK Government), demonstrating range within its niche |
| + | Founder-led since 2016 under CEO Sarah Gold, giving a consistent point of view across engagements |
| + | Services span product design through policy and regulatory design, useful for regulated or public-facing products |
| - | Team size isn't published in available sources, making capacity planning harder for large programs |
| - | Trust-and-policy specialization is a narrower fit for clients wanting pure visual or brand design |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| 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 Projects by IF?
A typical fit: public-sector or government digital service design.
A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, 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: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Projects by IF |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Projects by IF (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Projects by IF |
| 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: Projects by IF vs Eleken
| Use case | Projects by IF fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public-sector or government digital service design | Strong | Limited | Projects by IF |
| Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Strong | Limited | Projects by IF |
| 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: Projects by IF vs Eleken
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects.
Projects by IF (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform. If your situation matches that, Projects by IF is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Projects by IF vs Eleken FAQ
Is Projects by IF better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Projects by IF's strongest advantage: purpose-built around trust and regulation-aware design, a genuine specialty few boutiques on this list offer. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do Projects by IF and Eleken differ in pricing?
Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. 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: Projects by IF 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 Projects by IF and Eleken?
Projects by IF's primary differentiator is: a design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government. 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 (Not published vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.