Projects by IF vs Qubstudio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Qubstudio (4.6/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. Qubstudio is the better choice for Fintech, logistics, healthcare — MVP to enterprise redesign. 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 Qubstudio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
| HQ | London, UK | London, UK (Canary Wharf), Ukraine-based delivery team |
| Team size | Not published | 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 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 | Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI firm worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Sketch, Webflow |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Projects by IF vs Qubstudio: 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.
Qubstudio
Qubstudio's exact founding year is disputed — 2006 or 2007, depending on the source — but its current standing isn't: Clutch's 2026 rankings put it #1 among UX/UI firms with 90+ reviews. The firm runs from London's Canary Wharf with a Ukraine-based delivery team, stating roughly 70 creative professionals within a broader 51–200 employee band. Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition sit alongside the ranking, with work spanning fintech, logistics, healthcare, and EdTech.
Services and capabilities: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
| Capability | Projects by IF | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
| Framework / platform | Projects by IF | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
| Dimension | Projects by IF | Qubstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Fintech MVP launch design, Logistics platform UX overhaul |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Projects by IF vs Qubstudio: 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 |
| Qubstudio | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently ranked #1 UX/UI firm on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews |
| + | Independently verified via Red Dot Design Award and UX Design Awards recognition |
| + | Nearly two decades of operation with a stable London HQ and Ukraine delivery team |
| + | Covers everything from MVP launches to enterprise digital transformation |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2006 vs. 2007) — treated as approximate |
| - | Ukraine-based delivery team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted firms |
| - | The 51–200 directory band is wide; the company's own ~70 figure is more precise but self-reported |
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 Qubstudio?
A typical fit: fintech MVP launch design.
Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI firm worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
| 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 | Qubstudio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Projects by IF (Not published) vs Qubstudio ($15K (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 Qubstudio
| Use case | Projects by IF fit | Qubstudio 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 |
| Fintech MVP launch design | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Logistics platform UX overhaul | Limited | Strong | Qubstudio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Projects by IF vs Qubstudio
Qubstudio (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI firm worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top.
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 Qubstudio FAQ
Is Projects by IF better than Qubstudio?
Qubstudio (4.6/5) 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. Qubstudio's strongest advantage: currently ranked #1 UX/UI firm on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ public reviews.
How do Projects by IF and Qubstudio differ in pricing?
Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Qubstudio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (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 Qubstudio?
Qubstudio 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 Qubstudio?
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. Qubstudio's primary differentiator is: currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI firm worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 51–200 (company states ~70 creative professionals)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.