R/GA vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands, product design plus brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2015 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software |
R/GA vs Eleken: overview
R/GA
R/GA has been headquartered in New York City since 1977, expanding to ten countries that include Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. Interpublic Group owned the firm for 23 years before an independent buyout in March 2025, backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — recent enough that clients should ask directly how the transition has settled. Through all of it, the pitch has stayed the same: digital product design fused with marketing and brand strategy for large consumer and enterprise platforms.
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: R/GA vs Eleken
| Capability | R/GA | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | R/GA | 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 |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Eleken
| Criterion | R/GA | 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: R/GA vs Eleken
| Dimension | R/GA | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
R/GA vs Eleken: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | Still stabilizing operationally after a recent (2025) private-equity-backed ownership change |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique firms |
| - | Scale and pricing suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Eleken
| Use case | R/GA fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Eleken FAQ
Is R/GA better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do R/GA and Eleken differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA 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 R/GA and Eleken?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 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, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.