Eleken vs Topflight Apps: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Topflight Apps (3.9/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. Topflight Apps is the stronger option for healthcare, fintech, and AI startups preferring a monthly subscription over a large fixed-price contract.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Eleken vs Topflight Apps: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Eleken | Topflight Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2016 |
| HQ | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine | Irvine, CA, USA |
| Team size | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) | ~40 (some directories list 51–200; likely inflated bracket) |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best for | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. | Healthcare, fintech, and AI startups preferring a monthly subscription over a large fixed-price contract. |
| Pricing model | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) | Monthly subscription / dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $8K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software | Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
Eleken vs Topflight Apps: overview
Eleken
Eleken traces to 2015, rooted in Kyiv, Ukraine, and today operates as a distributed team reported anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source (treated as approximate). Rather than quote a project fee, Eleken sells a subscription — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, part-time also available — a genuinely different model from the fixed-price and T&M norm elsewhere in this list. A 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects and 70+ published case studies backs a SaaS-only focus that covers complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Topflight Apps
Joe Tuan founded Topflight Apps in 2016; it's based in Irvine, California, focused on healthcare, fintech, and AI app design and development for both Fortune 500 and startup clients. The firm states a team of roughly 40, though some directories list 51–200 (treated as a likely inflated bracket). Its monthly-subscription engagement model is a genuine differentiator from the fixed-price or T&M norm found across most of this list.
Services and capabilities: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Capability | Eleken | Topflight Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Framework / platform | Eleken | Topflight Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Criterion | Eleken | Topflight Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $8K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Subscription | Subscription, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Dimension | Eleken | Topflight Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software | Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Healthcare app design and AI feature development, Fintech app redesign on an ongoing subscription basis |
| Typical project type | Subscription | Subscription |
Eleken vs Topflight Apps: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Topflight Apps | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing gives more budget predictability than a fixed-scope contract for an evolving product |
| + | Focused specifically on healthcare, fintech, and AI — three compliance-heavy verticals |
| + | Serves both Fortune 500 and startup clients, offering flexible scale |
| + | Nearly a decade of continuous operation under its founding CEO |
| - | Reported team size is inconsistent across sources (company states ~40; some directories list 51–200, likely inflated) |
| - | Heavy AI-development emphasis may be a weaker fit for clients purely focused on visual/brand design |
| - | Monthly-subscription pricing can exceed a fixed-scope project's cost for a well-defined, short engagement |
Who should choose Eleken?
Eleken is the right choice for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
A subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), SaaS-only, 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.
Who should choose Topflight Apps?
Topflight Apps is the right choice for healthcare, fintech, and AI startups preferring a monthly subscription over a large fixed-price contract..
A monthly-subscription engagement model built specifically around healthcare, fintech, and AI app development. Minimum engagement starts at $8K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Healthcare, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Topflight Apps |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Topflight Apps |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Topflight Apps |
| 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: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
| Use case | Eleken fit | Topflight Apps fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| Healthcare app design and AI feature development | Limited | Strong | Topflight Apps |
| Fintech app redesign on an ongoing subscription basis | Limited | Strong | Topflight Apps |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Eleken vs Topflight Apps
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), SaaS-only, with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. It is best for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
Topflight Apps (3.9/5) is the better choice when healthcare, fintech, and AI startups preferring a monthly subscription over a large fixed-price contract.. If your situation matches those criteria, Topflight Apps is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Eleken vs Topflight Apps FAQ
Is Eleken better than Topflight Apps?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. Topflight Apps is better for healthcare, fintech, and AI startups preferring a monthly subscription over a large fixed-price contract..
How do Eleken and Topflight Apps differ in pricing?
Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Topflight Apps uses monthly subscription / dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $8K/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: Eleken or Topflight Apps?
Topflight Apps 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 Eleken and Topflight Apps?
Eleken's primary differentiator is: a subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), saas-only, with a 4.9 clutch rating across 200+ projects. Topflight Apps's primary differentiator is: a monthly-subscription engagement model built specifically around healthcare, fintech, and ai app development. They also differ in team size (40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) vs ~40 (some directories list 51–200; likely inflated bracket)), minimum engagement ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs $8K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software vs Healthcare, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.