Eleken vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.2/5) edges ahead of Eleken (4.1/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for banks and fintech companies wanting a firm exclusively focused on financial-services UX.. Eleken is the stronger option for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Eleken vs UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Eleken | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| HQ | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) | 25+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best for | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. | Banks and fintech companies wanting a firm exclusively focused on financial-services UX. |
| Pricing model | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software | Financial services / fintech |
Eleken vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
Alex Kreger and co-founder Linda launched UXDA (Financial UX Design) in 2015, based in Riga, Latvia with a 25+ multidisciplinary team. Over a decade, the firm has defined or governed 150+ banking and fintech digital platforms across 39 countries — an exclusively financial-services focus that makes it the clearest fintech specialist in this list.
Services and capabilities: Eleken vs UXDA
| Capability | Eleken | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Eleken vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | Eleken | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Eleken vs UXDA
| Criterion | Eleken | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Subscription | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Eleken vs UXDA
| Dimension | Eleken | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Subscription | Fixed project |
Eleken vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Exclusive financial-services focus gives it domain expertise generalist firms simply can't match |
| + | 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries over a decade |
| + | Small, senior 25+ team keeps client relationships direct rather than layered through account management |
| + | A decade of continuous, single-vertical operation compounds domain knowledge over time |
| - | The exclusive fintech focus is a real limitation for any client outside financial services |
| - | $30K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) runs higher than most 25-person boutiques |
| - | Small team size (25+) caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
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 UXDA?
UXDA is the right choice for banks and fintech companies wanting a firm exclusively focused on financial-services UX..
The only firm in this list exclusively focused on financial services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Eleken vs UXDA
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | UXDA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | UXDA |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Eleken |
| 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 UXDA
| Use case | Eleken fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Eleken vs UXDA
UXDA (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only firm in this list exclusively focused on financial services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. It is best for banks and fintech companies wanting a firm exclusively focused on financial-services UX..
Eleken (4.1/5) is the better choice when saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. If your situation matches those criteria, Eleken is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Eleken vs UXDA FAQ
Is Eleken better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.2/5) 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.. UXDA is better for banks and fintech companies wanting a firm exclusively focused on financial-services UX..
How do Eleken and UXDA 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). UXDA uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of $30K (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 UXDA?
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 Eleken and UXDA?
Eleken's primary differentiator is: a subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), saas-only, with a 4.9 clutch rating across 200+ projects. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only firm in this list exclusively focused on financial services ux, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) vs 25+), minimum engagement ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.