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 wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project.. R/GA is the stronger option for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led 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 |
| Best for | Large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy. | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. |
| 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
New York City-based since its 1977 founding, R/GA now spans ten countries — Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm among them. Twenty-three years inside Interpublic Group ended with an independent buyout in March 2025, backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — a recent structural shift worth disclosing. R/GA's differentiator is fusing digital product design with marketing and brand strategy, producing strong platform work for large consumer and enterprise brands.
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 pool. 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.
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, useful for clients needing both from one vendor |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and APAC |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Now independently owned following the 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 studios |
| - | 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?
R/GA is the right choice for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy..
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now independent after its 2025 buyout from IPG. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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.
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 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..
R/GA (3.7/5) is the better choice when large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy.. If your situation matches those criteria, 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 is better for large consumer or enterprise brands wanting product design bundled with marketing-led brand strategy.. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
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 company 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 under one roof, now independent after its 2025 buyout from ipg. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), saas-only, 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 company before making a decision.