AKQA vs Fireart Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Fireart Studio (4.3/5) edges ahead of AKQA (3.6/5) overall. Fireart Studio is the better choice for Startups/mid-market, design plus full software development. AKQA is the stronger option for fortune 500 enterprises, design within a global agency network. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
AKQA vs Fireart Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | AKQA | Fireart Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 2013 |
| HQ | London, UK | Warsaw, Poland (Ukraine-founded roots) |
| Team size | ~6,000 | 100–150+ |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A 6,000-person, 50-country agency network with more than half the Fortune 500's top 20 as clients, now part of WPP's AKQA Group | 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients, backed by Clutch's independently verified 'Leading UX Design Team' recognition |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
AKQA vs Fireart Studio: overview
AKQA
Ajaz Ahmed launched AKQA in London in 1994 at 21, before finishing university, betting early on the commercial web. The firm stayed independent until WPP acquired it in 2012, and in 2020 WPP merged it with Grey Group to form AKQA Group — the agency now runs roughly 6,000 people across 50 countries. More than half of the Fortune 500's top 20 companies have been clients, and AKQA has broadened well past its web-agency roots into product and spatial design and, more recently, AI-driven experience work.
Fireart Studio
Fireart Studio began in 2013 with Ukrainian roots and now runs out of Warsaw, Poland, scaling from a single founder to 150+ people over twelve years. Clutch names it a 'Leading UX Design Team'; DesignRush and The Manifest have separately called it a Top Graphic Design Company. The track record behind those recognitions: 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients, with product design and full software development handled by the same boutique team.
Services and capabilities: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Capability | AKQA | Fireart Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Framework / platform | AKQA | Fireart Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Criterion | AKQA | Fireart Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Dimension | AKQA | Fireart Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Fortune 500 digital product design bundled with brand and marketing work, Enterprise experience design backed by a large global network | End-to-end SaaS product design and development, Startup MVP design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
AKQA vs Fireart Studio: pros and cons
| AKQA | |
|---|---|
| + | 6,000 people across 50 countries make it one of the largest networks in this pool |
| + | More than half of the Fortune 500's top 20 companies have been clients |
| + | Three decades of history, from an independent 1994 startup through its current WPP-backed scale |
| + | Broadened beyond web design into product, spatial, and AI-driven experience work |
| - | Fully absorbed into WPP's AKQA Group since 2020, so clients are hiring a large network agency, not an independent studio |
| - | Enterprise scale and pricing are less accessible to startups or small product teams |
| - | Broad, agency-network positioning means less concentrated product-design specialization than boutique studios |
| Fireart Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients over 12 years is one of the deepest track records among boutiques here |
| + | Clutch-recognized 'Leading UX Design Team,' plus Top Graphic Design Company nods from DesignRush and The Manifest |
| + | Grew from 1 to 150+ people while retaining a single-studio, boutique culture |
| + | Pairs product design with full software development, cutting hand-off risk |
| - | Relocated its HQ from Ukraine to Warsaw amid regional instability — worth noting for delivery-continuity planning |
| - | $20K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) is mid-tier, not the cheapest option in this pool |
| - | Development-heavy focus means marginally less pure design specialization than research-only companies |
Who should choose AKQA?
A typical fit: fortune 500 digital product design bundled with brand and marketing work.
A 6,000-person, 50-country agency network with more than half the Fortune 500's top 20 as clients, now part of WPP's AKQA Group. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech.
Who should choose Fireart Studio?
A typical fit: end-to-end SaaS product design and development.
700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients, backed by Clutch's independently verified 'Leading UX Design Team' recognition. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | AKQA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | AKQA |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: AKQA (Not published) vs Fireart Studio ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | AKQA |
| 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: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
| Use case | AKQA fit | Fireart Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortune 500 digital product design bundled with brand and marketing work | Strong | Limited | AKQA |
| Enterprise experience design backed by a large global network | Strong | Limited | AKQA |
| End-to-end SaaS product design and development | Limited | Strong | Fireart Studio |
| Startup MVP design and build | Limited | Strong | Fireart Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: AKQA vs Fireart Studio
Fireart Studio (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients, backed by Clutch's independently verified 'Leading UX Design Team' recognition.
AKQA (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise experience design backed by a large global network. If your situation matches that, AKQA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
AKQA vs Fireart Studio FAQ
Is AKQA better than Fireart Studio?
Fireart Studio (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. AKQA's strongest advantage: 6,000 people across 50 countries make it one of the largest networks in this pool. Fireart Studio's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients over 12 years is one of the deepest track records among boutiques here.
How do AKQA and Fireart Studio differ in pricing?
AKQA uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Fireart Studio uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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: AKQA or Fireart Studio?
Fireart Studio 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 AKQA and Fireart Studio?
AKQA's primary differentiator is: a 6,000-person, 50-country agency network with more than half the Fortune 500's top 20 as clients, now part of WPP's AKQA Group. Fireart Studio's primary differentiator is: 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients, backed by Clutch's independently verified 'Leading UX Design Team' recognition. They also differ in team size (~6,000 vs 100–150+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.