AKQA vs Gapsy Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Gapsy Studio (4.4/5) edges ahead of AKQA (3.6/5) overall. Gapsy Studio is the better choice for Fintech, SaaS, healthcare — perfect-rated boutique. 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 Gapsy Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | AKQA | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 2014 |
| HQ | London, UK | Dnipro, Ukraine |
| Team size | ~6,000 | Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects) |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 4.4 / 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 | A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a company that doesn't publish its own headcount |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Webflow, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail |
AKQA vs Gapsy 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.
Gapsy Studio
Gapsy Studio describes its own history as running "since 2014" — treated here as self-reported since it isn't independently confirmed — from a base in Dnipro, Ukraine. Instead of stating a team size, the company calls itself a "collective of creative professionals," pointing to 500+ completed projects and a 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews. Thirteen-plus international awards from Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush back that rating, spanning fintech, SaaS, health, education, and retail client work.
Services and capabilities: AKQA vs Gapsy Studio
| Capability | AKQA | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: AKQA vs Gapsy Studio
| Framework / platform | AKQA | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: AKQA vs Gapsy Studio
| Criterion | AKQA | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: AKQA vs Gapsy Studio
| Dimension | AKQA | Gapsy Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Fortune 500 digital product design bundled with brand and marketing work, Enterprise experience design backed by a large global network | Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work, Healthcare or EdTech product redesign |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
AKQA vs Gapsy 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 |
| Gapsy Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this pool |
| + | 13+ international design awards across Behance, Awwwards, FWA, CSS Winner, Titan Awards, and DesignRush |
| + | 500+ completed projects demonstrates a substantial delivery track record |
| + | Covers five distinct industries (fintech, SaaS, health, education, retail) from one team |
| - | Doesn't publish a specific headcount, describing itself as a 'collective' — harder to gauge delivery capacity |
| - | Founding year is self-reported ('since 2014') rather than independently confirmed |
| - | Its broad five-industry positioning trades off some depth against single-vertical specialists like UXDA |
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 Gapsy Studio?
A typical fit: fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work.
A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a company that doesn't publish its own headcount. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: AKQA vs Gapsy 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 Gapsy Studio ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Gapsy Studio |
| 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 Gapsy Studio
| Use case | AKQA fit | Gapsy 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 |
| Fintech app UI/UX with brand identity work | Limited | Strong | Gapsy Studio |
| Healthcare or EdTech product redesign | Limited | Strong | Gapsy Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: AKQA vs Gapsy Studio
Gapsy Studio (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a company that doesn't publish its own headcount.
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 Gapsy Studio FAQ
Is AKQA better than Gapsy Studio?
Gapsy Studio (4.4/5) 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. Gapsy Studio's strongest advantage: 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 public reviews — one of the highest verified scores in this pool.
How do AKQA and Gapsy Studio differ in pricing?
AKQA uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Gapsy Studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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 Gapsy Studio?
AKQA 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 Gapsy 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. Gapsy Studio's primary differentiator is: a perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a company that doesn't publish its own headcount. They also differ in team size (~6,000 vs Collective model, size not published (500+ completed projects)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.