AKQA vs Goji Labs: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Goji Labs (3.8/5) edges ahead of AKQA (3.6/5) overall. Goji Labs is the better choice for startups and nonprofits, strategy-led design, accessible pricing. 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 Goji Labs: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | AKQA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 2014 |
| HQ | London, UK | West Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Team size | ~6,000 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 3.8 / 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 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
AKQA vs Goji Labs: 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.
Goji Labs
David Barlev and Adam Sumner founded Goji Labs in 2014 (one source says 2015), building a strategy-led practice from West Hollywood/Los Angeles with 11–50 employees. It made the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and carries 84 Clutch reviews, with deep edtech, fintech, and healthtech experience. What separates Goji from most boutiques in this pool: it explicitly takes on nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs alongside venture-funded clients.
Services and capabilities: AKQA vs Goji Labs
| Capability | AKQA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: AKQA vs Goji Labs
| Framework / platform | AKQA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: AKQA vs Goji Labs
| Criterion | AKQA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: AKQA vs Goji Labs
| Dimension | AKQA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Financial services / fintech | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Fortune 500 digital product design bundled with brand and marketing work, Enterprise experience design backed by a large global network | Nonprofit or mission-driven product design, EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
AKQA vs Goji Labs: 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 |
| Goji Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition |
| + | 84 Clutch reviews provide a substantial independent feedback sample |
| + | Explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| + | Strategy-led approach pairs product discovery with delivery inside one team |
| - | The 11–50 employee band is smaller than most other boutiques here, limiting capacity for very large programs |
| - | Founding year is disputed between sources (2014 vs. 2015) |
| - | Focus on edtech/fintech/healthtech means less depth for consumer or enterprise-only projects |
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 Goji Labs?
A typical fit: nonprofit or mission-driven product design.
A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups. Minimum engagement starts at $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: AKQA vs Goji Labs
| 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 Goji Labs ($15K (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 Goji Labs
| Use case | AKQA fit | Goji Labs 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 |
| Nonprofit or mission-driven product design | Limited | Strong | Goji Labs |
| EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup | Limited | Strong | Goji Labs |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: AKQA vs Goji Labs
Goji Labs (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups.
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 Goji Labs FAQ
Is AKQA better than Goji Labs?
Goji Labs (3.8/5) 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. Goji Labs's strongest advantage: independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition.
How do AKQA and Goji Labs differ in pricing?
AKQA uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Goji Labs uses fixed project, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of $15K (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 Goji Labs?
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 Goji Labs?
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. Goji Labs's primary differentiator is: a 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups. They also differ in team size (~6,000 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs EdTech, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.