Excited vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.5/5) edges ahead of The Gradient (4.1/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible rates. The Gradient is the stronger option for Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Excited vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2016 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 100+ | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity | A deliberately small, AI-native company with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, After Effects | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Excited vs The Gradient: overview
Excited
Excited opened in Lviv, Ukraine in 2018 and has grown to 100+ designers, holding a repeated spot among Clutch's Top 5 UX companies worldwide. About 70% of its Clutch reviewers specifically call out quality and creativity, an unusually direct signal in review data. The company deliberately narrows to SaaS and fintech clients, covering UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, with delivery experience across 20+ countries.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year, though its 55 Clutch reviews imply several years of delivery history; 2016 is used here as an estimate consistent with that track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the company keeps itself intentionally small — 11–50 people — a self-imposed cap it frames as necessary to keep senior attention on every engagement instead of scaling into account-management layers. Client names include Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, and Dubai Financial Market, an unusually strong list for a company operating at this size, built around an explicitly AI-native design practice.
Services and capabilities: Excited vs The Gradient
| Capability | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Excited vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Excited | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Excited vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Sustained Top 5 UX company ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | About 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality and creativity, a strong qualitative signal |
| + | Purpose-built around SaaS and fintech, giving real vertical depth |
| + | Delivery experience across 20+ countries demonstrates broad operational reach |
| - | The claimed 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted companies |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small company |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the company frames as preserving senior attention per project |
| + | 55 Clutch reviews imply a substantial track record despite the unconfirmed founding year |
| - | Founding year is not confirmed in available sources beyond an implied multi-year track record |
| - | Deliberately small team (11–50) by design limits capacity for very large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, requiring a direct conversation for budget planning |
Who should choose Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
A sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech.
Who should choose The Gradient?
A typical fit: AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform.
A deliberately small, AI-native company with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Excited vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Excited |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs The Gradient (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | The Gradient |
| 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: Excited vs The Gradient
| Use case | Excited fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Limited | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Excited vs The Gradient
Excited (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity.
The Gradient (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need retail digital product design for an established brand. If your situation matches that, The Gradient is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Excited vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Excited better than The Gradient?
Excited (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX company ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement. The Gradient's strongest advantage: notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small company.
How do Excited and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Excited or The Gradient?
The Gradient 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 Excited and The Gradient?
Excited's primary differentiator is: a sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, AI-native company with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (100+ vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.