Frog vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Frog (3.8/5) 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.. Frog is the stronger option for enterprises needing design that covers both digital products and physical/connected hardware in one engagement.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Frog vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | Enterprises needing design that covers both digital products and physical/connected hardware in one engagement. | SaaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise consulting engagements | 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, Miro | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
Frog vs Eleken: overview
Frog
Frog's history stretches back to 1969 as Esslinger Design in Germany; it later became frog design and was acquired first by Aricent, then Altran, before landing inside Capgemini Invent in 2019 — an ownership chain worth disclosing. Capgemini has since folded Fahrenheit 212, Idean, and June21 into the frog brand, taking total headcount to roughly 2,000 across 35 studios. Its differentiator: work that spans IoT, smart-home, automotive, and medical devices, not just screens.
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: Frog vs Eleken
| Capability | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Frog | 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Criterion | Frog | 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: Frog vs Eleken
| Dimension | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | IoT and connected hardware product design, Automotive and smart-home interface design | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Frog vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Frog | |
|---|---|
| + | Rare combined software-plus-physical-hardware design capability in this pool |
| + | 35 global studios support multi-region enterprise programs |
| + | More than five decades of brand history and design case studies |
| + | Access to Capgemini Invent's broader technology-consulting bench |
| - | Operates as a Capgemini Invent brand today, not an independent boutique — worth disclosing to prospective clients |
| - | Absorbed several legacy agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) under one brand, which can mean inconsistent staffing |
| - | Consulting-firm process overhead can slow fast-moving engagements relative to boutique studios |
| 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 Frog?
Frog is the right choice for enterprises needing design that covers both digital products and physical/connected hardware in one engagement..
Combined software-and-hardware design capability (IoT, automotive, medical devices) delivered at Capgemini Invent scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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: Frog vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Frog |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Frog (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Eleken
| Use case | Frog fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IoT and connected hardware product design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Automotive and smart-home interface design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| 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: Frog 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..
Frog (3.8/5) is the better choice when enterprises needing design that covers both digital products and physical/connected hardware in one engagement.. If your situation matches those criteria, Frog is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Frog vs Eleken FAQ
Is Frog better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Frog is better for enterprises needing design that covers both digital products and physical/connected hardware in one engagement.. Eleken is better for saaS teams wanting a predictable monthly subscription for an embedded designer instead of negotiating a fixed-price project..
How do Frog and Eleken differ in pricing?
Frog uses project-based, enterprise consulting engagements 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: Frog 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 Frog and Eleken?
Frog's primary differentiator is: combined software-and-hardware design capability (iot, automotive, medical devices) delivered at capgemini invent scale. 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.