IDEO vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.5/5) edges ahead of IDEO (3.8/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible rates. IDEO is the stronger option for enterprises funding multi-year design transformation. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
IDEO vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2018 |
| HQ | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 500–1,000 | 100+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | The firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later | A sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
IDEO vs Excited: overview
IDEO
Ask where the term "human-centered design" entered mainstream business vocabulary and the answer usually traces back to IDEO — formed in 1991 from the merger of David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design. Three decades on, the firm still runs roughly two dozen studios out of its San Francisco Bay Area base, with a client history that includes the original Apple Mouse alongside long relationships with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. That legacy comes at enterprise prices: industry roundups cite typical engagement minimums near $300K (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable).
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.
Services and capabilities: IDEO vs Excited
| Capability | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: IDEO vs Excited
| Framework / platform | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| 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: IDEO vs Excited
| Criterion | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: IDEO vs Excited
| Dimension | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy, Large health system patient experience redesign | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
IDEO vs Excited: pros and cons
| IDEO | |
|---|---|
| + | The firm most credited with mainstreaming human-centered design as a business term |
| + | Roughly 24 studios worldwide support genuine multi-region delivery |
| + | Landmark case studies (the original Apple Mouse, P&G, PepsiCo) span decades and industries |
| + | Strategy and organizational-transformation capability extends well past interface design |
| - | A $300K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) rules out startups and most mid-market budgets |
| - | Consultancy-scale process can move slower than a boutique studio |
| - | Broad enterprise-consulting positioning trades away the depth boutiques bring to one specific niche |
| 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 |
Who should choose IDEO?
A typical fit: multi-business-unit design transformation strategy.
The firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later. Minimum engagement starts at $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: IDEO vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | IDEO |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | IDEO |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Excited |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Excited
| Use case | IDEO fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Large health system patient experience redesign | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Limited | Strong | Excited |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: IDEO vs Excited
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.
IDEO (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need large health system patient experience redesign. If your situation matches that, IDEO is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Excited FAQ
Is IDEO better than Excited?
Excited (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO's strongest advantage: the firm most credited with mainstreaming human-centered design as a business term. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX company ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do IDEO and Excited differ in pricing?
IDEO uses project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Excited uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: IDEO or Excited?
IDEO 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 IDEO and Excited?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later. 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. They also differ in team size (500–1,000 vs 100+), minimum engagement ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.