Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phenomenon Studio (4.7/5) edges ahead of Excited (4.5/5) overall. Phenomenon Studio is the better choice for companies wanting independently verified design credentials. Excited is the stronger option for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible rates. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2018 |
| HQ | Europe (entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 70+ | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Third-party-verified credentials (Compliancy Group-monitored HIPAA compliance, NN/g UX certification, 5.0 Clutch rating) rather than self-reported claims, behind 120+ shipped products | A sustained Top 5 global UX company ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: overview
Phenomenon Studio
Most of the credentials product design companies list are self-reported. Phenomenon Studio's aren't: its HIPAA compliance is monitored by Compliancy Group, its UX practice carries Nielsen Norman Group certification, and its 5.0 rating comes from Clutch rather than an in-house testimonial page. Those third-party checks sit on top of a straightforward operating model — founded in 2019, the studio runs strategy, design, development, and post-launch support through the same 70+-person senior team, based in Europe with legal entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland. Working across SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and EdTech, Phenomenon has shipped 120+ products for clients that have collectively raised over $500M.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Capability | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $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 | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Dimension | Phenomenon Studio | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | A healthcare company that needs a design partner with independently verified HIPAA compliance, A SaaS company that wants a third-party-certified UX practice, not just an internal claim | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited: pros and cons
| Phenomenon Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | HIPAA compliance independently monitored by Compliancy Group rather than self-declared |
| + | Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification is a third-party credential, not an internal claim |
| + | 5.0 rating comes from Clutch's review platform, plus Top 1000 Company 2025 and Top Design Company USA 2026 recognition |
| + | Webflow Experts partner status verified across four separate certification tiers |
| + | One senior team spans strategy through post-launch, avoiding the hand-off risk of splitting vendors |
| + | 120+ shipped products behind a combined $500M+ in client fundraising |
| - | The verified credentials come with a discovery-first process that adds time before visible design work starts |
| - | No product or growth marketing services — a separate vendor is needed for post-launch growth work |
| - | No published rate card; pricing requires a discovery call |
| 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 Phenomenon Studio?
A typical fit: a healthcare company that needs a design partner with independently verified HIPAA compliance.
Third-party-verified credentials (Compliancy Group-monitored HIPAA compliance, NN/g UX certification, 5.0 Clutch rating) rather than self-reported claims, behind 120+ shipped products. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Phenomenon Studio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Phenomenon Studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Phenomenon Studio (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Phenomenon 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
| Use case | Phenomenon Studio fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A healthcare company that needs a design partner with independently verified HIPAA compliance | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A SaaS company that wants a third-party-certified UX practice, not just an internal claim | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Phenomenon Studio vs Excited
Phenomenon Studio (4.7/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Third-party-verified credentials (Compliancy Group-monitored HIPAA compliance, NN/g UX certification, 5.0 Clutch rating) rather than self-reported claims, behind 120+ shipped products.
Excited (4.5/5) is worth a look if you need fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish. If your situation matches that, Excited is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Phenomenon Studio vs Excited FAQ
Is Phenomenon Studio better than Excited?
Phenomenon Studio (4.7/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phenomenon Studio's strongest advantage: HIPAA compliance independently monitored by Compliancy Group rather than self-declared. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX company ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do Phenomenon Studio and Excited differ in pricing?
Phenomenon Studio uses project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. 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: Phenomenon Studio or Excited?
Excited 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 Phenomenon Studio and Excited?
Phenomenon Studio's primary differentiator is: third-party-verified credentials (Compliancy Group-monitored HIPAA compliance, NN/g UX certification, 5.0 Clutch rating) rather than self-reported claims, behind 120+ shipped products. 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 (70+ vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.