R/GA vs Goji Labs: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Goji Labs (3.8/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.6/5) overall. Goji Labs is the better choice for startups and nonprofits, strategy-led design, accessible pricing. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands wanting design bundled with brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Goji Labs: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2014 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | West Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades | A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, T&M |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
R/GA vs Goji Labs: overview
R/GA
R/GA spent 23 years as an Interpublic Group asset before completing an independent buyout in March 2025, backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — recent enough that clients should ask directly how the transition has gone. Founded in New York City in 1977, the firm now operates from ten countries, including Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. Its long-standing pitch — digital product design fused with marketing and brand strategy — still drives its work for large consumer and enterprise platforms.
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: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Capability | R/GA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Criterion | R/GA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $15K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Dimension | R/GA | Goji Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | EdTech, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Nonprofit or mission-driven product design, EdTech or healthtech MVP for an early-stage startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Goji Labs: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | Still stabilizing operationally after a recent (2025) private-equity-backed ownership change |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique studios |
| - | Scale and pricing suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Goji Labs ($15K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Goji Labs
| Use case | R/GA fit | Goji Labs fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Goji Labs FAQ
Is R/GA better than Goji Labs?
Goji Labs (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. Goji Labs's strongest advantage: independently verified 2025 Inc. 5000 growth recognition.
How do R/GA and Goji Labs differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA or Goji Labs?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Goji Labs?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 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.