The Gradient vs Orbix Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.3/5) edges ahead of Orbix Studio (3.6/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native company that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. Orbix Studio is the stronger option for seed-to-Series-B B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech startups wanting a young, founder-close team.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
The Gradient vs Orbix Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | The Gradient | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2023 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | Queens, NY, USA |
| Team size | 11–50 | 10–30 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Best for | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native company that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention. | Seed-to-Series-B B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech startups wanting a young, founder-close team. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, retainer | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
The Gradient vs Orbix Studio: overview
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year in available sources, though its Clutch profile carries 55 reviews implying several years of track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the company keeps a deliberately small team of 11–50 employees by design, stating it works with fewer clients at a time to preserve senior attention on each engagement. Notable clients — Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market — are strong for a self-consciously boutique company. The Gradient positions itself as AI-native, working across fintech, healthcare, and retail.
Orbix Studio
Orbix Studio launched in 2023, making it notably the youngest company in this entire pool — a useful 'emerging' contrast point, but one with a genuinely limited track record relative to companies with a decade or more of history. Based in Queens, NY, the company reports 10–30 employees depending on source. Its focus is B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech product design paired with front-end development, aimed specifically at funded startups from seed through Series B.
Services and capabilities: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Capability | The Gradient | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Framework / platform | The Gradient | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Criterion | The Gradient | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Dimension | The Gradient | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand | Seed-stage B2B SaaS MVP design and front-end build, Fintech product design for a Series A-B startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
The Gradient vs Orbix Studio: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Orbix Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Built specifically for funded startups at the seed-through-Series-B stage, a precise positioning few others in this pool share |
| + | Small team size (10–30) means direct founder-to-founder access rather than layered account management |
| + | Combines product design with front-end development, reducing hand-off risk for early-stage teams |
| + | Covers three complex, high-value verticals (B2B SaaS, fintech, healthtech) despite its youth |
| - | Founded in 2023 — by a wide margin the thinnest public track record of any company in this pool |
| - | 10–30 person team caps capacity for large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, so budget planning requires a direct conversation |
Who should choose The Gradient?
The Gradient is the right choice for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native company that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
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.
Who should choose Orbix Studio?
Orbix Studio is the right choice for seed-to-Series-B B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech startups wanting a young, founder-close team..
The newest company in this pool, built specifically around the seed-to-Series-B funded startup stage. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | The Gradient |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: The Gradient (Not published) vs Orbix Studio (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: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
| Use case | The Gradient fit | Orbix Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Strong | Limited | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Strong | Limited | The Gradient |
| Seed-stage B2B SaaS MVP design and front-end build | Limited | Strong | Orbix Studio |
| Fintech product design for a Series A-B startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: The Gradient vs Orbix Studio
The Gradient (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A deliberately small, AI-native company with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. It is best for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native company that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention..
Orbix Studio (3.6/5) is the better choice when seed-to-Series-B B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech startups wanting a young, founder-close team.. If your situation matches those criteria, Orbix Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
The Gradient vs Orbix Studio FAQ
Is The Gradient better than Orbix Studio?
The Gradient (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. The Gradient is better for fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native company that limits its client roster to preserve senior attention.. Orbix Studio is better for seed-to-Series-B B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech startups wanting a young, founder-close team..
How do The Gradient and Orbix Studio differ in pricing?
The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Orbix Studio uses fixed project 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: The Gradient or Orbix Studio?
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 The Gradient and Orbix Studio?
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. Orbix Studio's primary differentiator is: the newest company in this pool, built specifically around the seed-to-series-b funded startup stage. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 10–30), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.