Clay vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of Clay (4.0/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates.. Clay is the stronger option for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Clay vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2018 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best for | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list. | SaaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates. |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Webflow | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Clay vs Excited: overview
Clay
Clay (clay.global) is a San Francisco-based product design studio with substantial NYC client work. The company does not publish a founding year, so it is tagged here as unconfirmed, and team size is likewise not independently verifiable — best treated as boutique-to-mid-size. Its client roster spans Coinbase, Uber, SendGrid, MoneyLion, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon, Toyota, and Samsung, with deep B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech experience. Note: this is distinct from the unrelated AI sales-data company also named Clay (clay.com).
Excited
Excited launched in 2018 out of Lviv, Ukraine and has grown to 100+ designers, with Clutch consistently placing it among the Top 5 UX agencies globally — roughly 70% of its reviewers cite quality and creativity by name. The agency covers UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, purpose-built for SaaS and fintech clients, with delivery experience across 20+ countries and a self-reported reach of 15M+ product users (per company; independently unverifiable exact reach figure).
Services and capabilities: Clay vs Excited
| Capability | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Criterion | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Clay vs Excited
| Dimension | Clay | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup, Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Clay vs Excited: pros and cons
| Clay | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack, Snapchat, Amazon) is exceptional for a boutique-to-mid-size studio |
| + | Deep, specific track record across B2B, SaaS, AI, and fintech product design |
| + | San Francisco base with strong NYC client relationships |
| + | Combines UX design, branding, and web/product design under one roof |
| - | Founding year is not independently confirmed anywhere outside the company's own materials |
| - | Team size is neither published nor independently verifiable, complicating capacity planning for large programs |
| - | Easy to confuse with the unrelated AI company Clay (clay.com) when researching — confirm you're looking at clay.global |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeated Top 5 UX agency ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | Roughly 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality/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 15M+ user reach figure is self-reported and independently unverifiable |
| - | Ukraine-based team carries the same regional-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-rooted studios |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
Who should choose Clay?
Clay is the right choice for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list..
A client roster (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) that's unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Excited?
Excited is the right choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX agency ranking, with roughly 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: Clay vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Clay |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Clay (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Clay |
| 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: Clay vs Excited
| Use case | Clay fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or fintech product design for a Series A-C startup | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| Consumer app design for a high-growth B2B SaaS brand | Strong | Limited | Clay |
| 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: Clay vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX agency ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. It is best for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
Clay (4.0/5) is the better choice when b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. If your situation matches those criteria, Clay is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Clay vs Excited FAQ
Is Clay better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Clay is better for b2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a boutique studio with a big-tech-caliber client list.. Excited is better for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
How do Clay and Excited differ in pricing?
Clay uses fixed project 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: Clay 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 agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Clay and Excited?
Clay's primary differentiator is: a client roster (coinbase, uber, meta, google, slack) that's unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount. Excited's primary differentiator is: a repeat clutch top-5 global ux agency ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. They also differ in team size (Boutique-to-mid (unconfirmed; not published by the company) 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 agency before making a decision.