Doberman vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of Doberman (3.8/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for SaaS/fintech teams, Clutch-ranked specialist, accessible rates. Doberman is the stronger option for Nordic/European enterprises, service design backed by EY network. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Doberman vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Doberman | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2018 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden (also Oslo and Copenhagen) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 100+ (within EY's global network) | 100+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition | A sustained Top 5 global UX agency ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
Doberman vs Excited: overview
Doberman
Doberman started in Stockholm in 1998 and grew into a 100+ person design and innovation firm with studios in Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen before EY acquired a majority stake, folding it into EY's much larger consulting network. Its client list spans Google, Swedish banks, and public-sector organizations, and Doberman positions itself around service and product innovation rather than pure visual design — helping organizations design new services and customer experiences, not just interfaces.
Excited
Excited opened in Lviv, Ukraine in 2018 and has grown to 100+ designers while holding a consistent spot among Clutch's Top 5 UX agencies worldwide — a repeated ranking, not a one-time placement. About 70% of its Clutch reviewers specifically call out quality and creativity, an unusually pointed signal for review data. The agency deliberately narrows its focus to SaaS and fintech clients, covering UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, with delivery experience across 20+ countries.
Services and capabilities: Doberman vs Excited
| Capability | Doberman | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Doberman vs Excited
| Framework / platform | Doberman | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Doberman vs Excited
| Criterion | Doberman | 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: Doberman vs Excited
| Dimension | Doberman | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization, Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Doberman vs Excited: pros and cons
| Doberman | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly three decades of continuous operation since 1998, longer than most European boutiques on this list |
| + | Three-city Nordic studio footprint (Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen) |
| + | EY's majority-stake backing provides access to a much larger global consulting network |
| + | Client list includes Google alongside major Swedish banks and public-sector organizations |
| - | Majority acquired by EY, so clients are hiring into a large consulting network rather than an independent boutique |
| - | Nordic-centered office footprint may mean less overlap with US or APAC business hours |
| - | Team size figures blend Doberman's own ~100 staff with EY's much larger combined network, making direct capacity comparison harder |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Sustained Top 5 UX agency 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 studios |
| - | SaaS/fintech specialization means less fit outside those two verticals |
Who should choose Doberman?
A typical fit: service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization.
Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Excited?
A typical fit: SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company.
A sustained Top 5 global UX agency 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: Doberman vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Doberman |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Excited |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Doberman (Not published) vs Excited ($20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Doberman |
| 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: Doberman vs Excited
| Use case | Doberman fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization | Strong | Limited | Doberman |
| Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: Doberman vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A sustained Top 5 global UX agency ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity.
Doberman (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network. If your situation matches that, Doberman is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Doberman vs Excited FAQ
Is Doberman better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Doberman's strongest advantage: nearly three decades of continuous operation since 1998, longer than most European boutiques on this list. Excited's strongest advantage: sustained Top 5 UX agency ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement.
How do Doberman and Excited differ in pricing?
Doberman uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) 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: Doberman or Excited?
Doberman 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 Doberman and Excited?
Doberman's primary differentiator is: nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition. Excited's primary differentiator is: a sustained Top 5 global UX agency ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. They also differ in team size (100+ (within EY's global network) vs 100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.