Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer, no fixed-price haggling. Fresh Tilled Soil is the stronger option for Mid-market, enterprise — long-tenured Boston UX boutique. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Eleken | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2005 |
| HQ | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group |
| Pricing model | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro | Figma, Sketch, React |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil: overview
Eleken
Eleken traces to 2015 with roots in Kyiv, Ukraine, and now operates as a distributed team reported at anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on the source. Instead of quoting a fixed project price, Eleken sells a subscription — roughly $6,599 a month for a dedicated full-time designer, with part-time also available — a genuinely different model from the fixed-price and T&M norm found elsewhere in this roster. The studio is SaaS-only, holding a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects and covering complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Fresh Tilled Soil
Fresh Tilled Soil opened in Boston in 2005, building a UX/UI design and front-end development practice with clients including FedEx, GE, Titleist, and Boston Private Bank across more than 700 projects. In 2020 the firm joined ADK Group, operating today as "Fresh Tilled Soil, an ADK Group Company" — a detail worth knowing since it's no longer fully independent. The team stays compact at 11–50 people, keeping the studio boutique in feel even inside a larger group structure.
Services and capabilities: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Capability | Eleken | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Framework / platform | Eleken | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Criterion | Eleken | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Subscription | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Dimension | Eleken | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand, Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product |
| Typical project type | Subscription | Fixed project |
Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil: pros and cons
| Eleken | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies |
| + | Subscription pricing gives predictable monthly cost instead of a large fixed-price contract |
| + | SaaS-only focus, including complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial products, builds real vertical depth |
| + | Part-time subscription option available for teams that don't need a full-time designer |
| - | Reported team size varies widely by source (40+ to 100+), making capacity planning imprecise |
| - | SaaS-only positioning rules it out for consumer, healthcare, or brand-led engagements |
| - | Subscription pricing can cost more than a fixed-price project for a short, well-defined engagement |
| Fresh Tilled Soil | |
|---|---|
| + | 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE |
| + | Two decades of continuous operation under the same brand |
| + | Compact 11–50 person team keeps client relationships direct |
| + | ADK Group membership since 2020 adds access to a broader group's resources |
| - | No longer fully independent — operates as part of ADK Group since 2020 |
| - | An 11–50 person team caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
Who should choose Eleken?
A typical fit: embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap.
A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. Minimum engagement starts at $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Who should choose Fresh Tilled Soil?
A typical fit: UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand.
700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) vs Fresh Tilled Soil (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| 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: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Use case | Eleken fit | Fresh Tilled Soil fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Strong | Limited | Eleken |
| UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand | Limited | Strong | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | Limited | Strong | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects.
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fresh Tilled Soil is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Eleken vs Fresh Tilled Soil FAQ
Is Eleken better than Fresh Tilled Soil?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE.
How do Eleken and Fresh Tilled Soil differ in pricing?
Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Fresh Tilled Soil 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: Eleken or Fresh Tilled Soil?
Eleken 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 Eleken and Fresh Tilled Soil?
Eleken's primary differentiator is: a SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. Fresh Tilled Soil's primary differentiator is: 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group. They also differ in team size (40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software vs Enterprise transformation, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.