Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.4/5) edges ahead of Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for E-commerce, web apps — #1 Dribbble-ranked studio. 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.
Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fresh Tilled Soil | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
| HQ | Boston, MA, USA | Multiple offices across 3 time zones (Ukraine-rooted) |
| Team size | 11–50 | 130+ |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, React | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab: overview
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.
Halo Lab
Halo Lab doesn't publish a precise founding date; the studio's own claim of "12 years" of experience as of 2026 implies a start around 2014. What's verifiable is the scale and recognition: 130+ people across multiple offices in three time zones, Ukraine-rooted, holding a 4.9 Clutch rating, 70+ design awards, and — currently — the #1 spot on Dribbble's global team rankings, a running signal of visual design quality that's harder to fake than a one-time award.
Services and capabilities: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Fresh Tilled Soil | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Fresh Tilled Soil | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Fresh Tilled Soil | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Fresh Tilled Soil | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand, Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Halo Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal |
| + | 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating make it one of the most consistently recognized studios here |
| + | 130+ person team spans multiple offices and three time zones, supporting larger programs |
| + | Broad service coverage from complex web apps through marketing sites, e-commerce, and mobile |
| - | Exact founding year isn't confirmed — the '12 years as of 2026' claim implies ~2014 but isn't independently verified |
| - | Ukraine-rooted origins carry the same regional-continuity considerations as other studios in this list |
| - | Its broad service range trades some singular specialization against fintech- or research-focused boutiques |
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.
Who should choose Halo Lab?
A typical fit: e-commerce platform redesign.
Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| 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: Fresh Tilled Soil (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Halo Lab |
| 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: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
| Use case | Fresh Tilled Soil fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand | Strong | Limited | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | Strong | Limited | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| E-commerce platform redesign | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Marketing site plus product design bundle | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab
Halo Lab (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating.
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
Fresh Tilled Soil vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Fresh Tilled Soil better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal.
How do Fresh Tilled Soil and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Fresh Tilled Soil uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Halo Lab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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: Fresh Tilled Soil or Halo Lab?
Fresh Tilled Soil 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 Fresh Tilled Soil and Halo Lab?
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. Halo Lab's primary differentiator is: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 130+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.