Frog vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of Frog (3.7/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer, no fixed-price haggling. Frog is the stronger option for Enterprises, digital plus physical product design, one team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Frog vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 | 2015 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Still designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) alongside software — a combined scope most of its peers have abandoned | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise consulting engagements | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
Frog vs Eleken: overview
Frog
The frog name has carried through several owners since its 1969 start as Esslinger Design — Aricent, then Altran, then Capgemini, which folded the studio into Capgemini Invent in 2019. Since then, Capgemini has consolidated Fahrenheit 212, Idean, and June21 under the same brand, landing at roughly 2,000 people across 35 studios. The trait that still separates frog from most names on this list: it designs physical products — IoT devices, automotive interiors, medical hardware — with the same team that handles software, a combination getting rarer every year.
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.
Services and capabilities: Frog vs Eleken
| Capability | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Criterion | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Frog vs Eleken
| Dimension | Frog | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | IoT and connected hardware product design, Automotive and smart-home interface design | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Frog vs Eleken: pros and cons
| Frog | |
|---|---|
| + | Combined software-and-hardware design capability spanning IoT, automotive, and medical devices |
| + | 35 studios worldwide support genuine multi-region enterprise delivery |
| + | Over five decades of design history and case studies to draw on |
| + | Capgemini Invent backing adds broader technology-consulting resources on top of design |
| - | Now a Capgemini Invent brand rather than an independent studio — a structural fact worth disclosing to clients |
| - | Multiple legacy agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) were folded into the frog name, risking inconsistent team continuity |
| - | Large consulting-firm overhead can slow faster-moving engagements relative to boutique studios |
| 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 |
Who should choose Frog?
A typical fit: IoT and connected hardware product design.
Still designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) alongside software — a combined scope most of its peers have abandoned. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Frog vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Frog |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Frog (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Eleken
| Use case | Frog fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IoT and connected hardware product design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Automotive and smart-home interface design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Frog vs Eleken
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.
Frog (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need automotive and smart-home interface design. If your situation matches that, Frog is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Frog vs Eleken FAQ
Is Frog better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Frog's strongest advantage: combined software-and-hardware design capability spanning IoT, automotive, and medical devices. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do Frog and Eleken differ in pricing?
Frog uses project-based, enterprise consulting engagements pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (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: Frog or Eleken?
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 Frog and Eleken?
Frog's primary differentiator is: still designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) alongside software — a combined scope most of its peers have abandoned. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (2,000+ vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.