Huge Inc vs MetaLab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.1/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.6/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack design through design systems. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands, big agency mid-restructure. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) |
| Team size | ~1,240 | 160+ |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the oldest agency names on this list, now rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger | A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person studio, delivered full-stack from research through design systems |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: overview
Huge Inc
Huge started in Brooklyn in 1999 under founders David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro, and spent most of its history inside Interpublic Group. That changed in December 2024, when private equity firm AEA Investors bought the agency and merged it with Hero Digital; Huge then relocated its HQ to Manhattan in October 2025. Post-merger headcount runs around 1,240 people, and — like most agencies at this scale — engagement sizes aren't published, following large-agency norms instead of a fixed rate card.
MetaLab
Andrew Wilkinson started MetaLab in 2006; by January 2017 it had become a subsidiary of his holding company Tiny, a change worth flagging since the studio is no longer independently owned. From Victoria, British Columbia, a remote-first team of 160+ people spread across 17 countries has designed products for Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace — a portfolio most agencies twice its size can't match. Engagements typically run full-stack, covering research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems inside one team.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Capability | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Criterion | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $150K+ (per industry roundups; 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: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Dimension | Huge Inc | MetaLab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | SaaS product design from research through design system delivery, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs MetaLab: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies |
| + | Post-merger headcount (~1,240) supports significant delivery capacity |
| + | Service range spans brand, product, and web design and development |
| + | The Hero Digital merger adds capabilities beyond the original Huge offering |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a structural change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independent studio |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, complicating budget planning for smaller teams |
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Portfolio spans Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — remarkable for a 160-person studio |
| + | Remote-first across 17 countries supports near-continuous delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack model covers research through design systems without switching vendors |
| + | Nearly two decades operating under the same founding brand |
| - | No longer independently owned — became a Tiny subsidiary in 2017 |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) is out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client list can mean longer lead times for new engagements |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
One of the oldest agency names on this list, now rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Who should choose MetaLab?
A typical fit: SaaS product design from research through design system delivery.
A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person studio, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs MetaLab ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | MetaLab |
| 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: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | MetaLab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| SaaS product design from research through design system delivery | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Limited | Strong | MetaLab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs MetaLab
MetaLab (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person studio, delivered full-stack from research through design systems.
Huge Inc (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs MetaLab FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than MetaLab?
MetaLab (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio spans Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — remarkable for a 160-person studio.
How do Huge Inc and MetaLab differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Huge Inc or MetaLab?
Huge Inc 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 Huge Inc and MetaLab?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the oldest agency names on this list, now rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger. MetaLab's primary differentiator is: a Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person studio, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs 160+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.