IDEO vs Excited: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Excited (4.6/5) edges ahead of IDEO (4.0/5) overall. Excited is the better choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates.. IDEO is the stronger option for large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across several business units.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
IDEO vs Excited: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2018 |
| HQ | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 500–1,000 | 100+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best for | Large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across several business units. | SaaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Framer, After Effects |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
IDEO vs Excited: overview
IDEO
Formed in 1991 from the merger of David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design, IDEO is credited with turning human-centered design into a formal discipline. The consultancy runs roughly two dozen studios worldwide out of its San Francisco Bay Area base and has produced landmark work for Apple (the original Apple Mouse), Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. Industry roundups place typical engagement minimums around $300K (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable exact figures), which puts IDEO squarely in enterprise-budget territory rather than startup-accessible.
Excited
Excited launched in 2018 out of Lviv, Ukraine and has grown to 100+ designers, with Clutch consistently placing it among the Top 5 UX agencies globally — roughly 70% of its reviewers cite quality and creativity by name. The agency covers UX/UI, product design, branding, and motion design, purpose-built for SaaS and fintech clients, with delivery experience across 20+ countries and a self-reported reach of 15M+ product users (per company; independently unverifiable exact reach figure).
Services and capabilities: IDEO vs Excited
| Capability | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: IDEO vs Excited
| Framework / platform | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: IDEO vs Excited
| Criterion | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: IDEO vs Excited
| Dimension | IDEO | Excited |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy, Large health system patient experience redesign | SaaS product redesign for a growth-stage company, Fintech UX/UI overhaul with motion design polish |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
IDEO vs Excited: pros and cons
| IDEO | |
|---|---|
| + | Originated the human-centered design methodology now standard across the industry |
| + | Nearly 24 studio locations give genuine multi-region delivery capacity |
| + | Decades of enterprise case studies with globally recognized brands |
| + | Strategy capability extends well beyond a single product line into organizational transformation |
| - | A $300K+ typical minimum rules out startups and most mid-market budgets |
| - | Consultancy-scale process can slow decisions relative to a boutique studio |
| - | Broad enterprise-consulting positioning trades away the specialist depth boutiques bring to a single niche |
| Excited | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeated Top 5 UX agency ranking worldwide by Clutch, not a one-off placement |
| + | Roughly 70% of Clutch reviewers specifically cite quality/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 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 IDEO?
IDEO is the right choice for large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across several business units..
The originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide behind decades of enterprise case studies. Minimum engagement starts at $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
Who should choose Excited?
Excited is the right choice for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX agency ranking, with roughly 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: IDEO vs Excited
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | IDEO |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | IDEO |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Excited |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Excited
| Use case | IDEO fit | Excited fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Large health system patient experience redesign | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Excited
Excited (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX agency ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. It is best for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
IDEO (4.0/5) is the better choice when large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across several business units.. If your situation matches those criteria, IDEO is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Excited FAQ
Is IDEO better than Excited?
Excited (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO is better for large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across several business units.. Excited is better for saaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch Top-5 specialist without paying enterprise-agency rates..
How do IDEO and Excited differ in pricing?
IDEO uses project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). 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: IDEO or Excited?
IDEO 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 IDEO and Excited?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide behind decades of enterprise case studies. Excited's primary differentiator is: a repeat clutch top-5 global ux agency ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity. They also differ in team size (500–1,000 vs 100+), minimum engagement ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $20K (per company website; 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.