MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.1/5) edges ahead of Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for well-funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack design through design systems. 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.
MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2005 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | 160+ | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person studio, delivered full-stack from research through design systems | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Sketch, React |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil: overview
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.
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: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Capability | MetaLab | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Criterion | MetaLab | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Dimension | MetaLab | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | SaaS product design from research through design system delivery, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand, Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 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.
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: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | MetaLab |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: MetaLab ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) vs Fresh Tilled Soil (Not published) |
| 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: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Fresh Tilled Soil fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system delivery | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| 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: MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil
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.
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
MetaLab vs Fresh Tilled Soil FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Fresh Tilled Soil?
MetaLab (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio spans Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — remarkable for a 160-person studio. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE.
How do MetaLab and Fresh Tilled Soil differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (per industry roundups; 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: MetaLab or Fresh Tilled Soil?
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 MetaLab and Fresh Tilled Soil?
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. 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 (160+ vs 11–50), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Enterprise transformation, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.