R/GA vs ANML: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
ANML (3.8/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. ANML is the better choice for B2B, healthcare, AI startups — tiny senior team. R/GA is the stronger option for global brands, product design bundled with brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs ANML: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2012 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Silicon Valley, CA, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | ~10 (per LinkedIn) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades | One of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software |
R/GA vs ANML: overview
R/GA
R/GA has run out of New York since 1977, expanding to ten countries with offices from Austin to Singapore. Interpublic Group owned it for 23 years until March 2025, when R/GA completed an independent buyout backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital. What hasn't changed across that ownership history is the pitch: product design fused with marketing and brand strategy, aimed at large consumer and enterprise platforms rather than single-scope product work.
ANML
ANML (Animal) launched in 2012 and has stayed genuinely small — LinkedIn lists roughly 10 employees — while operating out of Silicon Valley. That size is the point: the studio positions itself as a boutique UI/UX design shop where clients work directly with senior people, concentrated specifically on B2B, healthcare, and AI engagements rather than spreading across unrelated verticals.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs ANML
| Capability | R/GA | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs ANML
| Framework / platform | R/GA | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs ANML
| Criterion | R/GA | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs ANML
| Dimension | R/GA | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team, Healthcare product UX with a boutique studio |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs ANML: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country footprint spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of enterprise brand relationships and case studies |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | The 2025 ownership transition to a private-equity-backed independent structure is recent enough to ask about directly |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutiques built around design alone |
| - | Pricing and scale suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| ANML | |
|---|---|
| + | 13 years of continuous operation since 2012 |
| + | A roughly 10-person team means direct access to senior designers on every project |
| + | Focused specifically on B2B, healthcare, and AI rather than spreading across unrelated verticals |
| + | Boutique scale keeps overhead — and likely pricing — lower than mid-size studios |
| - | A ~10-person team caps capacity for large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement isn't published, so budget planning requires a direct conversation |
| - | Small scale means less multi-region delivery capacity than larger studios on this list |
Who should choose R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose ANML?
A typical fit: B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team.
One of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs ANML
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs ANML (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs ANML
| Use case | R/GA fit | ANML fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team | Limited | Strong | ANML |
| Healthcare product UX with a boutique studio | Limited | Strong | ANML |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs ANML
ANML (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. One of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs ANML FAQ
Is R/GA better than ANML?
ANML (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. ANML's strongest advantage: 13 years of continuous operation since 2012.
How do R/GA and ANML differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ANML 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: R/GA or ANML?
R/GA 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 R/GA and ANML?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades. ANML's primary differentiator is: one of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs ~10 (per LinkedIn)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.