R/GA vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.3/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for Banks, fintech — exclusively financial-services UX. 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 UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2015 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 25+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | The only studio in this roster built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
Alex Kreger co-founded UXDA (Financial UX Design) in 2015, building a deliberately narrow 25-person team from Riga, Latvia. A decade later, UXDA has shaped or governed 150+ banking and fintech digital platforms in 39 countries — a level of single-vertical repetition none of the generalists in this list can claim, since there's no branding or consumer-product work on offer. Every engagement here is financial-services UX.
Services and capabilities: R/GA vs UXDA
| Capability | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Criterion | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs UXDA
| Dimension | R/GA | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Exclusive financial-services focus builds domain expertise generalist studios simply can't match |
| + | 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries over a decade |
| + | Small, senior 25+ team keeps client relationships direct rather than layered through account management |
| + | A decade of continuous, single-vertical operation compounds domain knowledge over time |
| - | The exclusive fintech focus is a real limitation for any client outside financial services |
| - | $30K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) runs higher than most 25-person boutiques |
| - | Small team size (25+) caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
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 UXDA?
A typical fit: bank digital platform redesign.
The only studio in this roster built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: R/GA vs UXDA
| 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 UXDA ($30K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| 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 UXDA
| Use case | R/GA fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: R/GA vs UXDA
UXDA (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only studio in this roster built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries.
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 UXDA FAQ
Is R/GA better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.3/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: exclusive financial-services focus builds domain expertise generalist studios simply can't match.
How do R/GA and UXDA differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UXDA uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of $30K (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: R/GA or UXDA?
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 UXDA?
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. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only studio in this roster built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (~2,000 vs 25+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.