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Top 30 UI/UX Design Agencies to Review in January 2026

Top 30 UI/UX Agencies to Work with in 2026
At Linkup ST, we prepared a complete list of UI/UX design companies that, in our opinion, can be considered the best in our niche today.
Nataliya Sambir
Nataliya Sambir
Chief Design Officer
OUTLINE

Let’s start with the statistics, which will explain in detail why it is so important to hire truly great UI/UX design companies. What value do they give to a business that may urge you to strive to find the best player in your niche? 

Long-standing UX research referenced by Forrester shows that a well-designed user interface can lift conversion rates by up to 200%. When user experience is addressed at a deeper level—flows, clarity, and interaction logic—the impact can reach 400%. These numbers are still referenced in 2025 benchmarks for a reason: they continue to reflect what happens in real products, across very different industries.

At the same time, user tolerance has narrowed. Google’s performance and UX studies consistently point to speed and experience as decision-making factors, not nice-to-haves. When a mobile site takes more than three seconds to load, over half of users leave. Today, that threshold is no longer an optimization target. It’s the minimum standard users expect.

Usability research from Nielsen Norman Group einforces another important point. Most UX failures aren’t caused by missing features or weak technology. They’re structural. Confusing hierarchies, crowded interfaces, and interaction flows that demand too much effort push users away—even when the underlying product is solid. People don’t leave because a product can’t do enough. They leave because it asks too much of them.

Hiring experienced UI/UX agencies allows companies to operate at a level where these factors are addressed systematically, not reactively. The focus shifts from visual polish to measurable outcomes: faster interactions, clearer user flows, lower friction, and higher conversion efficiency.

That’s why identifying and showcasing the best UI/UX design firms matters. Not because design trends change — but because the economics of user experience remain consistent: products that are easier to use perform better. And they always have.

Best UI/UX Design Companies in 2026

Linkup ST

"The result that matters" - linkupst.com

We can’t start this list without Linkup ST — a multi-award-winning UI/UX design partner, that move metrics, shape user behavior, and stand out by design. For 12+ years, we've been providing UI/UX design services grounded in proven principles of how emotion and function interplay to create meaningful impact.

Our team of 80+ specialists across the US and Europe blends strategic thinking, human-centered design, and technical excellence. We don’t “deliver screens” — we become an immersed business partner who thinks like the client, understands their pain points, and drives results with them. Every product we touch follows the same principle: emotion + function = measurable impact. We combine behavioral insights, forward-thinking design, and clean usability to build experiences that convert, scale, and truly matter to users.

Between 2022 and 2025, Linkup ST became one of only three companies in the world to achieve the rare “triple win” — multiple Red Dot Design Award, Webby Award, and  A’Design distinctions. In addition, Linkup ST and its design leads have been featured in the POPDES, which recognizes the most influential designers and studios based on global visibility and impact.

Seeing YachtWay functioning is a feeling beyond words. I stand in front of the Linkup ST team and thank them for their incredible work. They’re all superstars to build such a complicated platform in such a short time!
- Heigo Paartalu, CEO & Founder at YachtWay

Founded: 2013

Location: United States, Delaware

Team Size: 80+

Rate: From $60/hr

Key clients: Reverso, TATA, Bosh, Freestone, Impactive

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Clay

“Clay is a UI/UX design and branding agency in San Francisco” - clay.global

They are one of the best companies that focus exclusively on UI/UX transforming brands through strategy, visual identity, and websites.

Clay practises applying behavioral science to create user experience and, in truth, run a really awesome design that many users face every day. It's about apps for Coca-Cola, Facebook, Slack identity, and Jacquard by Google app.

Founded: 2009

Location: San Francisco, USA

Team Size: 32 members

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Google, Facebook, Coinbase, Slack, Samsung

Metalab

“We make interfaces.”metalab.com

Metalab is a Canadian product design and development agency that focuses on building digital products people can actually use—and want to come back to. Their core strengths sit at the intersection of product strategy, UI/UX design, and interface development, with an emphasis on clarity and function over surface-level polish.

Founded: 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson
Location: Canada
Team Size: ~150+ members
Hourly rate: (project-basis varies)
Key clients: Slack, Coinbase, Uber, Google, Headspace

Pentagram

“The world’s largest independently owned design studio.”pentagram.com

Pentagram operates as a partnership of independent designers, each running their own practice while working under a shared global name. This structure shapes how the firm works: responsibility sits with individual partners, not layers of account management, and design decisions stay closely tied to authorship. While Pentagram is best known for brand and identity work, the studio has also produced influential digital and interface projects for cultural institutions, media organizations, and global companies. Their digital work tends to extend brand thinking rather than sit alongside it, translating identity systems into clear, usable digital environments.

Founded: 1972
Location: UK / USA
Team Size: 250+ members
Key clients: Mastercard, Spotify, The New York Times

R/GA

“We design businesses for the connected world.”rga.com

R/GA is a global creative and innovation agency with a long-standing focus on digital products, platforms, and experience-driven business models. Their work sits across UX design, product strategy, branding, and technology, with design often embedded directly into how organizations operate rather than positioned as a supporting layer. What sets R/GA apart is how deliberately they connect marketing, product, and experience design. UX isn’t treated as a downstream execution task, but as a lever for growth, engagement, and long-term differentiation. That approach makes them particularly effective for brands where user experience and business performance are closely intertwined—and where scale brings as much complexity as opportunity.

Founded: 1977
Location: USA (global offices)
Team Size: 2,000+ members
Key clients: Nike, Verizon, Samsung

Accenture Song

“We connect deep human and business insights with the possibilities of technology to define and deliver new realities.”accenture.com

Accenture Song is the creative transformation arm of Accenture, launched in 2022 as the evolution of Accenture Interactive. The shift was more than a rebrand. It reflected a broader ambition to place experience at the center of business growth, not at the edge of execution.

Accenture Song brings together creativity, design, technology, and data within a single operating model. The intent is practical: help large organizations move faster, align customer experience with business systems, and scale ideas beyond isolated campaigns. Rather than separating strategy from delivery, the team works across the full lifecycle—from defining experience vision to building and optimizing it within complex enterprise environments.

Founded: 2022

Location: Global / part of Accenture

Team Size: 5,000–10,000 employees

Key clients: HP, Salesforce, Adobe, Land Rover

Frog Design

"Together we strive to shape a regenerative future that is both sustainable and inclusive for businesses, people and planet." - frogdesign.com

Frog agency

Beginning their services in the 1970’s, Frog is one of the oldest worldwide UX design agencies out there. The company has worked with numerous big names over the years and has even expanded into other design projects - such as furniture.

Frog currently works with 10 offices around the world, evolving from industrial design to a full-service agency which covers from CX strategy to service design.

Founded: 1970

Location: USA

Team Size: 950+ members

Hourly rate: $5,000+ / hr

Key clients: Intel, Unicef, Nestlé, Coca-Cola

Designit

“Designit is a call to action to make the difference we want to see in the world.”designit.com

Designit is a global strategic design firm focused on experience innovation, service design, and digital transformation. As part of the Wipro group, the agency operates where business strategy, UX, and technology meet—working primarily with large organizations facing structural and operational change. Designit’s work often goes beyond individual products or interfaces. The team helps enterprises rethink how services are designed, delivered, and experienced across entire systems. That can include digital platforms, customer journeys, internal tools, and even organizational models that shape how teams collaborate and make decisions.

Founded: 1991
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (global presence)
Team Size: 700+ members
Key clients: Microsoft, IKEA, BMW

Ideo

"We are a global design company committed to creating positive impact." - ideo.com

One of the big names of the UI/UX industry is Ideo, the agency which invented the famous term of “Design Thinking”. They work with a human-centered philosophy which they are proud of, with a range of designers, engineers, and researchers for every project.

Ideo focuses on designing special prototypes that range from user interfaces to full organizations, creating impactful projects all around the world.

Founded: 1991

Location: California, USA

Team Size: 1300+ members

Key clients: Swarowski, The Rockfeller Foundation, Apple

Designit

“Designit is a call to action to make the difference we want to see in the world.” - designit.com

Designit - development company home page

Designit is one of the agencies that set the tone of UI/UX design in the digital world. It's probably due to the fact that innovation and creativity is not just a value, it's a part of their workflow.

The company has worked with a wide range of industries, from energy, finance, and healthcare to the scientific and public sectors. They are oriented at long-term partnerships with progressive businesses, nonprofits, academia, and advocate deep, thorough work on the product.

From a small office in Denmark, Designit has grown into a huge design company with studios all over the world.

Founded: 1991

Location: New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Team Size: 290+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Digital Hub Denmark, Sephora, Acer Predator, Lufthansa

Social Driver

“Go beyond the ordinary” - socialdriver.com

Social Driver - development company home page

Company works with UI/UX and brand design for social network apps and other platforms. Most of the implemented solutions are public or social projects, educational platforms.

Therefore, they focus on partnership, collaboration and creativity. So, yes, Social Driver is a company that strives to make society better with building strong partnerships and developing creativity.

Founded: 2011

Location: Washington, USA

Team Size: 60+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Nurses Association, The Education Trust

Method

“Bring your digital vision to life” - method.com

Method - development company home page

It is an experienced digital design agency, founded in 1999. According to its founder, from the beginning, Method wasn't interested in defining an industry, or its specification. They were just passionate about making products and services that would build and define strong brands.

So, their clients are big brands and organizations as partners on the journey from now to what's next.

Founded: 1999

Location: New York

Team Size: 100+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Ubisoft, Renault, McDonald's, Microsoft, San Francisco Ballet

Craft Innovations

“We help fintechs & banks innovate faster, grow in valuation and profitability.” - craftinnovations.global

Craft Innovations is a global UX design and product research agency with a strong focus on fintech, banking, and financial services. Headquartered in Canada and operating internationally, their team of 30 experts helps fintech leaders build better digital products.

On top of UX/UI design, they carry out usability audits, qualitative and quantitative research, running interviews and tests that give clients evidence-based direction in product management. Their designs consistently achieve a usability score of 91/100, measured by SUM (Single Usability Metric). This reflects a clear focus on making interfaces easy to navigate. 

Whether it’s prototyping, conversion rate optimization (CRO), or in-depth UX audits, Craft Innovations leads every project to measurable improvement. Their UX team is equipped with eye-tracking technology – something still rare even among established research firms.

Founded: 2019

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Team Size: 30+

Hourly rate: $50 - $99 / hr

Key clients: Mastercard, BCU Financial, PrivatBank, Roche

Momentum Design Lab

“Silicon Valley Expertise. Global Mindset.” - momentumdesignlab.com

Momentum Design Lab - development company home page

Momentum is positioning itself as an innovative design thinking-based team. Their approach is to create projects in the symbiosis of human empathy and intelligent data to significantly improve user experience.

They work with research, UX/CX strategies and design to make the products users trust. And they succeed!

Founded: 2002

Location: California

Team Size: 25+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Fiserv, Walmart, Capital Bank

Eight Bit Studios

“We mash up UX, design and tech to create lively, people-friendly apps.” - eightbitstudios.com

Eight Bit Studios - development company home page

If the company can be described in such a way, Eight Bit Studios is a team of empathic designers. They promote empathetic UX solutions dreaming to shape a better world for everyone. Most of the projects in the portfolio are mobile apps aimed at creating strong emotional connections (like social networks or messengers), and the agency produces full-circle design and brand identity.

Having worked in the field for 13 years, Eight Bit Studios have decided to stay small, and this probably helps them adhere to the company's values ​​when working on each task.

Founded: 2008

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Team Size: 30+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Echo Global Logistics, New Balance, Hasbro

Full-circle development companies

Perpetual

“Build your vision with us” - perpetualny.com

Perpetual - development company home page

Perpetual is a product design and development company, focusing on UX and development of the products. Their mission is to develop great user experiences and cutting edge software for selected clients.

For now the company has completed a range of projects for large corporations in the media and financial services field. After the recent launch of the EdTech startup, they have been growing rapidly in the education technology field.

Founded: 2012

Location: New York, NY

Team Size: 20 members

Hourly rate: $50 - $99 / hr

Key clients: Reuters, MIT, The Inside

Wildebeest

“LA`s top software engineering and digital marketing agency” - wildebee.st

Wildebeest - development company home page

It is a boutique custom software consultancy team, that provides custom web app design and development, applying Internet of Things, and experiential installations.

Wildebeest has experience working with the world's largest corporations, such as Disney or General Motors, and funded startups they were interested in. What really sets the agency apart is that being a very small team they are capable of implementing really large-scale projects and are a real role model in their field.

Founded: 2014

Location: Los Angeles, California

Team Size: 10+

Hourly rate: $200 - $300 / hr

Key clients: Google, Microsoft, Disney, General Motors

ArcTouch

“We create lovable apps and digital products” - arctouch.com

ArcTouch - development company home page

ArcTouch is a UI/UX design and development company, aimed to help companies forge meaningful connections with their customers and employees through custom digital products.

They decided to be a business app creator when App Store was just first announced. Since then, they have worked with Fortune 500 companies, midsize businesses and influential startups, conducting hands-on expertise and being concerned with profits of their clients.

Founded: 2009

Location: San Francisco, California

Team Size: 200+

Hourly rate: $100 - $149 / hr

Key clients: Hawaiian Airlines, Audi, PayPal

Majestyk

“We imagine, design & build digital products.” - majestykapps.com

Majestyk - development company home page

Founded in 2011 with a collaborative spirit, Majestyk named themselves a team with expertise of a traditional agency and the agility of a startup.

Majestyk`s vision is that the company's success is in great products and great people. Their experience and launched products can prove that.

Founded: 2011

Location: New York, NY

Team Size: до 20

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: IBM, Ally, Audiomack

Spire Digital

“Innovation, transformation, and disruption since 1998” - spiredigital.com

Spire Digital - development company home page

Spire Digital, part of Kin + Carta, is a Denver-based digital product development firm that transforms business through design and technology. For over 22 years, they have provided web, mobile design and development using IoT, wearables, AR/VR, AI, or blockchain to the world's top companies.

We would say that Spire is a good combination of conservatism, which gives confidence to clients from large companies, and innovation, which allows them to make really impactful digital solutions, within one development agency.

Founded: 1998

Location: Denver, Colorado

Team Size: more than 200

Hourly rate: $100 - $149 / hr

Key clients: Lockheed Martin, TomTom, USDA

GeekyAnts

“Research. Collaborate. Build.” - geekyants.com

GeekyAnts - development company home page

GeekyAnts is a design and development studio that has expertise in building web and mobile solutions. They have worked with around 500+ clients all over the world, mostly in healthcare, finance, education, banking and gaming industries.

In short, GeekyAnts do everything related to web and mobile apps, and are passionate about building world-class products.

Founded: 2006

Location: Redding, California

Team Size: 200+

Hourly rate: $25 - $49 / hr

Key clients: Google LLC, Siveco Romania, ChildMind Institute, PayPoint

Goji Labs

“We leverage software development to grow your venture, scale your impact, and propel your mission forward.” - gojilabs.com

Goji Labs - development company home page

Goji Labs is a web and mobile app development company with little experience, but really good solutions and launched products. Their services include product strategy, UX/UI design, web, mobile app, and IoT development.

Their powerful idea is that no great venture should be held back by technical execution. And so for years they have been successfully cooperating with companies and startups, as well as with prominent global organizations.

Founded: 2014

Location: Los Angeles, California

Team Size: 15

Hourly rate: $100 - $149 / hr

Key clients: World Health Organization, World Wildlife Fund, USC

Blue Label Labs

“Build and transform your business through strategy, design and app development.” - bluelabellabs.com

Blue Label Labs - development company home page

Blue Label Labs is a development agency that works side-by-side with ambitious brands to implement customer-centric and truly user-validated digital products. In most cases, they work with enterprise clients, implementing strategic business consulting, user-centric design, and development of their projects.

Before working with the client, the agency has a special "ritual" - the team makes a solemn promise to its partners. Blue Label Labs promises "to do our very best and to always strive to do the right thing for your project, your users, and your team".

Founded: 2009

Location: New York, NY

Team Size: 25+

Hourly rate: $100 - $149 / hr

Key clients: Bloomberg News, Google/Alphabet, Fender

Tapptitude

“We design/develop/launch/maintain products that delight your users and grow your business.” - tapptitude.com

Tapptitude - development company home page

Tapptitude is a mobile-focused company, which provides great mobile design and development. They implement projects in the fields of real estate and business automation, working mainly with funded startups.

What makes them special? The company simply takes on projects that they like, looking for solutions to make the product the best it can be - and they manage to run successful mobile apps that users love.

Founded: 2013

Location: New York, NY

Team Size: 80+

Hourly rate: $50 - $99 / hr

Key clients: Tenor, Glorify, Wellory, Ontapp

Work & Co

“We design and ship digital products that transform companies.” - work.co

Work & Co - development company home page

Work & Co can truly be called a great company - both in the team size and in the experience they have for now. It is an agency that works with a wide range of industries, focusing on development and UI / UX design. Almost all W&C clients are big global brands.

What concerns their approach towards partners, it is a fully-dedicated team. Work & Co allocates small, senior teams for projects that are hands-on from start to finish. That is their formula of the best digital products.

Founded: 2013

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Team Size: 400

Hourly rate: $100 - $149 / hr

Key clients: IKEA, Apple, Gatorade

Beyond

“Go further. We partner with people who want to design a better future.” - bynd.com

Beyond - development company home page

Beyond is creative designers, insightful strategists, and exceptional engineers gathered in one team. They develop UI / UX solutions for enterprises and midmarket and implement them in great digital products.

What is really interesting about the partner approach is that they choose to work with forward thinking clients, whose projects allow the team to unleash their potential. Beyond is super dynamic and striving to do just the work that inspires them.

Founded: 2010

Location: San Francisco, California

Team Size: 200+

Hourly rate: $150 - $199 / hr

Key clients: Google, Gap, Warner Bros

Top UI/UX Design Agencies: How Not to Get Lost in the List and Choose the Best in 2026?

Yes, now you’ve got the list of companies with their main descriptions and may wonder, “Alright! What am I going to do next? Any ideas on how I can choose the best UI/UX design company?” This section answers this question and provides a set of actions we at Linkup ST recommend you follow to increase your chances of finding the team you’ll love to work with and appreciate the results they deliver.

1. Define Your Requirements 

Even before you start looking for UX agencies or other service providers, it would be best to clearly know what you exactly need. Is it a redesign, a new product or system part design, some precise specific improvements to user experience, or something else? Knowing this will give you more determination to look for exactly what you need and save time in finding a suitable partner.

2. Research Potential Agencies

Once you know what you need for your product, you can search for companies. At Linkup ST, we have already searched for some of the best UI/UX design firms for you, and you can take this list if you wish. However, you can additionally research these companies’ portfolios and case studies to find out their areas of expertise and experience. Additionally, you can check their websites for more information you may be interested in, read their clients’ testimonials on site, Clutch.co, Designrush.com or other platforms, and shop around for their approximate prices of designers’ work per hour to filter out those not suitable for your expectations.

3. Evaluate Their Process

Each UX/UI design company is unique in some ways and has its own approach to work and collaboration. During initial consultations with their business development teams, ask about their design processes, how they work, their methods of researching for getting user insights, and conducting user testing.

A little tip here is that a top design agency has an established and clear user-centered design process that includes the phases of market and user research, prototyping, testing, and iterations. We have such a process at Linkup ST.

4. Check for Experience In Your Industry 

To maximize the efficiency of your collaboration with the design team, look for UX agencies that have experience in your industry or with projects similar to yours. This is an important point because these specialists are likely to be familiar enough with the market specifics, its challenges, demands, behavior rules, and user expectations from product system parts and functionalities.

5. Review Their Tools and Technologies

You can also inquire about the tools and technologies the UI/UX design firm uses for designing and prototyping. Agencies that are able to provide high-quality results usually use advanced and well-known tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, among others.

At Linkup ST, we use all the mentioned tools, and our designs regularly make a change for clients’ businesses as well as prove their efficiency and usability on global design awards like Red Dot.

6. Discuss Communication and Collaboration

Soft skills and the ability to be open-minded, easy-going, yet proficient are also crucial for successful collaboration. Discuss how the UX/UI design company you want to partner with handles communication and collaboration flow: how their schedule of meetings is built, what management systems they use, how often you will get updates about the work, who will be your contact person in the team, and other questions.

For instance, at Linkup ST, we set up weekly "demo-calls" with our clients where we report on our work activities and include a description of our deliverables, current project progress, set up new plans, clarify them, and get approvals from clients.  

7. Consider the Team

It often happens that famous and big-name UX/UI design companies showcase work in their portfolios done by a lead or senior designer, but it’s not guaranteed that these individuals will be assigned to your project. You can ask about the team members who will be working on your task and get to know their credentials.

If you request senior designers for your product, the company might say that the price for collaboration will be higher. However, this at least provides clarity, and you’ll know the real state of affairs. 

8. Ask About Post-Launch Support

Design work does not end at launch. You can ask about the formats of post-launch support that the UX/UI design company offers. What types of optimization do they provide based on user feedback and analytics?

9. Get Detailed Proposals and Compare Pricing

By now, you are likely to have a shortlist of the UX agencies you like best. Now is the best time to ask each of them for detailed proposals with their timelines, list of deliverables, and pricing for these services. Look and compare the gathered information, and align each with your initial budget and project goals.

10. Make a Decision

Then, after a thorough evaluation, you can choose the UX/UI design firm that aligns best with your needs, budget, and company culture and values. It is very important that you feel comfortable with the design team and their processes.

This step-by-step guide can help you make an informed decision about choosing the design team to collaborate with.

Got Ideas? Let’s Chat with Our Chief Designer

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What Makes an UI/UX Agency Great in 2026?

Now, you might see this list and wonder: after all, what makes these agencies different from others? What makes them great? Could it be a unique design or famous clients, perhaps?

To answer those questions, we decided to do a little research to better understand each company and share with you what really distinguishes a great UI/UX agency from others on the market. Let’s take a look!

1. They Know That User’s Opinion Matters

A good UI/UX agency will always prioritize the user’s take on their material, regardless of whether they agree with those opinions. The most important part of developing a platform for a client must be the quality of the final result—and that is not just how good the design looks but also how efficient its usability is.

That is why they will conduct detailed user research in order to guarantee the best result possible, always keeping the client informed of the process and the responses.

2. Their Approach Toward the Partner

In fact, the word "partner" is key here. The best UI/UX companies do not collaborate with you as with clients, they treat you as partners. The difference in approach is that both parties are interested in the best development of the product.

Accordingly, such teams are not interested in short-distance races and mainly focus on long-term partnerships. Brands show a high level of trust in such companies because of their approach.

3. The Product is the Main Focus

It means that companies building products work on not just implementing all customer's requirements, but on making the product itself the best. Sometimes it's about experience, sometimes it’s more about good quality discovery stage and user analysis.

Throughout the development, designers are fully involved into the process and bring their experience-based ideas to launch the best possible version of the product. Good design teams are characterized by high empathy and understanding of user needs. Sounds simple. But, in practice, such teams become the best among thousands of competitors.

4. They Have a Market Specification

There are some debates: is it good or bad for designers to have an industry specification? After analyzing the top companies from the list, we can say that specification is undoubtedly a feature of great companies. It is obvious - to choose the industry and become the best in it! And, in practice, it works.

It also gives the partner a certain level of guarantee of the product's success, because the company knows all the pitfalls and solutions that will help enter the market, find users, and grow the platform - depending on your goals.

How to Choose a Top UI/UX Design Agency in 2026?

Even with a detailed list of the most popular and suitable agencies out there, it can still be difficult to choose the right one. But it’s important to take time to analyze the most important aspects you are looking for in a company and carefully choose based on those factors.

It’s also important to note that choosing a company that will handle both development and design of the product is a very smart move, as there are many benefits such as saving time and minimizing risks of losing quality.

For Linkup ST, design is not just for the sake of design. We compromise with quality, ethics, and the essence of every product to deliver pixel-perfect and user-friendly designs.

With more than 150 products successfully launched on the market, we are ready to help you achieve your goals. Talk to us, and let’s partner up on our next project!

If you are interested in learning everything about UI/UX agencies and launching a digital product, don’t forget to check out our “Building Digital Products” podcast.

What is the Price of UI UX Design Services?

Review of the Pricing Models 

When you choose which UI/UX design company to work with, you may need to understand their pricing model. It is important to know because, in this way you will be more likely to ensure you get the best value for the deal. In this section, we present the most common pricing models used by the best UI/UX design studios in the world. 

  • Hourly Rate. Many companies work for an hourly rate. This model is flexible enough, and the charges are accurate according to the time taken for the project. The hourly rates of most of the top agencies are usually between $50 and $300 per hour, depending on the agency's reputation, geographical location, and the level of expertise of the designers assigned to your project. That’s why it is worth taking time to investigate each company deeper
  • Project-Based Pricing. Other companies provide fixed price on their service offerings based on the whole project. This model provides the clear picture of the total cost at the beginning. However, you project should have a clear scope. This model is not very flexible, and if something goes wrong, you may be forced to change the model of collaboration or even hire another team.
  • Retainer Model. UX/UI design agencies sometimes work on a retainer basis, where clients pay a set fee for a certain number of hours or deliverables per month. This model works in our practice well for ongoing relationships and long-term projects.
  • Value-Based Pricing. One more approach of hiring and cooperating with UI/UX design studios is to pay them for the value their designs bring to the project or product. This model ties the cost to the value delivered to the client's business. For instance, it could be paying after the business sees the increased conversions, reduced support costs, and enhanced brand perception based on the agreed-upon KPIs. 
  • Tiered Pricing. Another popular way to organize payments is to collaborate based on the chosen level of service with different service packages. 

When you review and consider different pricing models to choose from, take into consideration the complexity of your project and the estimated scope of work to make the expectation close to reality.

You have to keep in mind budget constraints. Then think about the flexibility level you expect from the UI/UX design agency you’re going to collaborate with. Some of them allow more flexibility, and some require adherence to the aligned initial plan. 

You should also think about how long you’re going to maintain a partnership with the UI/UX design company because it may help you choose a suitable method of collaboration from the outset. 

Our advice to you is that the most expensive option is not a rule to be the best one. However, the cheapest may not provide the level of quality you may expect. The best approach to finding the company you will collaborate with effectively is to interview them and see how much they listen and understand your requests and desires. The designs are good only in care they align with your product goals. 

Then, ask them to break down each cost item. This transparency may prevent you from unexpected expenses and overpaying for services.

Need a Quick UI/UX Design Estimate?

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Average Hourly Rates for UX/UI Services by Country

Country/Region Hourly Rate Range Average Rate Comments
United States $100 - $250 $150 The United States maintains the highest average rate, particularly in tech hubs like San Francisco and New York.
Western Europe (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands) $70 - $170 $120 Western European countries like the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands have high rates reflecting their strong economies and tech sectors.
Ukraine $35 - $85 $55 Ukraine stands out in Eastern Europe with slightly higher rates due to its strong technical expertise.
Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania) $35 - $80 $50 Eastern European countries have growing quality and reputation.
India $20 - $60 $35 India continues to offer the lowest average rates, making it a popular outsourcing destination, though quality can vary widely.
Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia) $25 - $70 $40 Southeast Asian countries provide competitive rates and are becoming more and more popular alternatives to other outsourcing destinations.
Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico) $40 - $90 $60 Latin American countries offer mid-range rates and are becoming popular for nearshore outsourcing from the US.
Australia $80 - $180 $120 Australia's rates are on par with Western Europe, reflecting its developed economy and strong tech sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Consider When Choosing UI/UX Design Studios?

When you choose the best UI/UX design companies for your product, do it based on the company's portfolio, specialization in your industry, and niche, and take into account their approach to UX in terms of making your product convenient for users. Find out the leading UI/UX design studios around the world that have previous successful projects of a similar business as yours. 

We also recommend considering how they communicate with customers, their pricing strategy, and if they provide any support after the launch of the product or website. When selecting a UI/UX design agency, the important points to consider are how they meet your project needs and company ethos. The work quality and client satisfaction of a certain firm can be gauged through the testimonials and case analyses of the respective clients. Take time to investigate it. 

What is the Typical Cost of a Project with a UI/UX Design Agencies?

The price for the UI/UX design agency services depends. The main factors are the scale, difficulty of the product, and the agency experience. Some UI/UX design firms set their prices from $10,000 to $150,000 and even more. Everything depends on the scope and complexity of the work. On average, the cost of the best user experience design agencies will cost you from around $50 at Linkup ST to $250 per hour, which is usually charged by the top companies in the US. 

The choice of pricing strategies depends on the particular agency. There are many options for pricing: fixed-price, time and materials, or value-based pricing, among others. Before signing a contract and paying to exact agencies – we at Linkup ST recommend you request quotes to ensure that you are not overpaying and getting your money's worth.

How Long does it Typically Take to Complete a UI/UX Design Project?

The duration of a UI/UX design project depends on the estimated complexity of the project. The more complex one may take, the longer it will take to complete. When it comes to small and medium-sized projects, the best UI/UX design agencies might take between 4 to 12 weeks. The size and scope of the big projects may require between 3-6 months for the best UI/UX design companies or even more to complete. 

The process is generally divided into the research phase, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and design phases. While some of the best user experience design studios in the world might cycle through the process more quickly because of their well-established and polished processes, there has to be enough time dedicated to the research and for the iterations so that the final product comes out as great as possible.

What Kind of Deliverables Can I Expect From a UI/UX Design Agencies?

When working with UI/UX design agencies, there are several things that one is likely to receive during the project. These are usually user research findings, personas, user journey maps, information architecture, wireframes, interaction prototypes, and the final interface designs. 

The world's most outstanding UI/UX design studios, like Linkup ST, can also include style guidelines, design systems, or documentation with specifications for the developers. It is also crucial to know the fact that some of the first-rate user experience design companies might provide bonus deliverances such as usability tests, analytics suggestions, and even code samples. This should be clearly outlined in the contract with the UI/UX design agency that you work with.

Do UI/UX Agencies Offer Post-launch Support and Updates?

Most of the best companies in the area of UI/UX design services also extend post-launch support and services. This can be in the form of observing comments from the end users, handling user data on behavior, and making changes to the design in the future. Many of the top-ranking UI/UX design agencies offer monthly maintenance services or retainer services for constant improvement. 

Another consideration clients should make when they are sourcing for a user experience design agency is whether they offer post-launch services within what time frame they can offer these services and for what costs align with your long-term product vision.

What Role do I Play in the UI/UX Design Process as a Client?

It will also be important to understand that as a client, your role is very important when working with a UI/UX design agency. In addition, your input would be invaluable when understanding the project scope and objectives, business and relevant user needs, and getting to know all prior user data if available.

The top UI/UX design studios all over the world today would require your availability for weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or bi-monthly calls for feedback sessions, approval & progress review meetings at certain project phases. It is important to have your input on the stage of identifying user personas, brand identity, and the general look and feel of the platform and product. Leading UX design companies value clients who are involved, communicative, and willing to listen to the designer's and developers' suggestions and make timely decisions. It will streamline task execution and, possibly, even improve outcomes. 

What Should I Prepare Before Approaching a UI/UX Design Agencies?

The ultimate checklist before approaching the agencies for UI/UX design is to have a well-defined and documented project brief with user studies, data analysis, and competitor analysis. 

Identify what makes your product or service different from other similar products and services and define the rules regarding the use of your logo and brand colors. It would be useful to have a basic idea of the sort of features and functions you want to have in your product. The top UI/UX design companies globally applaud clients who come to them with such data in hand. 

You can also try to make a mood board or set some references for the products and works you like. Further, there is no need to hesitate to share information about your business model and its further development. With this preparation, you will help top user experience design studios comprehend your needs better and give out more suitable solutions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Nataliya Sambir
Nataliya Sambir
Chief Design Officer
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