Artone Studio vs Kargul Studio: Which Design Partner Fits Startups Best
Artone Studio vs Kargul Studio comparison: pricing, team structure, delivery model, and which design and build partner fits early-stage startups best.
For most early-stage founders, we are the stronger fit because we pair one senior design and build partner with flat monthly pricing, though Kargul Studio's integrated engineering team can suit a single scale-up project that needs code shipped alongside design.
We are a design, web, and brand partner built for early-stage and growth-stage technology companies, working on a flat $5,000 a month retainer with one task at a time (or $9,000 for two in parallel), plus custom-scoped projects starting at $2,000. Kargul Studio is a combined design and engineering studio built for scale-ups and enterprise products, charging a $2,500 trial week before moving to a full, custom-quoted project with its roughly 16-person team. Kargul's in-house engineering can suit a team that wants design and code built by the same group on one defined build. For an early-stage founder who wants a product partner thinking about what to build next, not just a vendor executing a brief, we are the better long-term fit.
What each studio is
We are a design, build, and motion partner for technology companies. Razvan Badea leads every engagement personally, from strategy and briefs to final review, so clients get a Head of Product and a full design and build team without hiring either. Our retainer model means the relationship continues past a single deliverable: it bends from product to web to brand as priorities shift.
Kargul Studio is a design and engineering studio built for scale-ups and enterprise products. Founded by Marcel, its team of around 16 people blends designers, engineers, project managers, and operations staff. Its pitch centers on pairing product design with full-stack engineering under one roof, so a client is not handing a Figma file to a separate development vendor.
Pricing and value
Our retainer is $5,000 a month for one active task at a time, or $9,000 a month for two tasks running in parallel. For a defined, one-off outcome, we also run custom projects from a $2,000 minimum, paid 50/25/25 across kickoff, midpoint, and final delivery. Either way, the price is stated upfront and does not change mid-project.
Kargul Studio does not publish retainer or project pricing. The one number on its site is a $2,500 trial week, and the studio states that 95% of trial week clients go on to hire it for the full project. That is a reasonable way to de-risk a first engagement, but it means a founder cannot compare total cost before paying something upfront. Full project pricing beyond the trial is not publicly listed.
Delivery and speed
We deliver design updates every other business day, with optional weekly strategy calls to align on priorities. One task moves at a time on the standard retainer, with a second task running in parallel available on Retainer Plus.
Kargul Studio points to speed on individual projects, citing one case where it shipped two web apps, a website, and an iOS app in under four months. No standard turnaround time or update cadence is published, so a founder evaluating speed should raise it directly in a sales call.
Services and capabilities
Our core services are product design (web and mobile apps, design systems, prototyping, AI-coded prototypes, UI/UX audits), web design (landing pages, multi-page sites, copywriting, Framer development), and brand identity (guidelines, logos, pitch decks, brand assets). Development and motion design run as their own engagements alongside the retainer.
Kargul Studio covers branding, product UI/UX design, full-stack product engineering, landing pages, and full website builds, using tools that include Figma, Framer, Webflow, Next.js, and React Native. Its core pitch is the engineering layer: a client gets design and shipped code from the same team instead of two separate relationships.
Collaboration
We work through a private Slack channel for briefs, feedback, and delivery, and every deliverable is reviewed personally by Razvan before it ships. Clients own every file, asset, and Framer site from day one, and we sign standard two-year NDAs on request.
Kargul Studio's site does not publish its day-to-day communication channel or file ownership terms, so these are worth confirming directly before signing on.
Clients, credibility, recognition
We have been designing professionally since 2016 (9+ years), have shipped 80+ projects across AI, B2B SaaS, fintech, and more, and have designed for companies with a combined valuation north of $1 billion. Two out of three clients return for a second project. Our clients include Open.cx, Sero, and Alkera AI, all Y Combinator backed, alongside enterprise names like Samsung, Lenovo, and Logitech. One proof point Kargul cannot match on the public record: we built Alkera AI's full brand identity, from logo to finished guideline, in a fixed two-week sprint ahead of its YC launch, including an AI-built tool that generates the brand's visual patterns. See more in our case studies.
Kargul Studio cites $1B+ raised by its clients, 210M+ users reached across its work, and 75+ completed projects. Its portfolio spans SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, and crypto, with named clients including Whop, Jupiter, and SideShift.
Curious if we fit your stage? Book a call and we will tell you plainly.
Side-by-side comparison
Artone Studio | Kargul Studio | |
|---|---|---|
Model | Monthly retainer or custom project | Paid trial week, then custom-quoted project |
Starting price | $5,000/month retainer; $2,000 minimum for custom projects | $2,500 trial week; full project pricing not publicly listed |
Best fit | Early-stage to growth-stage technology companies | Scale-ups and enterprise products |
Team | Razvan leads every engagement personally; senior specialists execute under his review | Approximately 16-person in-house team: designers, engineers, PMs, operations |
Core offer | Product design, web design, brand identity; development and motion as added engagements | Branding, product design, and full-stack engineering under one roof |
Active work | One task at a time, two on Retainer Plus | Not publicly listed |
Communication | Private Slack channel, updates every other business day | Not publicly listed |
Ownership | Full ownership of files, assets, and Framer sites from day one | Not publicly listed |
Contract | Cancel anytime; pause once per cycle | Not publicly listed |
When Artone is the better fit
You are an early-stage or growth-stage founder who wants a product partner, not just an execution vendor, someone who helps decide what to build next and why.
You want one flat, predictable monthly price with no trial fee before you know the real cost of working together.
Your priorities shift between product, web, and brand, and you want a retainer that moves with you instead of a new scope negotiation each time.
You want direct access to the person leading your account on every call and every review, not a rotating team.
You need Framer-built, fully owned deliverables with no dependency on the studio after launch.
When Kargul Studio is a good fit
You run a scale-up or enterprise product and need in-house engineering paired with design on one defined build.
You want a single team to ship both the interface and the working code, instead of handing a design file to a separate development shop.
You are comfortable paying for a trial week to evaluate fit before committing to a larger, custom-quoted engagement.
Your project is closer to a one-time build than an ongoing design relationship.
Final take
Both studios pair design with execution, but they are built for different stages. Kargul Studio's strength is its in-house engineering, which suits a scale-up shipping one defined product build. We are built for the earlier, messier stage: a founder who needs a product partner thinking about the business, not just the pixels, on a retainer that flexes as priorities change. If that sounds like where you are, book a call and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
