Head to head · Both in our editorial top 7 · Facts retrieved August 24, 2026

Fantasy vs Clay

Between Fantasy and Clay, Fantasy is the stronger overall pick: it ranks #3 of 7 on our list at 8.45/10, against #7 and 8.35 for Clay. Fantasy is best for later-stage companies wanting an AI-forward brand relaunch, not a fast website sprint; Clay is best for companies that want branding and website design bundled into one engagement.

The table below puts their Clutch facts side by side, and the two lists after it say which one to pick depending on what kind of website you are buying.

By Katherine VossLast updated September 2, 2026

Side by side

FactFantasyClay
Editorial rank#3 of 7#7 of 7
Editorial score8.45/108.35/10
Clutch ratingNo Clutch rating4.8 / 5 (32 reviews)
Minimum projectUndisclosed$50,000+
Hourly bandUndisclosed$150 to $199/hr
Team size (Clutch)250 to 99910 to 49
Founded19992009
HeadquartersSan Francisco, United StatesSan Francisco, United States
Top serviceUX/UI Design (20%)UX/UI Design (30%)
Web design + development share0%30%
Low-code / CMS build share0%10%
Branding share0%20%
Top industryMedia & Entertainment (16%)Fintech & Financial Services (40%)
Largest client segmentEnterprise (40%)Enterprise (70%)
Design share of services30%80%

In brief

Fantasy

Fantasy is a San Francisco firm founded in 1999 with 250 to 999 people and a New York office. It has no Clutch rating or reviews and no published pricing. Listed services are UX/UI design 20 percent, AI development 10 percent and digital strategy 10 percent, a design share of 30 percent. Industries are spread thinly, led by media and entertainment at 16 percent. Clients are 40 percent enterprise, 40 percent mid-market and 20 percent startups. Nothing in the record references web design, web development, branding or CMS work.

Clay

Clay is a San Francisco agency founded in 2009 with 10 to 49 employees and offices in New York and Austin, rated 4.8 across 32 Clutch reviews. UX/UI design and web design are 30 percent each of its services, branding 20 percent and low-code development 10 percent. Fintech is 40 percent of its industries and clients are 70 percent enterprise. Reviews include a website redesigned with a refreshed brand system for a portfolio management company, and an education website rebuilt front and back end. Minimum project $50,000+ at $150 - $199 / hr.

Which one to choose

Each point below is derived from a fact where the two profiles differ, so the same fact never argues both ways.

Choose Fantasy if

  • You need a bigger bench: Fantasy lists 250 to 999 people on Clutch, Clay lists 10 to 49.
  • You trust our scoring: Fantasy ranks #3 with 8.45/10 against #7 at 8.35.

Choose Clay if

  • You weight review volume: Clay has 32 Clutch reviews to Fantasy's 0.
  • You prefer a smaller senior team: Clay runs at 10 to 49 people rather than Fantasy's 250 to 999.
  • You are buying a marketing website rather than product UX: Clay reports 30% web design and development work against Fantasy's 0%.
  • Your marketing team needs to run the site without engineers: Clay lists low-code development at 10% against Fantasy's 0%.
  • The website ships with a rebrand: Clay reports 20% branding work against Fantasy's 0%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which should you choose, Fantasy or Clay?+
Fantasy, on our editorial scoring: it ranks #3 of 7 at 8.45/10 against #7 and 8.35 for Clay. Choose Fantasy when the brief matches later-stage companies wanting an AI-forward brand relaunch, not a fast website sprint. Choose Clay instead when the brief matches companies that want branding and website design bundled into one engagement.
How do Fantasy and Clay differ on price?+
Fantasy publishes an undisclosed minimum at an undisclosed hourly rate; Clay publishes a $50,000 minimum at $150 to $199 per hour. One of the two does not publish a floor, so scope it on a call before comparing totals. Both figures are self-reported on Clutch and retrieved August 24, 2026; they are floors rather than typical project totals.
How do Fantasy and Clay differ on scope?+
Fantasy reports 0% of its work in web design and web development against 30% at Clay, so the higher figure is the safer pick when you are buying a marketing website rather than product UX. Their largest service lines are UX/UI Design at 20% for Fantasy and UX/UI Design at 30% for Clay. On branding, Fantasy reports 0% and Clay 20%; on low-code and CMS builds, 0% and 10%, which is what decides whether your marketing team can publish pages without engineering.

Other comparisons with Fantasy or Clay

Clutch facts retrieved August 24, 2026 from Fantasy and Clay. Editorial scores from our methodology. No paid placements. Every rank on this list is editorially assigned.