Side by side
Key data on both agencies. The accent dot marks where one leads.
| COBE | IDEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 77/100 | 77/100 |
| Hourly rate | ●€100-150/hr | €200/hr |
| Team size | 50-99 | 50-99 |
| Location | Munich, Germany | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | — | — |
| Tier | Free | Free |
| Last reviewed | Feb 11, 2026 | Feb 11, 2026 |
What we said about each
What we said about COBE
"COBE's portfolio shows 15+ project case studies spanning enterprise products (BMW Group Data Portal, Vodafone GigaTV), design systems (Porsche Holding carlog), and consumer apps (jö Bonus Club, Kickbase, Garden). The BMW Group case documents in-depth research—remote interviews across Europe, China, and the USA—plus a User Experience Identity framework and full design-to-development delivery. Client testimonials from BMW Group's Platform Lead and RMV's Head of Marketing confirm working…"
— UXAgencies editorial team, reviewed Feb 11, 2026
Read full review →What we said about IDEO
"IDEO publishes 15+ case studies spanning nearly 50 years, with standout projects for H&M (22% stock reduction, 34% sales increase via supply chain redesign), Teal Health (FDA-authorized at-home screening device tested with 220 participants), and Boom Supersonic (full-scale cabin prototyping leading to American Airlines order)—each showing documented research, prototyping, and measurable business outcomes. At €200+/hr, IDEO operates at the top of the market, and the work justifies the…"
— UXAgencies editorial team, reviewed Feb 11, 2026
Read full review →Best for
Where each agency measurably leads — on pricing, team capacity, declared specializations, and editorial scoring. Use these to match an agency to your project priorities.
Choose COBE if you need
- •a more cost-effective engagement (~37% lower rate)
- •disclosed specialization in E-commerce
- •broader service offering — also covers User Research and UX/UI Design
Choose IDEO if you need
- •disclosed specialization in Healthcare / Retail
- •broader service offering — also covers Service Design and Innovation
Strengths and watch-outs
Both upsides and risks, straight from our editorial assessments.
COBE
✓ Strengths
- •15+ published case studies with enterprise clients and real testimonials from BMW Group, RMV, and Messe München
- •BMW Group case documents full research process—international user interviews, UX identity framework, and iterative design
- •End-to-end delivery (research → design → development → QA) with an 80-person in-house team
⚠ Watch-outs
- •Case studies vary in depth—BMW Group is detailed but others are primarily visual showcases without process documentation
- •Published case studies don't include specific business metrics—ask for measurable outcomes before committing
- •Website is English-focused but team is Munich-based—confirm language capability for DACH-market projects if needed
IDEO
✓ Strengths
- •Published case studies include specific business metrics—H&M saw 34% sales increase and 22% stock reduction; Teal Health achieved FDA authorization with 97% ease-of-use in a 220-person clinical study
- •Nearly 50-year track record with C-suite client testimonials from Ford, Moderna, and Intercorp—signals a firm that operates at the executive level, not just the project level
- •Work spans physical products (Boom cabin, Teal Wand, Fizik helmets), digital platforms (FEMSA/OXXO, Sephora), and organizational design (Ford, Moderna)—rare breadth backed by evidence in each category
⚠ Watch-outs
- •At €200+/hr with no published maximum rate, request a detailed scope and fee structure early—IDEO's engagements are typically large-scale and may not suit projects under six figures
- •London office is one of several global locations—confirm which team and office will lead your engagement, as case studies span US, Latin America, and European work
- •Most published case studies focus on strategy and product creation rather than ongoing UX design or interface optimization—if your need is iterative digital product improvement, clarify whether IDEO's model fits
Service coverage
Where each agency overlaps and where each is unique.
Only COBE
- •User Research
- •UX/UI Design
- •App Development
Both
None.
Only IDEO
- •Service Design
- •Innovation
- •Product Design
Industry coverage
Where each agency overlaps and where each is unique.
Pricing math
Estimated cost of a typical 12-week senior engagement (~480 hours), at each agency's published rate.
COBE
Rate: €100-150/hr
€48,000–€72,000
IDEO
Rate: €200/hr
€96,000+
For most general product engagements, COBE delivers better ROI per hour. For Healthcare-specific work, IDEO's premium is justified by their declared specialization.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, COBE or IDEO?
- COBE is cheaper by roughly 37% — €125/hr median vs €200/hr at IDEO. The premium reflects either brand or specialization — see the editorial pull quotes for context.
- Which has more Automotive experience, COBE or IDEO?
- Both agencies publish Automotive case studies. IDEO has the broader industry stack overall, with disclosed experience in Healthcare, Retail beyond their shared focus.
- Which scores higher overall, COBE or IDEO?
- Both score equally well overall (77/100). The deciding factor is specialization — see the editorial quotes and Strengths sections above. Full methodology.
- When should I consider both COBE and IDEO?
- Consider running parallel discovery briefs with COBE and IDEO if your project spans multiple workstreams, you want competitive proposals to compare scope and approach, or you're undecided between the specialization angles each brings (see the Best for cards above). Most engagements ultimately go with one — but the parallel-brief phase is a low-cost way to validate fit.
Read the full reviews
Side-by-side comparison is a starting point. The full editorial reviews include portfolio analysis, case studies, and the buyer-strength / watch-out detail behind the bullets above.
Comparison last updated May 29, 2026. Most recently reviewed: COBE on February 11, 2026. How we rank