Alternatives & competitors

Top 10 Essential Designs alternatives

Snapshot

Essential Designs at a glance

Here's what Essential Designs has listed on this profile:

Hourly rate
$50 - $99
Minimum project size
$10,000+
Company size
10 - 49 employees
Founded
2008

Listed locations:

  • HQ: Vancouver, Canada

Primary service focus ("Focus"):

  • 100%
    Custom Software Development

Direction focus

  • 50%Web Development
  • 50%Mobile Development

Platforms

  • 20%AWS
  • 20%Linux server
  • 20%Windows server
  • 10%GCP
  • 10%Azure
  • 10%Other
  • 10%Heroku
Side by side

Quick comparison

All numbers below are taken from the alternatives page cards (rate, min project, size, founded, location/presence, focus).

TaglineCustom Software Development SpecialistsINTERSECTION OF BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONSoftware Design and Development As A ServiceFileMaker Experts - Innovation For Work
Foundation year2008201020171999
Min. project size$10,000+$25,000+$1,000+$10,000+
Hourly rate$50 - $99$50 - $99$25 - $49$150 - $199
Employees10 - 4950 - 24910 - 4910 - 49
HeadquartersVancouver, CanadaSomerset, United StatesLagos, NigeriaChristchurch, New Zealand
Services
100%

100%Custom Software

100%

100%Custom Software

100%

100%Custom Software

100%

100%Custom Software

Industries
50%

50%Other

100%

100%Information technology

90%

90%Information technology

—
Client sizes
60%

60%Small Business (<$10M)

—
40%

40%Midmarket ($10M - $1B)

100%

100%Small Business (<$10M)

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  • #01Sunflower Lab

    INTERSECTION OF BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Impressive design process noted
    • Experienced with larger projects
    • Good user feedback on designs

    Cons

    • Higher minimum project size
    • Significantly higher hourly rate
    • May be overqualified for smaller projects

    $50 - $99

    50 - 249

    Founded in 2010

    $25,000+

    Somerset

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #02AITECHMA

    Software Design and Development As A Service

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Competitive pricing
    • Positive user feedback on project completion
    • Focus on software design as a service

    Cons

    • Limited to Nigeria, may affect outreach
    • Newer company may lack experience
    • Team size could limit project capacity

    $25 - $49

    10 - 49

    Founded in 2017

    $1,000+

    Lagos

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #03Digital Fusion

    FileMaker Experts - Innovation For Work

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Established company with great reputation
    • Strong user feedback on professionalism
    • Expertise in FileMaker and innovation

    Cons

    • High hourly rate compared to Essential Designs
    • Minimum project size is high
    • Geographic limitations may exist

    $150 - $199

    10 - 49

    Founded in 1999

    $10,000+

    Christchurch

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #04Elluminati Inc

    On Demand Mobile App Development Company

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Strong understanding of business models
    • Positive user feedback
    • Competitive pricing

    Cons

    • Limited to mobile app development
    • Only established in 2012
    • Requires minimum project size of $5,000

    $25 - $49

    50 - 249

    Founded in 2012

    $5,000+

    Rajkot

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #05Decabits Software

    Web & Mobile Development Company

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Innovative solution provider
    • Cost-effective with good user feedback
    • Established in a growing market

    Cons

    • Minimum project size is high
    • Limited experience compared to older agencies
    • Newer firm, thus may lack resources

    $25 - $49

    10 - 49

    Founded in 2018

    $25,000+

    Delhi

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #06freevision

    We build great web & mobile applications

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Moderate pricing similar to Essential Designs
    • Good customer service as per feedback
    • Balanced team size for diverse projects

    Cons

    • Limited geographic recognition
    • Similar agency offerings with competition
    • Established slightly later than Essentials

    $50 - $99

    10 - 49

    Founded in 2012

    $10,000+

    Bratislava

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #07Exelor

    Web and mobile app development services

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Very low project thresholds
    • Growing expertise in web development
    • Flexible pricing

    Cons

    • Very small team limits resources
    • Newly established may lack stability
    • Limited user feedback available

    $25 - $49

    2 - 9

    Founded in 2019

    $5,000+

    Kharkiv

    Verified

    Focus

    50% Custom Software

    50%50% Custom Software

    50%50% AI SaaS Development

  • #08Vindaloo Softtech Pvt. Ltd.

    Custom Software Development

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Lower hourly rates than Essential Designs
    • Well-established in the US market
    • Suitable for small to medium projects

    Cons

    • Limited user opinions available
    • Fewer years of experience
    • Fewer employees might limit scalability

    $25 - $49

    10 - 49

    Founded in 2016

    $10,000+

    New York City

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #09Trunao LLC

    Easy to Use, manage infinite data Hustle free with Trunao

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Very low minimum project size
    • Lowest hourly rate among competitors
    • Simple and user-friendly solutions

    Cons

    • Newer company with limited credibility
    • Very small team, fewer resources
    • Potentially less experience in large projects

    < $25 / hr

    2 - 9

    Founded in 2017

    $1,000+

    Fremont

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

  • #10jiWeb Technologies

    Software Solutions

    View Portfolio

    Pros

    • Strong team size for larger projects
    • Competitive pricing for services
    • Specialized in software solutions

    Cons

    • Only recently established
    • User opinions not available
    • Higher rates compared to Trunao LLC

    $25 - $49

    50 - 249

    Founded in 2017

    $10,000+

    Mohali

    Verified

    Focus

    100% Custom Software

    100%100% Custom Software

Decide with confidence

How to choose

Quick pointers comparing pricing, location and capabilities across leading alternatives.

Cost and engagement

Vindaloo Softtech offers lower hourly rates ($25 - $49) compared to Essential Designs.

Trunao LLC has a significantly lower project entry point ($1,000+) which makes it accessible for smaller budgets.

jiWeb Technologies also matches Essential Designs' project size minimums but at a lower hourly rate.

Digital Fusion, despite higher rates ($150 - $199), may offer superior specialization for high-budget projects.

Geography

Decabits Software and Elluminati Inc. provide competitive services from India, which can offer cost benefits for U.S. companies looking to outsource.

AITECHMA and jiWeb Technologies from Nigeria and India respectively may offer compelling benefits for businesses seeking global development support.

Sunflower Lab and Digital Fusion are strong competitors within the U.S., ideal for clients wanting local partnerships.

Trunao LLC operates within the U.S., making them a suitable option for companies needing local expertise.

Capabilities and tech

Essential Designs, alongside Digital Fusion, offers high-quality custom software solutions, making them strong contenders for specific technology needs.

Sunflower Lab combines business, technology, and innovation for a comprehensive development approach.

Vindaloo Softtech brings a diverse technology stack at a competitive price point, enhancing its value proposition.

AITECHMA offers a streamlined design and development service which can cater to various customer needs efficiently.

Guidance

Recommendations

Pick the right agency for your needs with these quick pointers.

  • Trunao LLC is ideal for startups or small businesses with its low project minimum of $1,000 and hourly rates under $25.
  • Consider Sunflower Lab or Digital Fusion for projects requiring U.S.-based expertise and local engagement, especially at higher budgets.
  • Essential Designs is suitable for companies seeking a reliable long-term partnership in custom software development due to their established presence since 2008.
  • Digital Fusion excels with its niche in FileMaker and business innovation, making it a strong choice for specialized B2B projects.
  • Essential Designs and Sunflower Lab both provide tailored custom solutions ideal for businesses facing specific operational challenges.
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