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Top Creative Agencies

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Establishing in-house creative teams can be costly because you have to recruit and train new staff. In contrast, outsourced creatives are already highly skilled, proficient, and, most importantly, immediately available.  

How to find the right
Creative Company
How to find the right Creative AgencyHow to find the right Creative Agency
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We handpicked the 10 best creative agencies after carefully evaluating over 2,800 service providers' websites, range of creative services, portfolios and case studies, client reviews, pricing, and industry reputation. Below, you'll discover why they deserve a place in our top 10 list and our ranking criteria.

Table of Contents

The Number 1 Creative Agency as Selected by DesignRush Is...

1. We Are Social

We Are Social creative
[Source: We Are Social]
  • Best for: Overall
  • Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
  • Minimum budget: $10,000+
  • Founded: 2008
  • Size: 1,000 & Up 
  • Location: London, UK
  • Notable clients: Disney, Samsung, Adidas, Netflix, Lego

We Are Social is a leading global creative agency that specializes in social media and gaming culture. With a team of over 1,300 professionals in 19 offices worldwide, it excels at creating ideas that resonate in today's social media-driven culture. Part of Plus Company, the agency is dedicated to “social thinking”, which is the understanding of social behaviors within online communities to deliver strategic marketing solutions.

We Are Social focused on TikTok to increase cultural awareness for Camila Cabello’s #PepsiShow at the UCL Final in Paris. The agency crafted a unique 30-second video featuring a magical outfit change to attract football fans and music lovers.

The campaign was a hit, gathering over 250 million views and 3 million likes across social media. It broke records with the most successful branded TikTok Live ever and brought in over 2 million viewers for the live show, making it Cabello’s most popular TikTok video. The campaign also won gold at the Shorty Awards in the Vertical Video category.

Check We Are Social Agency Profile

2. Creative Digital Agency

Creative Digital Agency creative
[Source: Creative Digital Agency]
  • Best for: Full-service digital and media
  • Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
  • Minimum budget: $5,000
  • Founded: 2017
  • Size: Under 49 
  • Location: San Ramon, CA
  • Notable clients: PepsiCo, Chiquita, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board (LATCB), City of Sausalito, City of Benicia

Creative Digital Agency (CDA) is a full-service agency known for its agile approach and deep understanding of audience behavior. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list and by the Mobile Marketing Association, CDA has earned multiple awards for its impactful work. With a track record of generating over 500 million impressions, producing Super Bowl ads, and managing an annual media spend of $7 million, CDA has significantly increased revenue for its clients.

Chiquita needed a unique strategy to differentiate its product in a way that appealed to end-users and retail partners. CDA's solution was a creative tie-in with Universal Studios’ Minions movie, creating a multi-platform digital sandbox. The campaign targeted Millennial moms, featuring a variety of interactive elements like games, activities, and recipe content, localized in over 12 languages.

The campaign engaged over 9 million users, with 80% of the audience matching the targeted demographic. It generated 240,000 hours of consumer attention and led to an 8% increase in Chiquita's quarterly sales within just three months. Additionally, it saw a 10.9% decrease in cost-per-sale, indicating strong brand engagement and retention. The campaign won two Mobile Marketing Association Global Smarties Awards.

Check Creative Digital Agency Profile

3. Top Hat

Top Hat creative
[Source: Top Hat]
  • Best for: Complete brand overhaul
  • Average hourly rate: Inquire
  • Minimum budget: Inquire
  • Founded: 2013
  • Size: Under 49
  • Location: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Notable clients: Iron City, Necromancer Brewing Co, Pacific Counter, Desmone, Iron Born

Top Hat is a boutique agency that intentionally limits its workload to avoid compromising the quality of its work. It emphasizes the client experience, good communication, and meticulous attention to detail in every project. Some of its accolades include Expertise Awards, Ceros Awards, BrandNew Awards, and American Advertising Federation Awards.

Top Hat took on the challenge of rebranding Iron City Beer, a Pittsburgh icon. Its approach was to respect the beer's legacy while giving it a modern twist. The agency kept the iconic "red eye" logo and introduced new marketing strategies. The campaign used billboards, nostalgic ads, and local collaborations to re-engage with the Pittsburgh community and refresh the brand's image.

The rebranding was successful, making a great impression during a Steelers game. Through effective neighborhood engagement, Top Hat revitalized the brand and strengthened its connection with Pittsburgh's history. The ongoing campaign, including holiday specials and new products, continues to increase Iron City Beer's presence and appeal in the market.

Check Top Hat Agency Profile

4. Campbell Creative

Campbell Creative creative
[Source: Campbell Creative]
  • Best for: Marketing
  • Average hourly rate: Inquire
  • Minimum budget: Inquire
  • Founded: 2017
  • Size: Under 49
  • Location: Bentonville, AR
  • Notable clients: Booth Building and Design, Real World Travel, City of Bella Vista, High Impact, C4 Energy

Campbell Creative has evolved from helping small businesses to earning national recognition and working with Fortune 500 companies. It operates on a value-based model, building lasting relationships and prioritizing ethical work and service. Its team, experienced in high-profile projects, is dedicated to improving client brands. The agency has received many awards in video production, web design, and PR, including the Telly, Davey, and Silver Link awards.

Campbell Creative redesigned the website for Booth Building and Design, a luxury custom home builder in Northwest Arkansas. The goal was to create a website that matched the elegance and luxury of its homes, with inspiration taken from luxury vehicles, high-end hotels, and New York City's 5th Avenue. The design focused on clean, modern aesthetics with bold imagery while messaging outlined Booth's detailed build process and customer journey.

The new website, complemented by professional real estate photography of Booth's projects, has significantly improved its market presence in Northwest Arkansas. The redesign received positive feedback and has led to new business opportunities, positioning Booth at the forefront of its region's luxury home-building industry.

Check Campbell Creative Agency Profile

5. Fishfinger

Fishfinger creative
[Source: Fishfinger]
  • Best for: Comprehensive creative services and storytelling
  • Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
  • Minimum budget: $10,000
  • Founded: 2014
  • Size: Under 49
  • Location: London, UK
  • Notable clients: Stocked, Element, Noods, Gelato Americano, Bradford Comico

Fishfinger is a creative agency known for crafting unique and compelling stories. With a focus on branding, animation, and web design, the team excels at transforming even the most mundane topics into engaging and exciting content. It specializes in startup branding and creating captivating digital experiences.

Fishfinger took on the challenge of improving the brand image of Gelato Americano, a high-quality gelato brand known for using only natural ingredients without artificial additives. The main aim of Fishfinger was to create premium packaging that would attract both retail customers and high-end shops or restaurants.

To achieve this, Fishfinger designed new packaging that clearly showed Gelato Americano’s luxurious blend of Italian and American dessert styles. The packaging design emphasized the brand's commitment to top-quality ingredients and the happiness that comes with every serving. This new design strategy made Gelato Americano stand out in the market for gourmet desserts, attracting customers who appreciate quality food and a great eating experience.

Check Fishfinger Agency Profile

6. LEEROY

LEEROY creative
[Source: LEEROY]
  • Best for: Innovative web design and digital marketing
  • Average hourly rate: $150 - $199
  • Minimum budget: $5,000
  • Founded: 2004
  • Size: 100 - 249
  • Location: Montréal, Canada
  • Notable clients: Scavengers, iGO, Newtrax, GPM, Hitman Sniper 2

LEEROY creates innovative digital and web experiences, focusing on tailored strategies for each project. The agency skillfully blends digital trends, web development, and creative design, offering comprehensive solutions in digital marketing and eCommerce. Known for its strategic and agile approach, LEEROY helps brands develop distinct identities and achieve their goals effectively.

LEEROY was tasked with rebranding and redesigning the website for Scavengers Studio, an independent video game company, to launch its new game, "Season, a Letter for the Future." The goal was to modernize the website and user experience, reflecting Scavengers Studio's unique vision and values. The new website needed to showcase creative universes but also to attract investors, enhance the company's employer brand, and highlight the studio's unique video games and visual experiences.

The redesigned website features a simple, modern, and attractive design, emphasizing Scavengers' high-quality videos and images to fully immerse users in their gaming worlds. The site's structure is elegant and contemporary, providing a modern and cohesive user experience that effectively showcases Scavengers Studio's innovative approach to the video game industry.

Check LEEROY Agency Profile

7. SMALL

SMALL creative
[Source: SMALL]
  • Best for: Personalized approach
  • Average hourly rate: Inquire
  • Minimum budget: Inquire
  • Founded: 2019
  • Size: Under 49
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Notable clients: Heineken, Diesel, Pampers, Lexus, Netflix

SMALL is a flexible, no-commitment creative agency, perfect for clients needing quick, direct collaboration with a bold approach. It offers customized teams for each project, ensuring a tailored fit for various partners, from brands to tech companies. With awards like the New York Festival's Best Boutique Agency of the Year and ADCI Awards' Agency of the Year, SMALL combines big agency experience with the efficiency and adaptability of a smaller team.

Heineken collaborated with SMALL agency to connect with American soccer fans through a unique campaign called "Invisible Thread". The goal was to celebrate the unspoken bond among soccer enthusiasts.

SMALL implemented a three-week campaign, placing 137 mysterious green shirts featuring words across 11 major league soccer teams and six networks and involving over 500 fans, including players and journalists. This sparked curiosity on social media.

During the playoffs reveal, the shirt's words spelled out, “There is an invisible thread that links us all.” Shared widely online by clubs and soccer celebrities, the campaign created 42.6 million impressions, strengthening Heineken's presence in the soccer community and turning the fans' silent bond into a celebration of the sport.

Check SMALL Agency Profile

8. DesignStudio

DesignStudio creative
[Source: DesignStudio]
  • Best for: Modernizing digital presence and engaging content
  • Average hourly rate: $50 - $99
  • Minimum budget: $1,000
  • Founded: 2009
  • Size: Under 49 
  • Location: San Diego, CA
  • Notable clients: Rapid Spa, American Red Cross, All Cruise, Finnleo, CETech

DesignStudio is an affordable digital creative agency with 25-30 employees, serving large brands and small businesses in the B2C and B2B sectors. Specializing in digital marketing, design, and technology, the agency is known for modernizing its clients' digital presence. DesignStudio stands out for its transparent billing, clear client communication, high-quality work, and global talent pool.

DesignStudio collaborated with Rapid Spa, an outdoor product dealer in Rapid City, to redesign its website in partnership with Watkins MFG. The goal was to create a richer, more user-friendly online platform.

The new website improved the customer experience and showcased Rapid Spa’s products more effectively, which increased sales by 15-20%.

Check DesignStudio Agency Profile

9. S² Design Group

S² Design Group creative
[Source: S² Design Group]
  • Best for: Branding and package design
  • Average hourly rate: Inquire
  • Minimum budget: Inquire
  • Founded: 2000
  • Size: Under 49
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Notable clients: Dannon, Pepperidge Farm, Bain de Soleil, DrScholl’s, DeMet’s

S² Design Group is a woman-owned creative agency specializing in branding and packaging. Its mission is to build and nurture strong, genuine brands. S² is known for its custom, holistic approach, which involves thoroughly understanding each brand, developing tailored strategies and designs, and ensuring these are consistently applied across all customer interactions.

S² Agency redesigned Dannon's OIKOS brand, modernizing its branding and packaging with a sophisticated color scheme, a dynamic logo, and a streamlined design. The goal was to raise brand awareness and adapt to modern tastes, establishing a foundation for future flavors.

OIKOS's market presence and sales grew due to the rebranding, confirming its position in the premium yogurt market and illustrating the impact of strategic brand updates in a competitive market.

Check S² Design Group Agency Profile

10. Clever Creative

Clever Creative creative
[Source: Clever Creative]
  • Best for: Strategic rebrands
  • Average hourly rate: $100 - $149
  • Minimum budget: $5,000
  • Founded: 2005
  • Size: Under 49 
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Notable clients: Metrolink, Starwest Botanicals, Pacific Retail, Uncle Nearest, Purextracts

Clever Creative, a female-owned agency, has over 35 years of experience in strategic branding and design. It specializes in print, packaging, and retail, though it works across various industries. Blending logic with creative thinking, the agency constantly innovates to position clients as market leaders.

Clever Creative worked with Metrolink to improve its brand and increase passenger numbers, especially after a pandemic-related decline. The agency discovered many people didn’t know what Metrolink did, so it redesigned the brand to highlight its importance to the community and the environment. The campaign focused on reassuring current, bringing back previous, and attracting new passengers, all while addressing COVID-19 safety concerns.

The agency’s efforts updated Metrolink’s appearance and made marketing more inclusive, particularly for LatinX and women of color riders. This approach improved Metrolink’s image and effectively boosted its audience, with weekend ridership recovering to 75%.

Check Clever Creative Agency Profile

How We Picked the Best Creative Marketing Agencies

To identify the leading creative companies, we thoroughly reviewed each agency's client list, feedback, case studies, market standing, team capabilities, and leadership quality. This rigorous evaluation method helps us pinpoint the best creative companies for your next project.

Our agency specialists rate their overall performance based on factors such as:

  • Range and relevance of creative services
  • Number of completed creative projects
  • Quality and range of creative portfolio
  • High-profile clients and recognizable partnerships
  • Industry awards and recognitions
  • Online reputation on platforms like DesignRush, Google, and others

For a detailed understanding of our selection criteria, visit our DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology page.

List of the Best Creative Marketing Agencies

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  • Esparta digital

    Siempre hay una estrategia
    Esparta Digital: Expert Valencia-based digital marketing agency offering Google Ads, SEO, and Social Media services for enhanced sales and online presence.  [... view the full profile of Esparta Digital]
    Paterna, Spain
     Under 49 $50/hr Under $1,000

Creative Agency Hiring Guide

What is a creative agency?

A creative agency is an agency that combines branding, marketing, and design strategies to help brands perform better both in the physical and digital world.  

What does a creative marketing agency do?

A creative agency develops strategies and creative materials to support your brand's advertising and marketing initiatives. Creative agencies showcase your brand, products, or services through attractive, innovative assets. Partnering with one can help you increase brand awareness, improve public perception, and boost sales. 

Creative agencies offer a full scope of services, such as: 

  • Strategy: How brands establish themselves on the market and serve their customers 
  • Design: How brands and products look and feel 
  • Advertising: How brands promote themselves and their products or services 
  • Technology: How brands integrate technological solutions into their practices 

Other tasks a creative agency may perform include: 

  • Content planning 
  • Copywriting, content writing, and publishing 
  • Creation of visuals, infographics, and video content 
  • Reporting and analyzing marketing results based on KPIs 
  • Consulting 
  • And more 

What is the difference between an ad and a creative agency?

The difference between an ad and a creative agency lies in their focus, goals, and scope of work. 

An ad agency specializes in creating and implementing advertising campaigns on TV, radio, print, and online to increase brand awareness and sales. Its specialized teams consist of experts in account management, media planning, creative development, production, data analysis, media planning and buying, and more. 

Meanwhile, a creative agency concentrates on developing and executing innovative campaigns that differentiate a business from its competition. It has teams of graphic designers, artists, copywriters, social media specialists, videographers and video editors, and more. These creative professionals collaborate to produce visually appealing, engaging, and memorable concepts, designs, and content. 

Here's a clearer illustration of their differences: 

 Ad agency Creative agency 
FocusCampaign implementation, distribution, and management Development of strategies, concepts, and content 
Specialized skills Traditional, digital, and integrated media Marketing collaterals and support for marketing initiatives 
Goal Identify the best media channels for securing ad placements Capture the target market's attention and promote brand messaging, awareness, and recognition 
ApproachSpecific targeting Long-term branding 

How much do creative marketing agencies charge for their services?

On average, US-based creative marketing agencies charge an hourly rate from $100 to $300, according to Fin Models Lab. The top 50 creative agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $120/hour.  

Other billing options include:  

  • Competition-based: Charging clients at a lower price than more established competitors 
  • Value-based: Based on the perceived value of the service instead of the actual cost of the tasks or the time spent on them 
  • Results-based: Payment is calculated based on metrics such as website traffic, search engine rankings, and brand authority.  
  • Per project: Payment is a fixed price, often based on the number of hours it will take to complete a project. This is how much you can expect to pay for specific services:  

The method of billing you choose will depend on the scope of the project(s) and your own needs. If it’s a small project whose workload can be well-estimated, the simplest and most common invoicing method is by the hour. 

Roughly 12% of the creative agencies on the platform accept projects with a minimum budget of $1,000, while only 4% have a $50,000+ minimum budget. 

Why should I hire a creative agency?

The main reason to hire a creative agency is to gain access to new skills and unbiased perspectives from experts on marketing, analytics, and design. This frees your internal team's time so they can focus on core business processes. 

You should also consider hiring a creative agency for:  

  • Access to expert resources, such as analysts, web designers, and content writers 
  • The tools and technology needed to complete a project 
  • Effective marketing strategies based on your unique goals, branding style, and budget 
  • Quality of work and consistency across all your marketing channels 
  • Time and cost savings 
  • A dedicated team focused on branding 
  • Enhanced user experience 
  • A new and holistic outlook 
  • Their commitment to improve and innovate 

Demonstrating the importance of hiring a creative agency, Digital Kitchen shared a case study on its collaboration with FX. The project aimed to bring fans of The Strain into the show's dark world through an immersive VR experience at the San Diego Comic-Con.  

The event amassed 137 million social media impressions and 32 million press impressions from reputable outlets, such as Rolling Stone, Fortune, USA Today, VR Scout, and more. On-site, the event garnered 932,000 ground impressions and over 1,000 people participated. 

How do I choose a creative agency?

Follow these steps to select a creative agency: 

  1. Create a brief specifying your goals, requirements, and needs. 
  2. Set your budget and target ROI.  
  3. Research and assess reputable creative agencies based on your KPIs. Shortlist up to five companies with experience and expertise in your niche that most closely align with your company's vision and culture. 
  4. Check their credentials, licenses, insurance, affiliations, and the latest technologies and industry trends they utilize. 
  5. Review their case studies to see if they can devise a tailored plan for your project instead of a one-size-fits-all strategy.  
  6. Read previous clients' testimonials and recommendations.  
  7. Find out if they offer full-service capabilities or can subcontract specializations they may not have in-house. For instance, a creative agency may not offer video production services and delegate this task to another reputable company. 
  8. Send a detailed request for proposal (RFP). Ask them to pitch ideas and strategies that abide by the creative industries' trade standards. 
  9. Receive custom proposals with the pitch and arrange meetings to discuss them in greater detail.  
  10. Ensure they have streamlined communication channels through which immediate concerns can be addressed. 
  11. Make an informed decision based on all the information you gathered. 

If you need help finding the creative agency that best fits your brand, head over to our Marketplace and share your project details with us. We'll run through our global Agency Directory and find you the ideal match for your business requirements. 

What questions to ask a creative marketing agency before hiring?

Ask these questions when hiring a creative marketing agency: 

Its Relevant Background  

  1. Which business types and markets do you have the most experience working with? 
  2. What projects have you worked on that are similar to ours? 
  3. How do you assess client-agency fit? 
  4. What are your most successful creative projects? Can you work us through the process and the results? 

Company Services and Processes 

  1. Which creative, design, and marketing capabilities do you specialize in? 
  2. What makes your creative service offers unique? 
  3. What is the typical scope and size for the projects you accept? 
  4. Which marketing software, design tools, and databases do you specialize in? 
  5. What project management, communication, and reporting tools do you use? 

The Project 

  1. How will you evaluate the requirements of our project? How will you ensure the deliverables will be aligned with our vision and objectives? 
  2. What do we have to provide you with to commence the project? 
  3. How frequently can we get progress updates? 
  4. Which KPIs do you think will be most efficient to use for this project? 
  5. Who will be handling our account and executing the work? 
  6. How will you respond to and resolve urgent concerns? 
  7. Who will retain ownership of the marketing, design, and creative assets? 
  8. What is your pricing structure like? 
  9. Are there any areas of the project that you'll be outsourcing? 

What are the top creative agencies in the U.S.? 

The best creative agencies in the U.S. are: 

  • Rule29
    • 4.8 on DesignRush (6 reviews) 
    • 5.0 on Google (28 reviews) 
    • Top clients: McDonald’s, UNICEF, Make-A-Wish, Cargill 
  • CydoMedia
    • 4.8 on DesignRush (10 reviews) 
    • 4.3 on Google (32 reviews) 
    • Top clients: Android Authority, LALA Taqueria, Pritchard Peck, Odyssey Hair Studio 
  • FRW Studios
    • 4.7 on DesignRush (5 reviews) 
    • 4.3 on Google (32 reviews) 
    • Top clients: The Lost Abbey, MotoSonora Brewing, Port Brewing, Laguna Beach Beer Company 
  • S² Design Group
    • 4.8 on DesignRush (5 reviews)
    • 5.0 on Google (2 reviews)
    • Top clients: Ferrero, Bazooka Candy Brands, Mondeléz, Campbell Snacks 
  • Amsive Digital
    • 4.8 on DesignRush (6 reviews) 
    • 5.0 on Google (9 reviews) 
    • Top clients: WWE, UFC, BIRCHBOX, Clover Health 

Scroll up to find out more about them and the rest of the agencies on our listing. You can filter your options based on location, fees, ratings, team size, and other valuable parameters. 

About The Author and Expert Reviewer
Content Specialist
jelena@designrush.com
Jelena Relić has hundreds of top-ranking articles and a lifestyle & culture magazine she calls The MAN. She gained valuable content and SEO experience working at Digital Circle and Neil Sahota, which she now uses to deliver top-quality B2B content at DesignRush, particularly in the creative industry.
Senior Designer
branko@designrush.com
Branko Dimitrijević is a multifaceted creative and a recipient of 33 design awards. Throughout his 12-year career, he has delivered over 165 web design projects, showcasing his expertise in website optimization, UI/UX design, logo design, and video animation. He is now dedicating his talent and skills to being one of the creative geniuses at DesignRush.

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