The first interaction between a business and its users rarely starts with a conversation — it starts with design.
Before they explore your product’s features or understand its capabilities, users judge how it feels to use. A clean interface, intuitive navigation, and thoughtful visuals silently communicate what your brand stands for.
At Galaxy UX Studio, we have seen what great design can do. As one of the Top UI/UX Design Companies in India (DesignRush, 2025), we have worked with businesses of all scales — startups chasing their first MVP to enterprises redesigning complex platforms.
And here’s the truth: a good design does not just look appealing — it performs.
According to a Forrester study (paid report), every $1 invested in UX brings an average return of $100, while improving UX design can increase an ROI up to 9,900%!
That’s not an expense — that’s a growth strategy.
But then comes the big question — how much should you pay for that level of design?
The answer depends on how deep you want to go — from understanding your users to designing delightful interfaces, and how much time, creativity, and iteration your project demands.
Here’s a quick look at what typically goes into a UI/UX design project — and how time and cost vary based on scope and complexity.
Time & Cost Overview for UI/UX Design Projects (2025 Estimates)
| Design Stage | Approx. Time | Estimated Cost (USD) | What Affects It |
| UX Research & Discovery | 60–200 hours | $3,000 – $12,000 | User research depth, product goals, and competitive analysis |
| Wireframing & UX Flow Design | 40–120 hours | $2,000 – $7,000 | Number of screens, flow complexity, feedback cycles |
| UI Design (Visuals, Components, Branding) | 50–300 hours | $2,500 – $18,000 | Visual depth, animations, custom illustrations |
| Prototyping & Usability Testing | 20–100 hours | $1,000 – $6,000 | Test group size, number of revisions, interactivity level |
| Ongoing Design Support & Updates | — | $5,000 – $20,000/year | New features, visual refreshes, or usability optimizations |
This UI/UX design cost is not random. It is influenced by various factors. And if you want to understand how much agencies charge for UI/UX design and why, then you need to understand these factors in detail.
Factors Affecting UI/UX Design Cost
1. Time Taken
Design is rarely a straight road — it’s more like a loop that moves from research to concepts, to testing, to refinements.
The time it takes depends largely on:
- How many screens or user journeys your app or website has
- How complex each interaction is (think dashboards, filters, multi-step forms, animations)
- And how many times those journeys need to be reworked for usability
At Galaxy UX Studio, we have designed everything from quick MVP prototypes to enterprise-grade SaaS platforms with 100+ user flows.
And here’s what we have learned — the longer the design phase, the smoother the development phase.
Every hour spent refining a user journey early on saves countless hours (and dollars) fixing usability issues later.
2. Creative Exploration
Good design takes skill.
Great design takes exploration.
When agencies charge for design, you are not just paying for what ends up on the screen — you are paying for all the versions that did not.
The rough sketches, the alternate color systems, the moodboards that were built, debated, and discarded.
Each round of creative exploration allows the team to align visual identity with product goals.
That’s why we at Galaxy UX Studio build multiple concepts, run internal design critiques, and polish ideas until they reflect both usability and brand personality.
Because users do not fall in love with “okay,”— they fall in love with details that feel deliberate.
3. Testing and Validation
Your UI/UX design process should include testing and validation as non-negotiable factors. From A/B testing key flows to observing users interact with prototypes, it can ensure the design works in the real world.
At Galaxy UX Studio, we rely on usability tests, click-tracking, and user feedback sessions to identify friction points early.
This phase might not look “creative,” but it’s where design matures — transforming from a concept into a product that users instinctively understand.
So yes, it takes extra hours. But those are the hours that make your design not just usable, but valuable.
4. Team Expertise
When you hire a seasoned design team, you are paying for efficiency, creativity, and results; not just hours.
An experienced designer can translate a fuzzy idea into a complete user flow faster — and better — than a large team of juniors still figuring things out.
At Galaxy UX Studio, our award-winning design experts have worked across industries — from healthcare and retail to edtech and fintech.
This cross-domain experience means we understand what works, what does not, and how to design for both user psychology and business outcomes.
Expert-led design might cost more upfront. However, it almost always saves money in the long run. It does so by reducing redesigns, miscommunication, and development rework.
5. Ongoing Support
Think of UI/UX design as a living system — not a one-time project.
Once your app or website goes live, real users start interacting with it in ways you did not anticipate. And your design agency should elevate interactions into memorable journeys.
That’s when data meets design.
Ongoing support ensures your design evolves with:
- New features or integrations
- User feedback and analytics
- Brand refreshes or design system updates
At Galaxy UX Studio, we often continue to work with clients long after the product launch — refining, optimizing, and updating the design as their business scales.
Because digital experiences age quickly — and the best ones stay fresh by being consistently improved.
Understanding Global UI/UX Design Hourly Rates
UI/UX design costs vary depending on location, expertise, and engagement model. Here’s a snapshot of average hourly rates worldwide in 2025:
Global Hourly Rates by Region
| Region | Average UI/UX Hourly Rate (USD) |
| North America (U.S., Canada) | $75 – $200 |
| Western Europe (U.K., Germany, France) | $60 – $150 |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine) | $40 – $90 |
| India / South Asia | $20 – $60 |
As you can see, UI/UX design hourly rates are much lower in India and the South Asia region, so you can get much affordable UI/UX design services here. Moreover, partnering with experienced product design agencies like Galaxy UX Studio will help you create the desired design for a mobile or web application cost-effectively.
Hourly Rates by Engagement Type
| Engagement Type | Hourly Rate (USD) | Notes / Benefits |
| Freelancers | $20 – $75 | Flexible, good for small projects, but limited process & team support |
| In-House Designers | $25 – $90 | Close collaboration, full-time control, but comes with hiring costs & benefits |
| Outsourcing Design Agencies | $30 – $150 | Structured process, multiple experts, higher cost, but comprehensive services |
What This Means for Businesses
- Freelancers: Great for small tasks or prototypes but lack structured processes, testing, and multiple design perspectives.
- In-House Teams: Ideal for constant collaboration but come with salaries, benefits, and limited exposure to varied design challenges.
- Agencies / Outsourcing: Best for businesses wanting full-service design expertise without overhead costs. Experienced teams, structured workflows, and flexible engagement make outsourcing both efficient and cost-effective — especially when hiring globally recognized agencies like Galaxy UX Studio.
Note: Partnering with an outsourcing design studio can save up to 60% of project costs compared to in-house teams in Western countries, while still delivering award-winning quality.
Exploring UI/UX Design Packages by Galaxy UI/UX Studio
For businesses that prefer clarity and predictability, Galaxy UX Studio also offers tailored UI/UX design packages that balance flexibility with outcome-based pricing.
Our packages are structured to suit different business stages and product goals:
- Startup Package: Perfect for MVPs and early-stage products. Focused on lean UX and core UI.
- Growth Package: For scaling digital products with refined user flows, component libraries, and visual consistency.
- Enterprise Package: For large-scale systems requiring complex user journeys, design systems, and cross-platform interfaces.
Each package includes:
- Comprehensive design strategy aligned with your brand
- Prototyping and iterative testing
- Dedicated design team and project manager
- Post-launch design support and optimization recommendations
Conclusion
Why spend $60k or more hiring a UI/UX design agency in the U.S. when you can get world-class design from India at a fraction of the cost? Outsourcing your design work to experienced Indian agencies like Galaxy UX Studio can cut costs by 50% or more — without compromising on creativity, research, or usability.
If you are investing $150k or more in developing a digital product, spending even less than half of that on a top-tier UI/UX design studio is not an expense — it is an investment. Expert design ensures your product resonates with users, drives engagement, and builds a loyal user base — giving you a measurable competitive edge.
At Galaxy UX Studio, we combine award-winning design expertise with cost-effective delivery.
Ready to transform your digital product with a top UI/UX design team?
Get in touch with Galaxy UX Studio today, and let’s create experiences that delight your users and drive measurable results.
