Aruno is one founder who designs and codes your project. DesignMe is a full team across brand, product and build. See which setup your work actually needs.
ChatGPT
Claude
Google
GrokYou're choosing between Aruno and DesignMe for your next website or product. Both design and build, and both portfolios look good, so the work samples won't settle it.
What settles it is how many jobs you need done at once, and who you want to talk to while they happen.
The main difference between Aruno and DesignMe is the shape of the team. At Aruno, Mihai designs and codes your project, and you talk to him directly. DesignMe runs a team with a project manager and specialists across brand, product, motion and development, set up to handle several workstreams together.
This comparison is written by Aruno. DesignMe's details come from its homepage, FAQ and subscription page, checked on 12 October 2026. Check any agreement for ownership and licensing terms; this is general information, not legal advice.
How do Aruno and DesignMe compare side by side?
The differences show up in who does the work and how you stay in touch with it.
Here's what each studio publishes about its setup.
| Factor | Aruno | DesignMe |
|---|---|---|
| Who you talk to | Mihai, who designs and codes | A project manager, plus the team on higher plans |
| Team | One maker, with collaborators on larger builds | Designers, developers and motion specialists |
| Work at the same time | One active request at a time | One main workstream on Starter, more on higher plans |
| How sites are built | Custom code; Shopify or MerchantPro for stores | Webflow and Framer, plus custom development |
| Keeping you updated | Progress twice a week and a weekly call | Async updates from the PM on Starter; 1 to 3 strategy calls a week on Immersive+ |
Neither column wins on its own. The right one depends on what's in your brief.
When is Aruno the better fit?
Aruno suits work where one clear outcome matters more than many things moving at once.
- One website, store or product flow with a clear goal. A service business site, a Shopify store or the key screens of one product journey.
- You want the person deciding to be in the conversation. A design choice and its effect on the build get settled in the same call, without a handoff between departments.
- You want custom code, not a builder. Stores run on Shopify or MerchantPro with custom-coded design and functionality.
- You already have a custom-coded site or an AI-built MVP that needs fixing. We repair it in place or clean it up, quoted by how serious the problem is, instead of starting over.
Work usually starts within 1 to 2 business days of agreeing the scope, and anything we build that breaks in the first 30 days is fixed free.
The limits are real too. We work on one active request at a time, we don't run parallel workstreams, and we don't build in Framer or Webflow.
When is DesignMe the better fit?
DesignMe suits launches where several disciplines need to move together.
- Brand, product, website, motion and development at once. Its services cover all five, from brand identity to custom web applications.
- You want a coordinator. Every subscription includes a dedicated project manager, and Immersive+ adds a senior pod embedded in your day-to-day work.
- Your team needs Webflow or Framer. DesignMe builds in both.
DesignMe is clear about its own fit. Its FAQ says it works with funded startups, SaaS companies and AI products, and that it's probably not right for "a tiny one-off task" or "the cheapest possible execution".
Both studios offer cleanup for MVPs built with AI tools. The difference is who does it: a team at DesignMe, the person you're talking to at Aruno.
What does the price difference buy?
The prices sit on different scales because the teams do.
DesignMe's subscriptions start at $6,995 per month for Starter, with a $2,500 trial week if you want to test the team first. Its FAQ says most monthly sprint partnerships start around $8,000 to $12,000.
Aruno's monthly partnership is €2,000 per month + VAT, and fixed projects start from €1,000 + VAT. Our guides to website costs and custom web application costs show typical budgets by scope.
A lower monthly fee buys one maker's focus, not a team's capacity. Compare what it costs to reach the same finished result, in the same currency and with VAT treated the same way, rather than the monthly figures alone.
If your project fits one focused maker, we'd like to hear about it. Tell us what you need launched or fixed, and we'll tell you honestly whether it suits Aruno or a bigger team like DesignMe. Book a free intro call with no commitment, or reach us at hi@aruno.studio, on WhatsApp or on Telegram at @mihaipostelnicu.
How should you decide?
Start from your situation, then check the proposal.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| One website or store with a clear goal | Aruno |
| A custom-coded site or AI-built MVP that needs fixing | Aruno |
| Brand, product and website launching together | DesignMe |
| A Framer or Webflow build | DesignMe |
| Several teams' work running in parallel | DesignMe |
Then ask either studio the same questions:
- Who will design and build the work, and who do I speak to each week?
- What's the first thing I'll be able to review, and when?
- What happens when priorities change halfway through?
- What do I own at handover: code, design files, accounts?
You can send us the same brief through the project form and compare the answers side by side.
Our recommendation: for one focused website, store or product phase, start with Aruno. You'll work with the person doing the job, at a smaller entry price. For a multi-discipline launch on a funded timeline, DesignMe's team is the better match, and we'd tell you so on the call.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aruno cheaper than DesignMe? Aruno's published entry prices are lower: €2,000 per month + VAT, against $6,995 per month for DesignMe's Starter plan. The two buy different things, one maker's focus versus a team's capacity, so compare the cost of the same finished result.
How quickly can each studio start? DesignMe's subscription page says it can start in one day. Aruno usually starts within 1 to 2 business days of agreeing the scope.
Can I pause or cancel? Yes, with both. DesignMe says you can pause its subscription for up to 2 months, or downgrade or cancel. Aruno's monthly partnership can be paused or cancelled before it renews, and a fixed project ends when the agreed scope is delivered.
Can I try either studio before committing? DesignMe offers a trial week for $2,500. Aruno starts with a free intro call, and a fixed project from €1,000 + VAT is a smaller way to test the working relationship than a monthly plan.
Pick the setup that matches how many things you need moving at once. The right partner follows from that.
Share this article:
