In The Pocket Review 2026: Apps and Platforms From Ghent

Introduction

Some companies want a designer. Others want an entire team that can plan, design, build and run a digital product for years. Those are very different buying decisions, and it helps to know which one you're making.

In The Pocket is firmly in the second group. It's a digital product studio from Ghent, Belgium, founded in 2010. It says it has more than 200 strategists, designers and engineers across studios in Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bucharest and Lisbon. Its best-known public work is the ENGIE energy app, and it says its products reach 12.5 million users.

I find studios like this interesting because they're the opposite of how I work. I'm one person who designs and builds websites. In The Pocket is a small army that designs and builds full apps and platforms.

Quick Answer: Should You Hire In The Pocket?

Yes, if you're a European company that needs one partner for strategy, design and engineering on a big app or platform. If you just need a website or some design help, it's far more than you need.

How I Researched In The Pocket

Disclosure: you'll find my own service in the alternatives table. In practice, though, In The Pocket and I serve different buyers. It runs long engineering programs for large organizations. I design and build websites for smaller companies and agencies.

I haven't worked with In The Pocket. On November 2, 2026, I read its website, its G2, CB Insights, Sortlist and Wellfound listings, and a 2024 news item about a government project. I couldn't find a Clutch profile with reviews, so client feedback is limited.

What Is In The Pocket?

In The Pocket calls itself a "digital product studio," not an agency. On its Lisbon page, it explains the difference: a studio team works together closely from day one instead of handing work between departments.

Here's the quick profile:

• Founded: 2010 in Ghent.

• Team: 200+ people, by its own count. Wellfound shows a smaller 51–200 band.

• Studios: Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bucharest and Lisbon.

• Co-founder: Pieterjan Bouten, according to CB Insights.

The work it talks about publicly includes:

• the ENGIE energy app, which a staff member described as the most downloaded energy app in Belgium, rated 4.5 stars,

• a mobile payment app that In The Pocket calls Belgium's leading one,

• software for Belgium's asylum agency, announced by the government in February 2024,

• projects in finance, energy, retail and travel.

It also runs design courses, which tells me it cares about teaching, not just delivering.

What Does In The Pocket Do?

The key word is end to end. Most design studios hand over designs and let someone else build them. In The Pocket keeps the whole job in one house, from the first workshop to the app store.

What Does In The Pocket Charge?

The catch to plan for

There's no public price, and there are no public reviews that mention budgets. For a 200-person team doing design and engineering together, I'd expect large, multi-month contracts. If you only have a small budget, you could spend weeks in talks before learning it doesn't fit.

A real-world scenario

Say you run a Dutch insurance company. Your customer app is slow, looks dated and gets bad reviews. You want a new one, plus a website portal that shares the same design, and you don't have engineers in-house.

In The Pocket could run a strategy phase to decide what the app should do, design the new screens, build both the app and the portal, and then keep improving them after launch. If I were that insurer, I'd ask to meet the actual team, not just the sales lead, and I'd ask how many people from Bucharest or Lisbon would be involved.

What Are Clients Saying About In The Pocket?

Public client feedback is thin. I couldn't find a Clutch profile with reviews, and G2 shows no reviews either.

What I did find:

• ENGIE renewed its work with In The Pocket, according to a public post from a team member.

• The Belgian government chose it to build software for managing asylum case information.

• Its own site points to millions of product users across its apps.

A renewed contract with an energy company is a good sign, because big firms don't usually stay with partners who let them down. Still, I'd like to see what clients say in their own words.

Can You Trust In The Pocket?

Yes. It's a 16-year-old company with real offices, a named co-founder, public government work and a major energy client. What's missing is independent reviews, so ask for references.

What I Think as a Designer

I like that In The Pocket calls itself a studio and explains why. When designers and engineers sit in the same team from the start, you get fewer surprises. A designer can ask an engineer "can we build this?" in five minutes instead of five days.

I see a small version of this in my own work. Because I design in Figma and build in Framer or Webflow myself, what I design is what ships. In The Pocket does that at a much bigger scale, with engineers instead of no-code tools.

My one tip: ask to see the design side of its portfolio, not only the tech. Large engineering studios sometimes lead with code, and you want to be sure the design is just as strong.

What In The Pocket Does Well

• Design and engineering together.

• Large team across six cities.

• Energy and government work on record.

• Long-term product support.

• Teaches design through courses.

Where In The Pocket Falls Short

• No public prices.

• No independent reviews.

• Too big for small projects.

• Team size varies by source.

• Europe-focused offices.

Who Is In The Pocket Right For?

In The Pocket suits you if you're:

• a European company building a major app,

• a bank, insurer or energy firm modernizing customer tools,

• a public body needing secure software,

• a business without in-house engineers.

Who Should Skip In The Pocket?

You'll want a different partner if you need:

• a marketing website,

• branding only,

• a small, quick design task,

• a studio near the US or Asia.

What to Ask In The Pocket on the First Call

1. "Who exactly would be on our team?"

2. "Which studio would lead the work?"

3. "What does a typical first phase cost?"

4. "Can we speak to a client like us?"

5. "How do design and engineering work together day to day?"

6. "What happens after launch?"

Other Studios People Ask About

There's no ranking here. My service sits in the first row, and the others are studios I reviewed in the same batch.

Who's Behind This Review?

I'm Subarno, a self-taught designer who works solo on brands and no-code websites. Many product teams still need a fast, good-looking marketing site next to their app, and that's the part I take care of.

My $1,000/month retainer covers:

• website design in Figma,

• website builds in Framer or Webflow,

• branding for smaller businesses, like logos, colors and brand guides,

• small website animations and interactions,

• banners, posters and social media content.

Book a free 30-minute call or say hello on my contact page. If you need a full team to design and engineer a large app, In The Pocket is the much better fit.

Bottom Line: Is In The Pocket Worth It?

In The Pocket is a large Belgian product studio that designs, builds and runs digital products, with ENGIE and the Belgian government among its public clients. For European companies that want one team for the whole journey, it's a strong candidate.

The missing piece is outside feedback. Ask for references and a rough budget early. If both look right, you get design and engineering in one place, which saves a lot of back-and-forth.

Questions People Ask About In The Pocket

Where is In The Pocket based?

Its headquarters is in Ghent, Belgium, with studios in Leuven, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bucharest and Lisbon.

How big is In The Pocket?

It says it has more than 200 people. One job site lists a smaller range.

What has In The Pocket built?

Public examples include ENGIE's energy app and software for Belgium's asylum agency.

How much does In The Pocket cost?

Prices aren't public. Expect custom quotes for multi-month work.

Does In The Pocket only design?

No. It also handles strategy, software engineering, platforms and AI.

Is In The Pocket good for small businesses?

Probably not. Its size and model suit larger organizations.

Sources

• In The Pocket official website and course site

• In The Pocket profiles on G2, CB Insights, Sortlist and Wellfound

• EMN Belgium news item, February 2024

• Public LinkedIn post by an In The Pocket team member

Studios update their prices, people and services often, so confirm every detail directly before you hire.