Compare 26 consulting firm matchups. From MBB head-to-heads to MBB vs Big 4 Strategy showdowns, find objective comparisons to inform your career decision.
The classic MBB showdown. Compare interview styles, culture, and career outcomes.
Structured vs results-focused. Which MBB culture fits your style?
Ideas-driven vs tight-knit culture. Two distinct paths to consulting excellence.
Is MBB worth it over Big 4 Strategy? The honest comparison.
Whether you're targeting MBB or Big 4 Strategy, practice with AI-powered case simulations tailored to each firm's interview style.
Start PracticingChoosing between consulting firms is one of the most important career decisions you'll make. While all top firms offer excellent training and exit opportunities, there are meaningful differences in culture, interview process, work style, and specializations that can affect your satisfaction and success.
Our firm comparisons help you understand these differences objectively. We cover compensation (including base, bonus, and signing), interview format and difficulty, work-life balance, prestige and brand value, and exit opportunities to private equity, corporate roles, and startups.
McKinsey, BCG, and Bain (MBB) are considered the top tier of strategy consulting. While prestige and compensation are similar, each has distinct cultures and interview styles. McKinsey is known for structured, interviewer-led cases and global consistency. BCG emphasizes intellectual creativity and candidate-led cases. Bain has the strongest culture and PE focus.
Big 4 strategy arms (Deloitte S&O, EY-Parthenon, Strategy&, KPMG Strategy) offer strategy consulting within larger professional services networks. They typically pay 15-25% less than MBB with somewhat less demanding hours. Exit opportunities are good but not quite MBB-level. These can be excellent choices if you prefer the work style or didn't get MBB offers.