Kainos vs Infinum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Kainos (4.2/5) edges ahead of Infinum (4.1/5) overall. Kainos is the better choice for UK government digital services, Workday programmes. Infinum is the stronger option for consumer apps where design quality matters. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Kainos vs Infinum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Kainos | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2005 |
| HQ | Belfast, United Kingdom | Zagreb, Croatia (London office) |
| Team size | 3,000+ | 350–450 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE | In-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter |
| Industries served | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises | Financial services, Media, Healthcare, Retail |
Kainos vs Infinum: overview
Kainos
Kainos was founded in Belfast in 1986 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the year to March 2026 it reported revenue of £431.1m, up 17%, and a workforce of 3,216 after adding 420 people, a rebound from a 2024/25 restructuring that cut staff by 7%. It runs three divisions: Digital Services, Workday Services and Workday Products. Its government work spans departments such as the Home Office and NHS bodies, delivered from the UK and Ireland.
Infinum
Infinum was founded in Zagreb, Croatia in 2005 and employs around 400 people across Zagreb, Varaždin, Ljubljana, Podgorica, Amsterdam, New York and London. Its London office opened in 2021. The company is best known for polished mobile and web products, with design and engineering kept under one roof. Croatian rates sit below the UK but above the cheapest Eastern European options.
Services and capabilities: Kainos vs Infinum
| Capability | Kainos | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Kainos vs Infinum
| Framework / platform | Kainos | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Kainos vs Infinum
| Criterion | Kainos | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Kainos vs Infinum
| Dimension | Kainos | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services | Financial services, Media, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run., An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | A bank wants a new retail banking app designed and built., A media brand needs iOS and Android apps with a shared design system. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Kainos vs Infinum: pros and cons
| Kainos | |
|---|---|
| + | Belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based |
| + | Public reporting gives buyers verified financials and headcount |
| + | Very familiar with UK public-sector procurement frameworks |
| - | Little offshore capacity, so rates do not compete with nearshore vendors |
| - | Workday business takes a growing share of leadership focus |
| - | The 2024/25 restructuring shows exposure to swings in public-sector spending |
| Infinum | |
|---|---|
| + | Design and engineering work as one team, which helps consumer-facing products |
| + | EU-based delivery simplifies GDPR-related contract terms |
| + | A London office lets UK clients meet the team in person |
| - | Better suited to product builds than large enterprise back-office systems |
| - | Smaller than most nearshore vendors on this list, which limits team growth |
Who should choose Kainos?
A typical fit: a government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run.
Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises.
Who should choose Infinum?
A typical fit: a bank wants a new retail banking app designed and built.
In-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Media, Healthcare, Retail.
Decision matrix: Kainos vs Infinum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Kainos |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Kainos (Not published) vs Infinum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Kainos |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Neither lists team extension; ask about dedicated teams |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Kainos vs Infinum
| Use case | Kainos fit | Infinum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run. | Strong | Limited | Kainos |
| An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | Strong | Limited | Kainos |
| A bank wants a new retail banking app designed and built. | Limited | Strong | Infinum |
| A media brand needs iOS and Android apps with a shared design system. | Limited | Strong | Infinum |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Kainos vs Infinum
Kainos (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE.
Infinum (4.1/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a media brand needs iOS and Android apps with a shared design system. If your situation matches that, Infinum is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Kainos vs Infinum FAQ
Is Kainos better than Infinum?
Kainos (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Kainos's strongest advantage: belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based. Infinum's strongest advantage: design and engineering work as one team, which helps consumer-facing products.
How do Kainos and Infinum differ in pricing?
Kainos uses time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs pricing. Infinum uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Kainos or Infinum?
Infinum is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Kainos and Infinum?
Kainos's primary differentiator is: combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. Infinum's primary differentiator is: in-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps. They also differ in team size (3,000+ vs 350–450), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Public sector, Healthcare vs Financial services, Media).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.