STX Next vs Infinum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
STX Next (4.2/5) edges ahead of Infinum (4.1/5) overall. STX Next is the better choice for python back ends and data products, Polish rates. 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.
STX Next vs Infinum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | STX Next | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2005 |
| HQ | Poznań, Poland | Zagreb, Croatia (London office) |
| Team size | 500–600 | 350–450 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning | In-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, dedicated team | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, Django, FastAPI | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter |
| Industries served | Fintech, Healthcare, Media, Retail | Financial services, Media, Healthcare, Retail |
STX Next vs Infinum: overview
STX Next
STX Next was founded in Poznań in 2005 and built its name as one of Europe's largest Python-focused development companies. Its March 2025 anniversary release cited about 500 people and more than 1,000 projects delivered. A later combination with Gliwice's Brainhub added roughly 100 more engineers. Innova Capital has been an investor since 2020.
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: STX Next vs Infinum
| Capability | STX Next | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: STX Next vs Infinum
| Framework / platform | STX Next | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | N/A | N/A |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: STX Next vs Infinum
| Criterion | STX Next | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Team extension, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: STX Next vs Infinum
| Dimension | STX Next | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Fintech, Healthcare, Media | Financial services, Media, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A fintech needs a Django back end rebuilt and scaled., A media company wants data ingestion jobs and recommendation models written in Python. | 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 | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
STX Next vs Infinum: pros and cons
| STX Next | |
|---|---|
| + | Python depth is hard to match among mid-sized European vendors |
| + | Combined STX Next and Brainhub team adds JavaScript and product capacity |
| + | Polish location gives near-total working-day overlap with the UK |
| - | No staffed UK office was found, so account management is run from Poland |
| - | The Brainhub merger is recent, and integration may take time |
| 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 STX Next?
A typical fit: a fintech needs a Django back end rebuilt and scaled.
Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, Healthcare, Media, Retail.
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: STX Next vs Infinum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Infinum |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | STX Next |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: STX Next (Not published) vs Infinum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | STX Next |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | STX Next |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: STX Next vs Infinum
| Use case | STX Next fit | Infinum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fintech needs a Django back end rebuilt and scaled. | Strong | Limited | STX Next |
| A media company wants data ingestion jobs and recommendation models written in Python. | Strong | Limited | STX Next |
| 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 | Limited | Strong | Infinum |
Verdict: STX Next vs Infinum
STX Next (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning.
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
STX Next vs Infinum FAQ
Is STX Next better than Infinum?
STX Next (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. STX Next's strongest advantage: python depth is hard to match among mid-sized European vendors. Infinum's strongest advantage: design and engineering work as one team, which helps consumer-facing products.
How do STX Next and Infinum differ in pricing?
STX Next uses time and materials, dedicated team 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: STX Next or Infinum?
STX Next 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 STX Next and Infinum?
STX Next's primary differentiator is: deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning. 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 (500–600 vs 350–450), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Fintech, Healthcare vs Financial services, Media).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.