STX Next vs Made Tech: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
STX Next (4.2/5) edges ahead of Made Tech (4.1/5) overall. STX Next is the better choice for python back ends and data products, Polish rates. Made Tech is the stronger option for UK central and local government buyers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
STX Next vs Made Tech: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | STX Next | Made Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2008 |
| HQ | Poznań, Poland | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 500–600 | 400–500 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning | Public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, dedicated team | Framework call-offs, time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, Django, FastAPI | Ruby, Python, Java |
| Industries served | Fintech, Healthcare, Media, Retail | Public sector, Local government, Healthcare |
STX Next vs Made Tech: 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.
Made Tech
Made Tech was founded in London in 2008 and listed on AIM in 2021. FY25 revenue (to May 2025) rose 20% to £46.4m with a contracted backlog of £92.2m, and the company reported around 430 employees after a period of hiring. Almost all of its work is for UK central and local government, health and other regulated bodies. Contractor use rose to 19% of the workforce in FY25, and management has said it plans to bring that back toward 10%.
Services and capabilities: STX Next vs Made Tech
| Capability | STX Next | Made Tech |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Made Tech
| Framework / platform | STX Next | Made Tech |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: STX Next vs Made Tech
| Criterion | STX Next | Made Tech |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Made Tech
| Dimension | STX Next | Made Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Fintech, Healthcare, Media | Public sector, Local government, 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 council wants legacy case-management systems replaced., A government department needs a discovery and alpha phase for a new service. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
STX Next vs Made Tech: 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 |
| Made Tech | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep familiarity with GDS service standards and government frameworks |
| + | Public reporting makes financial health easy to check |
| + | A growing backlog points to sustained repeat business from government |
| - | Little private-sector experience, so commercial buyers have better options |
| - | No offshore delivery, so rates are UK onshore rates |
| - | Contractor reliance roughly doubled in FY25 |
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 Made Tech?
A typical fit: a council wants legacy case-management systems replaced.
Public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Local government, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: STX Next vs Made Tech
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Made Tech |
| 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 Made Tech (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 Made Tech
| Use case | STX Next fit | Made Tech 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 council wants legacy case-management systems replaced. | Limited | Strong | Made Tech |
| A government department needs a discovery and alpha phase for a new service. | Limited | Strong | Made Tech |
| 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 | Made Tech |
Verdict: STX Next vs Made Tech
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.
Made Tech (4.1/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a government department needs a discovery and alpha phase for a new service. If your situation matches that, Made Tech is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
STX Next vs Made Tech FAQ
Is STX Next better than Made Tech?
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. Made Tech's strongest advantage: deep familiarity with GDS service standards and government frameworks.
How do STX Next and Made Tech differ in pricing?
STX Next uses time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Made Tech uses framework call-offs, 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 Made Tech?
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 Made Tech?
STX Next's primary differentiator is: deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning. Made Tech's primary differentiator is: public-sector-only focus with a growing contracted backlog. They also differ in team size (500–600 vs 400–500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Fintech, Healthcare vs Public sector, Local government).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.