Endava vs STX Next: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of STX Next (4.2/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. STX Next is the stronger option for python back ends and data products, Polish rates. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Endava vs STX Next: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Endava | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2005 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 500–600 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations | Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts | Time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | Python, Django, FastAPI |
| Industries served | Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare | Fintech, Healthcare, Media, Retail |
Endava vs STX Next: overview
Endava
Endava is the largest UK-headquartered company on this list built around nearshore delivery. It reported 11,479 staff at the end of June 2025, and the UK supplied 33% of revenue in the final quarter of that fiscal year. Delivery centres in Romania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Argentina and elsewhere let it staff large programmes at below-London cost. Headcount fell from 12,085 a year earlier, which reflects softer demand across the IT services market.
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.
Services and capabilities: Endava vs STX Next
| Capability | Endava | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Endava vs STX Next
| Framework / platform | Endava | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Endava vs STX Next
| Criterion | Endava | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Dedicated team, Team extension, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Endava vs STX Next
| Dimension | Endava | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Payments, Retail | Fintech, Healthcare, Media |
| Best use cases | A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme., A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. | A fintech needs a Django back end rebuilt and scaled., A media company wants data ingestion jobs and recommendation models written in Python. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Dedicated team |
Endava vs STX Next: pros and cons
| Endava | |
|---|---|
| + | Public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration |
| + | A UK board and London HQ simplify contracting and data-protection discussions for UK buyers |
| + | Delivery from several countries spreads risk if one location is disrupted |
| + | Long payments and banking track record with UK and European institutions |
| - | Headcount dropped about 5% in the year to June 2025 as demand softened |
| - | Smaller projects can get less senior attention than flagship accounts |
| - | Day rates are higher than those of smaller Central European vendors |
| 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 |
Who should choose Endava?
A typical fit: a UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme.
UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Endava vs STX Next
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Endava |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Endava (Not published) vs STX Next (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Endava |
| 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: Endava vs STX Next
| Use case | Endava fit | STX Next fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme. | Strong | Limited | Endava |
| A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. | Strong | Limited | Endava |
| A fintech needs a Django back end rebuilt and scaled. | Limited | Strong | STX Next |
| A media company wants data ingestion jobs and recommendation models written in Python. | Limited | Strong | STX Next |
| 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 | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Endava vs STX Next
Endava (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations.
STX Next (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a media company wants data ingestion jobs and recommendation models written in Python. If your situation matches that, STX Next is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Endava vs STX Next FAQ
Is Endava better than STX Next?
Endava (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Endava's strongest advantage: public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration. STX Next's strongest advantage: python depth is hard to match among mid-sized European vendors.
How do Endava and STX Next differ in pricing?
Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. STX Next uses time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Endava or STX Next?
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 Endava and STX Next?
Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. STX Next's primary differentiator is: deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 500–600), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.