Infinum vs Hippo Digital: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Infinum (4.1/5) edges ahead of Hippo Digital (3.9/5) overall. Infinum is the better choice for consumer apps where design quality matters. Hippo Digital is the stronger option for public bodies wanting user-centred service design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Infinum vs Hippo Digital: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Infinum | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2016 |
| HQ | Zagreb, Croatia (London office) | Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 350–450 | 400–500 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | In-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps | User research and service design led delivery for UK public services |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price | Framework call-offs, time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter | Java, Python, TypeScript |
| Industries served | Financial services, Media, Healthcare, Retail | Public sector, Healthcare, Housing, Education |
Infinum vs Hippo Digital: overview
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.
Hippo Digital
Hippo Digital launched in Leeds in 2016, founded by Adam Lewis with co-founders including Robert Coop. Its early years were shaped by the DWP and Government Digital Service academies, and several academy graduates joined the firm. It employs around 400 people, with work centred on user research, service design and agile delivery for government and health.
Services and capabilities: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| Capability | Infinum | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data & AI | ✗ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| Framework / platform | Infinum | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| Criterion | Infinum | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| Dimension | Infinum | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Media, Healthcare | Public sector, Healthcare, Housing |
| Best use cases | A bank wants a new retail banking app designed and built., A media brand needs iOS and Android apps with a shared design system. | A council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned., A health body wants user research before a rebuild. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Infinum vs Hippo Digital: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Hippo Digital | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong user research and service design capability |
| + | Northern base keeps rates below London |
| + | Familiar with GDS assessments |
| - | Limited private-sector track record |
| - | No nearshore delivery, so there's no cost advantage |
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.
Who should choose Hippo Digital?
A typical fit: a council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned.
User research and service design led delivery for UK public services. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Housing, Education.
Decision matrix: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Infinum (Not published) vs Hippo Digital (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Infinum |
| 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: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
| Use case | Infinum fit | Hippo Digital fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bank wants a new retail banking app designed and built. | Strong | Limited | Infinum |
| A media brand needs iOS and Android apps with a shared design system. | Strong | Limited | Infinum |
| A council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned. | Limited | Strong | Hippo Digital |
| A health body wants user research before a rebuild. | Limited | Strong | Hippo Digital |
| 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: Infinum vs Hippo Digital
Infinum (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. In-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps.
Hippo Digital (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a health body wants user research before a rebuild. If your situation matches that, Hippo Digital is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Infinum vs Hippo Digital FAQ
Is Infinum better than Hippo Digital?
Infinum (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Infinum's strongest advantage: design and engineering work as one team, which helps consumer-facing products. Hippo Digital's strongest advantage: strong user research and service design capability.
How do Infinum and Hippo Digital differ in pricing?
Infinum uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Hippo Digital uses framework call-offs, time and materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Infinum or Hippo Digital?
Hippo Digital 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 Infinum and Hippo Digital?
Infinum's primary differentiator is: in-house product design and mobile engineering with a strong portfolio of consumer apps. Hippo Digital's primary differentiator is: user research and service design led delivery for UK public services. They also differ in team size (350–450 vs 400–500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Media vs Public sector, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.