Scott Logic vs STX Next: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Scott Logic (4.3/5) edges ahead of STX Next (4.2/5) overall. Scott Logic is the better choice for capital markets and government, UK-only delivery required. 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.
Scott Logic vs STX Next: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Scott Logic | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2005 |
| HQ | Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | 400–500 | 500–600 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK | Deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, capability-based | Time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, C#, TypeScript | Python, Django, FastAPI |
| Industries served | Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector, Energy | Fintech, Healthcare, Media, Retail |
Scott Logic vs STX Next: overview
Scott Logic
Former Lehman Brothers executive Gary Scott founded Scott Logic in Newcastle in 2005. It now employs 400+ people across Newcastle, London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Leeds, all in the UK. The firm is best known for trading and capital-markets software and for central government digital work. Every engineer is UK-based, which suits security-cleared and data-sensitive projects but rules out offshore cost savings.
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: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Capability | Scott Logic | 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: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Framework / platform | Scott Logic | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| Python | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Criterion | Scott Logic | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, 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: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Dimension | Scott Logic | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector | Fintech, Healthcare, Media |
| Best use cases | An investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team., A government department needs a digital service built to GDS standards. | 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 | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
Scott Logic vs STX Next: pros and cons
| Scott Logic | |
|---|---|
| + | UK-only staffing makes security clearance and data-residency requirements straightforward |
| + | Rare depth in trading platforms and low-latency financial software |
| + | Regional offices outside London keep rates below the big London consultancies |
| - | No nearshore or offshore delivery, so rates are UK onshore rates for every role |
| - | Narrower industry spread than generalist outsourcing 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 Scott Logic?
A typical fit: an investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team.
Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector, Energy.
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: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Scott Logic |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | STX Next |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Scott Logic (Not published) vs STX Next (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Scott Logic |
| 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: Scott Logic vs STX Next
| Use case | Scott Logic fit | STX Next fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| An investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team. | Strong | Limited | Scott Logic |
| A government department needs a digital service built to GDS standards. | Strong | Limited | Scott Logic |
| 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 | Strong | Limited | Scott Logic |
Verdict: Scott Logic vs STX Next
Scott Logic (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK.
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
Scott Logic vs STX Next FAQ
Is Scott Logic better than STX Next?
Scott Logic (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Scott Logic's strongest advantage: UK-only staffing makes security clearance and data-residency requirements straightforward. STX Next's strongest advantage: python depth is hard to match among mid-sized European vendors.
How do Scott Logic and STX Next differ in pricing?
Scott Logic uses time and materials, fixed price, capability-based 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: Scott Logic 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 Scott Logic and STX Next?
Scott Logic's primary differentiator is: trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK. STX Next's primary differentiator is: deep Python specialism across web back ends, data engineering and machine learning. They also differ in team size (400–500 vs 500–600), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Capital markets vs Fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.