element61 vs STX Next: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
element61 (4.1/5) edges ahead of STX Next (4.0/5) overall. element61 is the better choice for belgian and Benelux enterprises wanting a long-established analytics and performance-management consultancy that has built out a dedicated data science and AI practice.. STX Next is the stronger option for enterprises wanting Python-native ML and AI engineering from a vendor with two decades of Python specialization and certified partnerships across all three major clouds.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
element61 vs STX Next: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | element61 | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2005 |
| HQ | Brussels, Belgium | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | ~145 consultants (98.7 FTE per latest filings) | 330 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | Belgian and Benelux enterprises wanting a long-established analytics and performance-management consultancy that has built out a dedicated data science and AI practice. | Enterprises wanting Python-native ML and AI engineering from a vendor with two decades of Python specialization and certified partnerships across all three major clouds. |
| Pricing model | Consulting retainer, project-based | Fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, BI/analytics platforms, Microsoft Azure | Python, AWS, Snowflake |
| Industries served | Cross-industry Benelux enterprise | Financial Services, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail/E-commerce |
element61 vs STX Next: overview
element61
element61 is a Brussels, Belgium analytics, performance management, and AI consultancy founded in 2007, with 145+ consultants averaging 9 years of experience each (98.7 FTE per latest financial filings). It layered data science and AI onto an already-mature BI and performance-management practice, and became the first Belgian partner for Microsoft's 'Analytics on Azure' Advanced Specialization. It primarily serves Belgian and Benelux enterprise clients.
STX Next
STX Next is a Poznań, Poland software company founded in 2005, describing itself as the largest Python-focused software development company in Europe with 330 employees operating a fully remote model across the US, UK, DACH region, and Poland. It holds simultaneous AWS Advanced Tier, Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Bedrock partnerships, and built and open-sourced DeepNext, an autonomous AI developer agent, serving financial services, private equity, manufacturing, oil & gas, and healthcare clients.
Services and capabilities: element61 vs STX Next
| Capability | element61 | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| ML Development | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✗ | ✓ |
| MLOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff Augmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: element61 vs STX Next
| Framework / platform | element61 | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | N/A | ✓ |
| Microsoft Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: element61 vs STX Next
| Criterion | element61 | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Consulting retainer, Fixed project | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Enterprise / mid-market | Enterprise / mid-market |
Target audience comparison: element61 vs STX Next
| Dimension | element61 | STX Next |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Mid-market to enterprise |
| Best industries | Cross-industry Benelux enterprise | Financial Services, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities |
| Best use cases | Combined BI and AI enterprise programs, Azure-based analytics and ML platform builds | Python-native ML pipeline development, Multi-cloud MLOps using Databricks, Snowflake, and Bedrock |
| Typical project type | Consulting retainer | Fixed project |
element61 vs STX Next: pros and cons
| element61 | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded 2007 — one of the longest-running firms on this list, with over 15 years of continuous operation |
| + | 145+ consultants averaging 9 years of analytics and AI experience each (per company website) |
| + | First Belgian partner for Microsoft's 'Analytics on Azure' Advanced Specialization |
| + | Combined BI, data science, and AI practice under one roof simplifies vendor management for Benelux buyers |
| - | Originated as a BI and performance-management consultancy, so AI/ML is a newer practice layered onto an older core business rather than the founding focus |
| - | Belgium-centric market presence may mean less experience outside Benelux client norms |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement are not published |
| STX Next | |
|---|---|
| + | Largest Python-focused software company in Europe (per company website), giving deep bench strength for Python-native ML engineering |
| + | Certified across AWS Advanced Tier, Snowflake, Databricks, Azure, and Amazon Bedrock simultaneously — an unusually broad multi-cloud partner portfolio |
| + | Open-sourced its own autonomous AI dev agent (DeepNext), demonstrating in-house AI R&D beyond client work |
| + | 330 employees and a fully remote model across the US, UK, DACH, and Poland gives wide delivery flexibility |
| - | AI and ML is one part of a much broader Python software-development practice, not the company's sole specialization |
| - | 330-person scale means less boutique-style founder involvement than smaller specialists on this list |
| - | Broad industry spread from banking to oil & gas trades vertical depth for breadth |
Who should choose element61?
element61 is the right choice for belgian and Benelux enterprises wanting a long-established analytics and performance-management consultancy that has built out a dedicated data science and AI practice..
Started as an analytics and performance-management consultancy in 2007 and layered data science and AI on top of an already-mature BI practice, combining both under one roof.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Cross-industry Benelux enterprise.
Who should choose STX Next?
STX Next is the right choice for enterprises wanting Python-native ML and AI engineering from a vendor with two decades of Python specialization and certified partnerships across all three major clouds..
Built and open-sourced DeepNext, an autonomous AI developer agent, and holds AWS Advanced Tier, Snowflake, Databricks, Azure, and Amazon Bedrock partnerships simultaneously.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial Services, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail/E-commerce.
Decision matrix: element61 vs STX Next
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | element61 |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | STX Next |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: element61 (Not published) vs STX Next (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | STX Next |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | STX Next |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | element61 |
Use case fit: element61 vs STX Next
| Use case | element61 fit | STX Next fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined BI and AI enterprise programs | Strong | Limited | element61 |
| Azure-based analytics and ML platform builds | Strong | Limited | element61 |
| Python-native ML pipeline development | Limited | Strong | STX Next |
| Multi-cloud MLOps using Databricks, Snowflake, and Bedrock | Limited | Strong | STX Next |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: element61 vs STX Next
element61 (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Started as an analytics and performance-management consultancy in 2007 and layered data science and AI on top of an already-mature BI practice, combining both under one roof.. It is best for belgian and Benelux enterprises wanting a long-established analytics and performance-management consultancy that has built out a dedicated data science and AI practice..
STX Next (4.0/5) is the better choice when enterprises wanting Python-native ML and AI engineering from a vendor with two decades of Python specialization and certified partnerships across all three major clouds.. If your situation matches those criteria, STX Next is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
element61 vs STX Next FAQ
Is element61 better than STX Next?
element61 (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. element61 is better for belgian and Benelux enterprises wanting a long-established analytics and performance-management consultancy that has built out a dedicated data science and AI practice.. STX Next is better for enterprises wanting Python-native ML and AI engineering from a vendor with two decades of Python specialization and certified partnerships across all three major clouds..
How do element61 and STX Next differ in pricing?
element61 uses consulting retainer, project-based pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. STX Next uses fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: element61 or STX Next?
element61 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 element61 and STX Next?
element61's primary differentiator is: started as an analytics and performance-management consultancy in 2007 and layered data science and ai on top of an already-mature bi practice, combining both under one roof.. STX Next's primary differentiator is: built and open-sourced deepnext, an autonomous ai developer agent, and holds aws advanced tier, snowflake, databricks, azure, and amazon bedrock partnerships simultaneously.. They also differ in team size (~145 consultants (98.7 FTE per latest filings) vs 330), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Cross-industry Benelux enterprise vs Financial Services, Manufacturing).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.