Softeq vs Infinum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Softeq (4.6/5) edges ahead of Infinum (4.0/5) overall. Softeq is the better choice for US companies building custom hardware with native apps. Infinum is the stronger option for appliance makers consolidating several device apps. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Softeq vs Infinum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Softeq | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 | 2005 |
| HQ | Houston, Texas, USA (offices in Germany, Mexico and Lithuania) | Zagreb, Croatia (London office) |
| Team size | 250–999 | 350–450 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A US-headquartered vendor that designs the circuit board and the app that controls it | Product design agency with a shipped multi-appliance IoT app for a global brand |
| Pricing model | Fixed price, time and materials | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | AWS, Azure, Embedded Linux | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, Industrial manufacturing, Healthcare, Energy, Smart home | Consumer electronics, Smart home, Industrial manufacturing, Fintech |
Softeq vs Infinum: overview
Softeq
Softeq has been building software in Houston since 1997, and over the years its work shifted from web projects toward connected hardware. Today it designs electronics, writes drivers and firmware, and builds the native iOS and Android apps and cloud services that sit on top. One public client review describes Softeq delivering proprietary hardware, firmware and native apps for an industrial lighting company that let users control fixtures from a phone. Clutch lists the team at 250 to 999 people, with offices in Germany, Mexico and Lithuania alongside Houston.
Infinum
Infinum was registered in Zagreb in May 2005 and reported more than 370 people in 2025. Its best-known IoT project is HomeID for Versuni, the Philips appliance maker, which replaced several separate appliance apps with one device companion app and community hub. A Clutch review also describes IoT development and DevOps for a machinery manufacturer on Azure. Infinum is an app and product agency first, with strong design, and does not build hardware.
Services and capabilities: Softeq vs Infinum
| Capability | Softeq | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile companion apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web dashboards and portals | ✓ | ✓ |
| IoT cloud back end | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hardware design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Edge AI | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Softeq vs Infinum
| Framework / platform | Softeq | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| MQTT | N/A | N/A |
| Swift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kotlin | ✓ | ✓ |
| Flutter | N/A | ✓ |
| React Native | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Softeq vs Infinum
| Criterion | Softeq | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Softeq vs Infinum
| Dimension | Softeq | Infinum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, Industrial manufacturing, Healthcare | Consumer electronics, Smart home, Industrial manufacturing |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected industrial product where hardware, firmware and app ship together., Building BLE or Wi-Fi control apps for lighting, HVAC or other building equipment. | Merging several appliance apps into one connected-home app., Building the community and content features around a device app. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Softeq vs Infinum: pros and cons
| Softeq | |
|---|---|
| + | Hardware design, driver work and app development are all in-house |
| + | US headquarters and contracts suit buyers who need a domestic legal counterparty |
| + | Nearly three decades of delivery history gives it more reference projects than most mid-sized firms |
| + | Public client reviews credit its mobile and back-end work on connected products specifically |
| - | US-led project management means rates sit above the Eastern European specialists on this list |
| - | Pricing and minimum project size are not published |
| - | Breadth across AI, web and enterprise software means IoT is one practice among several |
| Infinum | |
|---|---|
| + | Shipped a large consumer appliance IoT app for Versuni (Philips) |
| + | Strong product design and UX process |
| + | EU-based with a mature engineering culture |
| - | No firmware or hardware practice |
| - | IoT is one category within a general digital product agency |
| - | Agency rates sit above smaller Eastern European vendors |
Who should choose Softeq?
A typical fit: developing a connected industrial product where hardware, firmware and app ship together.
A US-headquartered vendor that designs the circuit board and the app that controls it. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Industrial manufacturing, Healthcare, Energy, Smart home.
Who should choose Infinum?
A typical fit: merging several appliance apps into one connected-home app.
Product design agency with a shipped multi-appliance IoT app for a global brand. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Smart home, Industrial manufacturing, Fintech.
Decision matrix: Softeq vs Infinum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Softeq |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Softeq |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Softeq (Not published) vs Infinum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Softeq |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Softeq |
Use case fit: Softeq vs Infinum
| Use case | Softeq fit | Infinum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected industrial product where hardware, firmware and app ship together. | Strong | Limited | Softeq |
| Building BLE or Wi-Fi control apps for lighting, HVAC or other building equipment. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Merging several appliance apps into one connected-home app. | Limited | Strong | Infinum |
| Building the community and content features around a device app. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price MVP app | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Long-term dedicated team | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Softeq vs Infinum
Softeq (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IoT App Development projects. A US-headquartered vendor that designs the circuit board and the app that controls it.
Infinum (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need building the community and content features around a device app. If your situation matches that, Infinum is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Softeq vs Infinum FAQ
Is Softeq better than Infinum?
Softeq (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Softeq's strongest advantage: hardware design, driver work and app development are all in-house. Infinum's strongest advantage: shipped a large consumer appliance IoT app for Versuni (Philips).
How do Softeq and Infinum differ in pricing?
Softeq uses fixed price, time and materials pricing. Infinum uses 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: Softeq or Infinum?
Infinum 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 Softeq and Infinum?
Softeq's primary differentiator is: a US-headquartered vendor that designs the circuit board and the app that controls it. Infinum's primary differentiator is: product design agency with a shipped multi-appliance IoT app for a global brand. They also differ in team size (250–999 vs 350–450), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer electronics, Industrial manufacturing vs Consumer electronics, Smart home).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.