Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Netguru (4.0/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Netguru is the stronger option for companies wanting design plus full development, one team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Netguru | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| HQ | Poznań, Poland | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | 600–900+ | 70+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team, T&M | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Node.js | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Netguru
Wiktor Schmidt and Jakub Filipowski started Netguru in Poznań, Poland, in May 2008. Nearly two decades later it runs six Polish offices — Poznań, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Białystok — and a team reported between 600 and 900+ people, delivering more than 1,000 projects. Netguru pairs product design with full software development for brands like IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, Wolt, and Vinted, plus fintech client Solarisbank, and has picked up a Clutch Leader Award and a spot on the FT 1000 Europe's Fastest Growing Companies list.
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011, and the studio now works from Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London with a 70-person team that mixes multiple computer-science PhDs into its design and engineering practice. Recent work includes shaping conversational AI products with Sierra and building decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside clients like IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio positions itself around building digital products end to end — from early exploration through launch — rather than a single design phase.
Services and capabilities: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Netguru | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Netguru | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Netguru | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Time & materials | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Netguru | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development, Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs |
| + | 1,000+ delivered projects and a Clutch Leader Award back up the scale claim with independent recognition |
| + | Client list spans IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX, Delivery Hero, and fintech client Solarisbank |
| + | Pairs design with full development, reducing hand-off risk between design and engineering vendors |
| - | Reported team size varies by source (600 to 900+), making exact capacity harder to pin down |
| - | Scale suited to larger programs may mean less individualized attention than a boutique studio offers |
| - | Broad software-development focus means somewhat less concentrated design-only specialization than research-led boutiques |
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage |
| + | Combines design with computer-science research depth, unusual among boutique product studios |
| + | Recent, high-profile AI and crypto/fintech work (Sierra, Coinbase) demonstrates currency in fast-moving categories |
| + | Client list also includes established consumer brands like IKEA, broadening its portfolio beyond pure tech |
| - | Minimum engagement size and pricing model aren't published, making early budgeting harder |
| - | European-only office footprint may mean less overlap with US business hours for some clients |
| - | AI/crypto-forward recent portfolio may read as a narrower fit for clients outside technology-heavy categories |
Who should choose Netguru?
A typical fit: large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development.
Combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, E-commerce / retail.
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Netguru |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Netguru (Not published) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Netguru |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Netguru fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large-scale SaaS or e-commerce product design and development | Strong | Limited | Netguru |
| Fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale | Strong | Limited | Netguru |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase.
Netguru (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need fintech product build requiring both design and engineering at scale. If your situation matches that, Netguru is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Netguru vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Netguru better than Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Netguru's strongest advantage: 600–900+ person team across six Polish offices supports large, multi-workstream programs. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage.
How do Netguru and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Netguru uses fixed project, dedicated team, t&m pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: Netguru or Bakken & Bæck?
Netguru is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Netguru and Bakken & Bæck?
Netguru's primary differentiator is: combines product design with full software delivery at a scale (600–900+ people, 1,000+ projects) most boutiques on this list can't match. Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. They also differ in team size (600–900+ vs 70+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.