WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
WeAreBrain (4.2/5) edges ahead of Imaginary Cloud (4.0/5) overall. WeAreBrain is the better choice for companies wanting AI within digital product builds. Imaginary Cloud is the stronger option for companies wanting ML plus strong product design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | WeAreBrain | Imaginary Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2010 |
| HQ | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Team size | 51–200 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Digital product agency DNA combined with a dedicated AI, ML, and intelligent automation practice | Design-led software development studio with AI positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $25K | $20K |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Azure | Python, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, Enterprise, Retail | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce |
WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud: overview
WeAreBrain
WeAreBrain is an Amsterdam, Netherlands-headquartered digital product and AI agency founded in 2015 by Mario Grunitz, Elvire Jaspers, and Ievgen Miasushkin. The roughly 60 to 70 person team specializes in digital transformation, AI and machine learning applications, and intelligent process automation. In 2017, WeAreBrain co-founded Tur.ai, an AI and hyperautomation platform with joint Amsterdam and Kyiv operations, reflecting the founders' Ukrainian engineering ties.
Imaginary Cloud
Imaginary Cloud, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, is an AI-first software development company with roughly 77 employees. The firm combines design, engineering, and AI to deliver custom software and machine learning-enabled products, positioning itself around what it calls seamless digital acceleration, per company website.
Services and capabilities: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Capability | WeAreBrain | Imaginary Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| ML model development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI / LLM integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI strategy consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Framework / platform | WeAreBrain | Imaginary Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Criterion | WeAreBrain | Imaginary Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $25K | $20K |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Dimension | WeAreBrain | Imaginary Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, Enterprise | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Building an AI-powered consumer-facing digital product, Intelligent process automation for back-office workflows | AI-enabled consumer product design and development, Custom software with embedded ML recommendation features |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud: pros and cons
| WeAreBrain | |
|---|---|
| + | A decade of operating history since founding in 2015 as an Amsterdam-based digital product agency |
| + | Co-founded a dedicated AI and hyperautomation platform, Tur.ai, showing deeper AI investment beyond client services |
| + | Combines product design with ML and AI engineering, useful for consumer-facing AI products |
| + | EU-headquartered in the Netherlands, simplifying GDPR compliance for European clients |
| - | AI and ML is one of several practice areas alongside broader digital product work |
| - | Some delivery ties to Kyiv, Ukraine via the Tur.ai venture carry the same continuity considerations as other Ukraine-linked firms |
| Imaginary Cloud | |
|---|---|
| + | 15 years of operating history since founding in 2010 as a Lisbon-based software studio |
| + | Strong design and UX engineering complements ML and AI delivery for consumer-facing products |
| + | EU-headquartered in Portugal, useful for European data-residency requirements |
| + | Positions AI as a first-class design consideration, not a bolted-on backend feature |
| - | Broader software and design studio heritage means ML depth is narrower than pure-play ML specialists |
| - | Smaller team of around 77 relative to larger regional generalists on this list |
Who should choose WeAreBrain?
A typical fit: building an AI-powered consumer-facing digital product.
Digital product agency DNA combined with a dedicated AI, ML, and intelligent automation practice. Minimum engagement starts at $25K. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, Enterprise, Retail.
Who should choose Imaginary Cloud?
A typical fit: AI-enabled consumer product design and development.
Design-led software development studio with AI positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought. Minimum engagement starts at $20K. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce.
Decision matrix: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | WeAreBrain |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | WeAreBrain |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Imaginary Cloud |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | WeAreBrain |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | WeAreBrain |
Use case fit: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
| Use case | WeAreBrain fit | Imaginary Cloud fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building an AI-powered consumer-facing digital product | Strong | Limited | WeAreBrain |
| Intelligent process automation for back-office workflows | Strong | Limited | WeAreBrain |
| AI-enabled consumer product design and development | Limited | Strong | Imaginary Cloud |
| Custom software with embedded ML recommendation features | Limited | Strong | Imaginary Cloud |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud
WeAreBrain (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Digital product agency DNA combined with a dedicated AI, ML, and intelligent automation practice.
Imaginary Cloud (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need custom software with embedded ML recommendation features. If your situation matches that, Imaginary Cloud is a competitive option.
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WeAreBrain vs Imaginary Cloud FAQ
Is WeAreBrain better than Imaginary Cloud?
WeAreBrain (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. WeAreBrain's strongest advantage: a decade of operating history since founding in 2015 as an Amsterdam-based digital product agency. Imaginary Cloud's strongest advantage: 15 years of operating history since founding in 2010 as a Lisbon-based software studio.
How do WeAreBrain and Imaginary Cloud differ in pricing?
WeAreBrain uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $25K. Imaginary Cloud uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: WeAreBrain or Imaginary Cloud?
WeAreBrain 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 WeAreBrain and Imaginary Cloud?
WeAreBrain's primary differentiator is: digital product agency DNA combined with a dedicated AI, ML, and intelligent automation practice. Imaginary Cloud's primary differentiator is: design-led software development studio with AI positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought. They also differ in team size (51–200 vs 51–200), minimum engagement ($25K vs $20K), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs SaaS, Fintech).