AND Digital vs Version 1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
AND Digital (4.0/5) edges ahead of Version 1 (3.9/5) overall. AND Digital is the better choice for companies building in-house digital capability. Version 1 is the stronger option for oracle and Microsoft estates, public-sector managed services. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
AND Digital vs Version 1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | AND Digital | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 1996 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Dublin, Ireland (UK offices including Birmingham) |
| Team size | 1,000–1,500 | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff | Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, capability-based | Managed service, time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | JavaScript, TypeScript, React | Oracle, Microsoft Azure, AWS |
| Industries served | Retail, Financial services, Media, Public sector | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities |
AND Digital vs Version 1: overview
AND Digital
AND Digital was founded in 2014 by CEO Paramjit Uppal and is organised into city-based units it calls clubs. It passed 1,000 employees in 2021, and current third-party estimates range from 600 to 1,350. Its pitch is to build products while training the client's own people to take over. Delivery is largely UK-based, with smaller operations in the Netherlands and the US East Coast.
Version 1
Version 1 was founded in Dublin in 1996 and has been majority-owned by Swiss investor Partners Group since July 2022, in a deal reported at around €800m. It had more than 3,200 staff by 2023 and opened a Birmingham hub with 500 planned jobs, plus UK acquisitions such as Automation Logic. Much of its UK work is Oracle, Microsoft and AWS managed services for public-sector bodies. Delivery comes from Ireland, the UK, Spain and India.
Services and capabilities: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Capability | AND Digital | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✗ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Framework / platform | AND Digital | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Criterion | AND Digital | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Team extension, Time and materials | Managed service, Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Dimension | AND Digital | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail, Financial services, Media | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it., A financial firm needs a product squad that hands over after a year. | A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration., A utility wants Azure managed services. |
| Typical project type | Team extension | Managed service |
AND Digital vs Version 1: pros and cons
| AND Digital | |
|---|---|
| + | Knowledge transfer is a stated goal, which reduces long-term dependency |
| + | Regional clubs give UK clients a local team in many cities |
| + | Good fit for digital product work in retail and consumer brands |
| - | Onshore model means no offshore cost advantage |
| - | Headcount figures vary widely between sources |
| Version 1 | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies |
| + | Indian and Spanish delivery lower costs on managed services |
| + | Private-equity backing has funded UK expansion |
| - | Majority-owned by Partners Group since 2022, so an eventual sale or exit is likely |
| - | Product-style bespoke development is less central than managed services |
Who should choose AND Digital?
A typical fit: a retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it.
Delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Financial services, Media, Public sector.
Who should choose Version 1?
A typical fit: a public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration.
Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities.
Decision matrix: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Version 1 |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: AND Digital (Not published) vs Version 1 (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | AND Digital |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | AND Digital |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: AND Digital vs Version 1
| Use case | AND Digital fit | Version 1 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it. | Strong | Limited | AND Digital |
| A financial firm needs a product squad that hands over after a year. | Strong | Limited | AND Digital |
| A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| A utility wants Azure managed services. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| 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 | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
Verdict: AND Digital vs Version 1
AND Digital (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff.
Version 1 (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a utility wants Azure managed services. If your situation matches that, Version 1 is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
AND Digital vs Version 1 FAQ
Is AND Digital better than Version 1?
AND Digital (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. AND Digital's strongest advantage: knowledge transfer is a stated goal, which reduces long-term dependency. Version 1's strongest advantage: strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies.
How do AND Digital and Version 1 differ in pricing?
AND Digital uses time and materials, capability-based pricing. Version 1 uses managed service, 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: AND Digital or Version 1?
AND Digital 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 AND Digital and Version 1?
AND Digital's primary differentiator is: delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff. Version 1's primary differentiator is: managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. They also differ in team size (1,000–1,500 vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Retail, Financial services vs Public sector, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.