Ciklum vs Apadmi: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Ciklum (4.1/5) edges ahead of Apadmi (3.9/5) overall. Ciklum is the better choice for large dedicated teams with a London contract. Apadmi is the stronger option for UK brands that need flagship mobile apps. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Ciklum vs Apadmi: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Ciklum | Apadmi |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2009 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 3,000–4,500 | 250–300 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe | Mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names |
| Pricing model | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, Python | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter |
| Industries served | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel | Retail, Media, Healthcare, Public sector |
Ciklum vs Apadmi: overview
Ciklum
Danish entrepreneur Torben Majgaard started Ciklum in 2002 in Kyiv. It is now headquartered in London's Shoreditch and employs around 4,000 people. Its investors have included Horizon Capital, a fund associated with George Soros, and Dragon Capital, but current ownership is not publicly documented. Delivery is concentrated in Ukraine and Poland, plus the Czech Republic since its 2021 acquisition of Prague-based CN Group.
Apadmi
Apadmi was founded in 2009 in Manchester and has its headquarters at MediaCity. It reported more than 300 employees in 2024, with hubs in London, Edinburgh, Lisbon and Amsterdam. The company builds and maintains mobile apps for large UK brands, including Argos, the BBC, Co-op, Asda and the NHS. Its Lisbon hub adds a lower-cost option within Western Europe.
Services and capabilities: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Capability | Ciklum | Apadmi |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Framework / platform | Ciklum | Apadmi |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Criterion | Ciklum | Apadmi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Dimension | Ciklum | Apadmi |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare | Retail, Media, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team., A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | A retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt., An NHS body wants a patient app. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Ciklum vs Apadmi: pros and cons
| Ciklum | |
|---|---|
| + | London HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers |
| + | Twenty years of experience running large remote teams |
| + | Several delivery countries spread location risk |
| - | Ownership has changed hands between investors several times, and the current cap table is not public |
| - | A large Ukrainian workforce means continuity plans need review |
| - | Mid-sized clients may find the sales process heavy |
| Apadmi | |
|---|---|
| + | Mobile focus brings deep iOS and Android expertise |
| + | Recognisable UK client list gives reassurance on quality |
| + | Lisbon hub offers some rate flexibility |
| - | Narrow focus; back-office and enterprise systems are not its core |
| - | Mostly UK delivery, so pricing is close to onshore rates |
Who should choose Ciklum?
A typical fit: a retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team.
London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel.
Who should choose Apadmi?
A typical fit: a retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt.
Mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Media, Healthcare, Public sector.
Decision matrix: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Apadmi |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Ciklum |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Ciklum (Not published) vs Apadmi (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Ciklum |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Neither lists team extension; ask about dedicated teams |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Ciklum vs Apadmi
| Use case | Ciklum fit | Apadmi fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team. | Strong | Limited | Ciklum |
| A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | Strong | Limited | Ciklum |
| A retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt. | Limited | Strong | Apadmi |
| An NHS body wants a patient app. | Limited | Strong | Apadmi |
| 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 | Apadmi |
Verdict: Ciklum vs Apadmi
Ciklum (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe.
Apadmi (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an NHS body wants a patient app. If your situation matches that, Apadmi is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Ciklum vs Apadmi FAQ
Is Ciklum better than Apadmi?
Ciklum (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Ciklum's strongest advantage: london HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers. Apadmi's strongest advantage: mobile focus brings deep iOS and Android expertise.
How do Ciklum and Apadmi differ in pricing?
Ciklum uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Apadmi 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: Ciklum or Apadmi?
Ciklum 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 Ciklum and Apadmi?
Ciklum's primary differentiator is: london headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. Apadmi's primary differentiator is: mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names. They also differ in team size (3,000–4,500 vs 250–300), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Retail vs Retail, Media).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.