Endava vs Ciklum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of Ciklum (4.1/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. Ciklum is the stronger option for large dedicated teams with a London contract. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Endava vs Ciklum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Endava | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2002 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 3,000–4,500 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations | London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | Java, .NET, Python |
| Industries served | Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel |
Endava vs Ciklum: overview
Endava
Endava is the largest UK-headquartered company on this list built around nearshore delivery. It reported 11,479 staff at the end of June 2025, and the UK supplied 33% of revenue in the final quarter of that fiscal year. Delivery centres in Romania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Argentina and elsewhere let it staff large programmes at below-London cost. Headcount fell from 12,085 a year earlier, which reflects softer demand across the IT services market.
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.
Services and capabilities: Endava vs Ciklum
| Capability | Endava | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Endava vs Ciklum
| Framework / platform | Endava | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Endava vs Ciklum
| Criterion | Endava | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Endava vs Ciklum
| Dimension | Endava | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Payments, Retail | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme., A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. | A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team., A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Dedicated team |
Endava vs Ciklum: pros and cons
| Endava | |
|---|---|
| + | Public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration |
| + | A UK board and London HQ simplify contracting and data-protection discussions for UK buyers |
| + | Delivery from several countries spreads risk if one location is disrupted |
| + | Long payments and banking track record with UK and European institutions |
| - | Headcount dropped about 5% in the year to June 2025 as demand softened |
| - | Smaller projects can get less senior attention than flagship accounts |
| - | Day rates are higher than those of smaller Central European vendors |
| 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 |
Who should choose Endava?
A typical fit: a UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme.
UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Endava vs Ciklum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Endava |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Endava (Not published) vs Ciklum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Endava |
| 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: Endava vs Ciklum
| Use case | Endava fit | Ciklum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme. | Strong | Limited | Endava |
| A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. | Strong | Limited | Endava |
| A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team. | Limited | Strong | Ciklum |
| A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | Limited | Strong | Ciklum |
| 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 | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Endava vs Ciklum
Endava (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations.
Ciklum (4.1/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. If your situation matches that, Ciklum is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Endava vs Ciklum FAQ
Is Endava better than Ciklum?
Endava (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Endava's strongest advantage: public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration. Ciklum's strongest advantage: london HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers.
How do Endava and Ciklum differ in pricing?
Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. Ciklum uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Endava or Ciklum?
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 Endava and Ciklum?
Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Ciklum's primary differentiator is: london headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 3,000–4,500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Financial services, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.