Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) edges ahead of Hippo Digital (3.9/5) overall. Lemberg Solutions is the better choice for UK product companies, software plus hardware, nearshore rates. Hippo Digital is the stronger option for public bodies wanting user-centred service design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (offices in London, Hamburg, Kraków) | Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 200+ | 400–500 |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office | User research and service design led delivery for UK public services |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team | Framework call-offs, time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Embedded Linux, RTOS | Java, Python, TypeScript |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing | Public sector, Healthcare, Housing, Education |
Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital: overview
Lemberg Solutions
Lemberg Solutions was founded in 2007 and has grown to 200+ engineers working across embedded, cloud, data and AI, and web or mobile product development. UK clients deal with a London office at 25 Adelaide Road in West Ealing, while most engineering happens in Lviv and Kraków, with a further office in Hamburg. Named clients include Astronics, Caltech, Bosch Rexroth, Cellink, Ferno and Speede. The company holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification and transfers all intellectual property to the client.
Hippo Digital
Hippo Digital launched in Leeds in 2016, founded by Adam Lewis with co-founders including Robert Coop. Its early years were shaped by the DWP and Government Digital Service academies, and several academy graduates joined the firm. It employs around 400 people, with work centred on user research, service design and agile delivery for government and health.
Services and capabilities: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Capability | Lemberg Solutions | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Framework / platform | Lemberg Solutions | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Team extension, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Dimension | Lemberg Solutions | Hippo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy | Public sector, Healthcare, Housing |
| Best use cases | A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier., An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | A council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned., A health body wants user research before a rebuild. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital: pros and cons
| Lemberg Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | Covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three |
| + | ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification gives procurement teams documented security and quality processes to review |
| + | Established partnerships with NXP, Microchip and STMicroelectronics help when a product depends on specific silicon |
| + | All intellectual property passes to the client, which removes a common sticking point in outsourcing contracts |
| + | An in-house hardware lab lets the team prototype and test devices without waiting on third-party facilities |
| + | Engineering rates in Ukraine and Poland sit well below London consultancy day rates, while the London office keeps account management local |
| - | Mass production is not handled in-house, so you will need a separate manufacturing partner for physical products |
| - | Lemberg does not obtain regulatory certification for clients; it supplies the documentation and engineering support for approvals |
| - | At 200+ people it cannot staff the very large programmes that Endava or EPAM can |
| - | Some reviewers mention early friction over working hours before schedules were aligned with the client's time zone |
| Hippo Digital | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong user research and service design capability |
| + | Northern base keeps rates below London |
| + | Familiar with GDS assessments |
| - | Limited private-sector track record |
| - | No nearshore delivery, so there's no cost advantage |
Who should choose Lemberg Solutions?
A typical fit: a UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier.
One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Hippo Digital?
A typical fit: a council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned.
User research and service design led delivery for UK public services. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Housing, Education.
Decision matrix: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Lemberg Solutions |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Lemberg Solutions (Not published) vs Hippo Digital (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Lemberg Solutions |
Use case fit: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
| Use case | Lemberg Solutions fit | Hippo Digital fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| A council needs a citizen-facing service redesigned. | Limited | Strong | Hippo Digital |
| A health body wants user research before a rebuild. | Limited | Strong | Hippo Digital |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office.
Hippo Digital (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a health body wants user research before a rebuild. If your situation matches that, Hippo Digital is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Lemberg Solutions vs Hippo Digital FAQ
Is Lemberg Solutions better than Hippo Digital?
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Lemberg Solutions's strongest advantage: covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three. Hippo Digital's strongest advantage: strong user research and service design capability.
How do Lemberg Solutions and Hippo Digital differ in pricing?
Lemberg Solutions uses time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team pricing. Hippo Digital uses framework call-offs, time and materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Lemberg Solutions or Hippo Digital?
Hippo 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 Lemberg Solutions and Hippo Digital?
Lemberg Solutions's primary differentiator is: one team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Hippo Digital's primary differentiator is: user research and service design led delivery for UK public services. They also differ in team size (200+ vs 400–500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive vs Public sector, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.