Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) edges ahead of Softwire (4.3/5) overall. Lemberg Solutions is the better choice for UK product companies, software plus hardware, nearshore rates. Softwire is the stronger option for UK media and charities, bespoke builds, onshore teams. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Softwire |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2000 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (offices in London, Hamburg, Kraków) | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 200+ | 250–500 |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office | Long-standing onshore bespoke development that trains its own graduate engineers |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Embedded Linux, RTOS | C#, .NET, Java |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing | Media, Charities, Public sector, Education, Retail |
Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire: 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.
Softwire
Softwire has been writing bespoke software out of London since 2000; the legal entity was incorporated in 1999. Directory estimates put its headcount anywhere between 240 and 500, with offices in London, Manchester and Bristol. Clients have included the BBC and Channel 5, and the firm also runs a developer training programme. Nearly all of its delivery happens in the UK, so it competes on quality and communication rather than price.
Services and capabilities: Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire
| Capability | Lemberg Solutions | Softwire |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Softwire
| Framework / platform | Lemberg Solutions | Softwire |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Softwire |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Softwire
| Dimension | Lemberg Solutions | Softwire |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy | Media, Charities, Public sector |
| 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 broadcaster needs a new content management or scheduling tool., A charity wants a donor platform built by a UK team it can visit. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire: 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 |
| Softwire | |
|---|---|
| + | Twenty-five years of bespoke UK delivery with recognisable media clients |
| + | Onshore teams make workshops and on-site sessions easy |
| + | Willing to take on fixed-price work for well-scoped projects |
| - | UK-based delivery means higher rates than nearshore vendors |
| - | Headcount and office figures vary widely between directories, so ask for current numbers |
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 Softwire?
A typical fit: a broadcaster needs a new content management or scheduling tool.
Long-standing onshore bespoke development that trains its own graduate engineers. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Media, Charities, Public sector, Education, Retail.
Decision matrix: Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire
| 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 Softwire (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 Softwire
| Use case | Lemberg Solutions fit | Softwire 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 broadcaster needs a new content management or scheduling tool. | Limited | Strong | Softwire |
| A charity wants a donor platform built by a UK team it can visit. | Limited | Strong | Softwire |
| 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 Softwire
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.
Softwire (4.3/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a charity wants a donor platform built by a UK team it can visit. If your situation matches that, Softwire is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Lemberg Solutions vs Softwire FAQ
Is Lemberg Solutions better than Softwire?
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. Softwire's strongest advantage: twenty-five years of bespoke UK delivery with recognisable media clients.
How do Lemberg Solutions and Softwire differ in pricing?
Lemberg Solutions uses time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team pricing. Softwire 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: Lemberg Solutions or Softwire?
Softwire 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 Softwire?
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. Softwire's primary differentiator is: long-standing onshore bespoke development that trains its own graduate engineers. They also differ in team size (200+ vs 250–500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive vs Media, Charities).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.