Best Software Development Outsourcing UK

Scott Logic vs Apadmi: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

Scott Logic (4.3/5) edges ahead of Apadmi (3.9/5) overall. Scott Logic is the better choice for capital markets and government, UK-only delivery required. 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.

Scott Logic vs Apadmi: head-to-head summary

Criterion Scott Logic Apadmi
Founded 2005 2009
HQ Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom
Team size 400–500 250–300
Rating 4.3 / 5 3.9 / 5
Primary differentiator Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK Mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names
Pricing model Time and materials, fixed price, capability-based Time and materials, fixed price
Min. engagement Not published Not published
Primary tech stack Java, C#, TypeScript Swift, Kotlin, Flutter
Industries served Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector, Energy Retail, Media, Healthcare, Public sector

Scott Logic vs Apadmi: overview

Scott Logic

Former Lehman Brothers executive Gary Scott founded Scott Logic in Newcastle in 2005. It now employs 400+ people across Newcastle, London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Leeds, all in the UK. The firm is best known for trading and capital-markets software and for central government digital work. Every engineer is UK-based, which suits security-cleared and data-sensitive projects but rules out offshore cost savings.

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: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Capability Scott Logic Apadmi
Custom software development ✓ ✓
Mobile app development ✗ ✓
Cloud & DevOps ✓ ✗
Data & AI ✓ ✗
Legacy modernisation ✗ ✗
Embedded & IoT ✗ ✗
Dedicated team model ✗ ✗
Fixed-price projects ✓ ✓

Tech stack comparison: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Framework / platform Scott Logic Apadmi
.NET N/A N/A
Java ✓ N/A
Python N/A N/A
React ✓ ✓
AWS ✓ ✓
Azure ✓ ✓
Kubernetes ✓ N/A
Embedded N/A N/A

Pricing comparison: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Criterion Scott Logic Apadmi
Minimum engagement Not published Not published
Engagement models Fixed project, Time and materials Fixed project, Time and materials
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Dimension Scott Logic Apadmi
Best company size Startup to mid-market Startup to mid-market
Best industries Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector Retail, Media, Healthcare
Best use cases An investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team., A government department needs a digital service built to GDS standards. A retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt., An NHS body wants a patient app.
Typical project type Fixed project Fixed project

Scott Logic vs Apadmi: pros and cons

Scott Logic
+ UK-only staffing makes security clearance and data-residency requirements straightforward
+ Rare depth in trading platforms and low-latency financial software
+ Regional offices outside London keep rates below the big London consultancies
- No nearshore or offshore delivery, so rates are UK onshore rates for every role
- Narrower industry spread than generalist outsourcing vendors
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 Scott Logic?

A typical fit: an investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team.

Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector, Energy.

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: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope Scott Logic
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme Check each company's engagement model
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: Scott Logic (Not published) vs Apadmi (Not published)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical Scott Logic
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: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Use case Scott Logic fit Apadmi fit Winner
An investment bank needs a trading front end rebuilt by a UK-cleared team. Strong Limited Scott Logic
A government department needs a digital service built to GDS standards. Strong Limited Scott Logic
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 Strong Strong Both equally

Verdict: Scott Logic vs Apadmi

Scott Logic (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK.

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

Scott Logic vs Apadmi FAQ

Is Scott Logic better than Apadmi?

Scott Logic (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Scott Logic's strongest advantage: UK-only staffing makes security clearance and data-residency requirements straightforward. Apadmi's strongest advantage: mobile focus brings deep iOS and Android expertise.

How do Scott Logic and Apadmi differ in pricing?

Scott Logic uses time and materials, fixed price, capability-based 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: Scott Logic or Apadmi?

Scott Logic 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 Scott Logic and Apadmi?

Scott Logic's primary differentiator is: trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK. Apadmi's primary differentiator is: mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names. They also differ in team size (400–500 vs 250–300), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Capital markets vs Retail, Media).

Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.