Scott Logic vs Kainos: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Scott Logic (4.3/5) edges ahead of Kainos (4.2/5) overall. Scott Logic is the better choice for capital markets and government, UK-only delivery required. Kainos is the stronger option for UK government digital services, Workday programmes. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Scott Logic vs Kainos: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Scott Logic | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 1986 |
| HQ | Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom | Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 400–500 | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK | Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, capability-based | Time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, C#, TypeScript | Java, .NET, AWS |
| Industries served | Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector, Energy | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises |
Scott Logic vs Kainos: 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.
Kainos
Kainos was founded in Belfast in 1986 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the year to March 2026 it reported revenue of £431.1m, up 17%, and a workforce of 3,216 after adding 420 people, a rebound from a 2024/25 restructuring that cut staff by 7%. It runs three divisions: Digital Services, Workday Services and Workday Products. Its government work spans departments such as the Home Office and NHS bodies, delivered from the UK and Ireland.
Services and capabilities: Scott Logic vs Kainos
| Capability | Scott Logic | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kainos
| Framework / platform | Scott Logic | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Scott Logic vs Kainos
| Criterion | Scott Logic | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kainos
| Dimension | Scott Logic | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Capital markets, Public sector | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services |
| 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 government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run., An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Scott Logic vs Kainos: 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 |
| Kainos | |
|---|---|
| + | Belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based |
| + | Public reporting gives buyers verified financials and headcount |
| + | Very familiar with UK public-sector procurement frameworks |
| - | Little offshore capacity, so rates do not compete with nearshore vendors |
| - | Workday business takes a growing share of leadership focus |
| - | The 2024/25 restructuring shows exposure to swings in public-sector spending |
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 Kainos?
A typical fit: a government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run.
Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises.
Decision matrix: Scott Logic vs Kainos
| 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 Kainos (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 Kainos
| Use case | Scott Logic fit | Kainos 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 government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| 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 Kainos
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.
Kainos (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. If your situation matches that, Kainos is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Scott Logic vs Kainos FAQ
Is Scott Logic better than Kainos?
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. Kainos's strongest advantage: belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based.
How do Scott Logic and Kainos differ in pricing?
Scott Logic uses time and materials, fixed price, capability-based pricing. Kainos uses time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs 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 Kainos?
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 Kainos?
Scott Logic's primary differentiator is: trading-system and capital-markets engineering from teams based entirely in the UK. Kainos's primary differentiator is: combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. They also differ in team size (400–500 vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Capital markets vs Public sector, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.