Apadmi vs Thoughtworks: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Apadmi (3.9/5) edges ahead of Thoughtworks (3.9/5) overall. Apadmi is the better choice for UK brands that need flagship mobile apps. Thoughtworks is the stronger option for complex modernisation, engineering culture change. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Apadmi vs Thoughtworks: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Apadmi | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1993 |
| HQ | Manchester, United Kingdom | Chicago, United States (UK offices) |
| Team size | 250–300 | 10,000+ |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names | Thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price | Time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter | Java, Kotlin, TypeScript |
| Industries served | Retail, Media, Healthcare, Public sector | Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare, Media |
Apadmi vs Thoughtworks: overview
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.
Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks was founded in Chicago in 1993 and has had a significant UK presence for decades. Apax Partners took it private in a deal valued at about $1.75bn that closed in late 2024, after a NASDAQ listing in 2021, and the transaction came with job cuts affecting about 6–7% of its 10,500 staff. It is known for its Technology Radar and for shaping agile and continuous-delivery practice. It has delivery centres in India, China, Brazil and elsewhere, but UK engagements usually lean on senior onshore consultants.
Services and capabilities: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Capability | Apadmi | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✗ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Framework / platform | Apadmi | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | N/A |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Criterion | Apadmi | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Time and materials, Team extension |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Dimension | Apadmi | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Enterprise |
| Best industries | Retail, Media, Healthcare | Financial services, Retail, Public sector |
| Best use cases | A retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt., An NHS body wants a patient app. | A bank wants to break up a core monolith., A retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Time and materials |
Apadmi vs Thoughtworks: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Thoughtworks | |
|---|---|
| + | Very strong senior consultants and engineering practices |
| + | Global delivery network for blended teams |
| + | Well suited to modernisation programmes that need cultural change |
| - | Taken private by Apax in 2024 alongside a restructuring that cut 6–7% of staff |
| - | Premium pricing, especially with senior UK consultants |
| - | Overkill for straightforward builds |
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.
Who should choose Thoughtworks?
A typical fit: a bank wants to break up a core monolith.
Thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare, Media.
Decision matrix: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Apadmi |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Apadmi (Not published) vs Thoughtworks (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Thoughtworks |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Thoughtworks |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
| Use case | Apadmi fit | Thoughtworks fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A retailer needs a high-traffic shopping app rebuilt. | Strong | Limited | Apadmi |
| An NHS body wants a patient app. | Strong | Limited | Apadmi |
| A bank wants to break up a core monolith. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
| A retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
| 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 | Limited | Apadmi |
Verdict: Apadmi vs Thoughtworks
Apadmi (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names.
Thoughtworks (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. If your situation matches that, Thoughtworks is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Apadmi vs Thoughtworks FAQ
Is Apadmi better than Thoughtworks?
Apadmi (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Apadmi's strongest advantage: mobile focus brings deep iOS and Android expertise. Thoughtworks's strongest advantage: very strong senior consultants and engineering practices.
How do Apadmi and Thoughtworks differ in pricing?
Apadmi uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Thoughtworks uses 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: Apadmi or Thoughtworks?
Apadmi 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 Apadmi and Thoughtworks?
Apadmi's primary differentiator is: mobile-only specialism with a client list of household UK names. Thoughtworks's primary differentiator is: thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network. They also differ in team size (250–300 vs 10,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Retail, Media vs Financial services, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.