Ciklum vs DataArt: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Ciklum (4.1/5) edges ahead of DataArt (4.0/5) overall. Ciklum is the better choice for large dedicated teams with a London contract. DataArt is the stronger option for travel and finance firms, long-term nearshore teams. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Ciklum vs DataArt: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Ciklum | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 1997 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | New York, United States (London office) |
| Team size | 3,000–4,500 | 5,000–6,000 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe | Two decades of London presence and specialist travel-industry engineering |
| Pricing model | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service | Time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, Python | Java, .NET, Python |
| Industries served | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel | Travel and hospitality, Financial services, Healthcare, Media, Retail |
Ciklum vs DataArt: overview
Ciklum
Danish entrepreneur Torben Majgaard started Ciklum in 2002 in Kyiv. It is now headquartered in London's Shoreditch and employs around 4,000 people. Its investors have included Horizon Capital, a fund associated with George Soros, and Dragon Capital, but current ownership is not publicly documented. Delivery is concentrated in Ukraine and Poland, plus the Czech Republic since its 2021 acquisition of Prague-based CN Group.
DataArt
Eugene Goland founded DataArt in New York in 1997, and the company opened in London in 2001. It reports more than 6,000 people as of September 2025, spread across Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and elsewhere. Travel and hospitality, finance and healthcare are its strongest industries. UK clients get a long-standing London presence with delivery from lower-cost locations.
Services and capabilities: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Capability | Ciklum | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Framework / platform | Ciklum | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Criterion | Ciklum | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Dedicated team, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Dimension | Ciklum | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare | Travel and hospitality, Financial services, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team., A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | A travel company needs booking-engine and distribution work., A financial firm wants legacy trading software modernised. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Dedicated team |
Ciklum vs DataArt: pros and cons
| Ciklum | |
|---|---|
| + | London HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers |
| + | Twenty years of experience running large remote teams |
| + | Several delivery countries spread location risk |
| - | Ownership has changed hands between investors several times, and the current cap table is not public |
| - | A large Ukrainian workforce means continuity plans need review |
| - | Mid-sized clients may find the sales process heavy |
| DataArt | |
|---|---|
| + | London office has been open since 2001 |
| + | Specialist knowledge of travel booking and distribution systems |
| + | Delivery spread across several regions |
| - | US headquarters means UK contracts may sit with a non-UK parent |
| - | Headcount estimates vary widely between sources |
Who should choose Ciklum?
A typical fit: a retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team.
London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel.
Who should choose DataArt?
A typical fit: a travel company needs booking-engine and distribution work.
Two decades of London presence and specialist travel-industry engineering. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Travel and hospitality, Financial services, Healthcare, Media, Retail.
Decision matrix: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Ciklum |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Ciklum (Not published) vs DataArt (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Ciklum |
| 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: Ciklum vs DataArt
| Use case | Ciklum fit | DataArt fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team. | Strong | Limited | Ciklum |
| A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | Strong | Limited | Ciklum |
| A travel company needs booking-engine and distribution work. | Limited | Strong | DataArt |
| A financial firm wants legacy trading software modernised. | Limited | Strong | DataArt |
| 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 | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Ciklum vs DataArt
Ciklum (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe.
DataArt (4.0/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a financial firm wants legacy trading software modernised. If your situation matches that, DataArt is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Ciklum vs DataArt FAQ
Is Ciklum better than DataArt?
Ciklum (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Ciklum's strongest advantage: london HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers. DataArt's strongest advantage: london office has been open since 2001.
How do Ciklum and DataArt differ in pricing?
Ciklum uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. DataArt uses time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Ciklum or DataArt?
DataArt 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 Ciklum and DataArt?
Ciklum's primary differentiator is: london headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. DataArt's primary differentiator is: two decades of London presence and specialist travel-industry engineering. They also differ in team size (3,000–4,500 vs 5,000–6,000), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Retail vs Travel and hospitality, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.