Ciklum vs Version 1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Ciklum (4.1/5) edges ahead of Version 1 (3.9/5) overall. Ciklum is the better choice for large dedicated teams with a London contract. Version 1 is the stronger option for oracle and Microsoft estates, public-sector managed services. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Ciklum vs Version 1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Ciklum | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 1996 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Dublin, Ireland (UK offices including Birmingham) |
| Team size | 3,000–4,500 | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe | Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery |
| Pricing model | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service | Managed service, time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, Python | Oracle, Microsoft Azure, AWS |
| Industries served | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities |
Ciklum vs Version 1: 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.
Version 1
Version 1 was founded in Dublin in 1996 and has been majority-owned by Swiss investor Partners Group since July 2022, in a deal reported at around €800m. It had more than 3,200 staff by 2023 and opened a Birmingham hub with 500 planned jobs, plus UK acquisitions such as Automation Logic. Much of its UK work is Oracle, Microsoft and AWS managed services for public-sector bodies. Delivery comes from Ireland, the UK, Spain and India.
Services and capabilities: Ciklum vs Version 1
| Capability | Ciklum | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Version 1
| Framework / platform | Ciklum | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Ciklum vs Version 1
| Criterion | Ciklum | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Managed service, Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Ciklum vs Version 1
| Dimension | Ciklum | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare | Public sector, 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 public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration., A utility wants Azure managed services. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Managed service |
Ciklum vs Version 1: 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 |
| Version 1 | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies |
| + | Indian and Spanish delivery lower costs on managed services |
| + | Private-equity backing has funded UK expansion |
| - | Majority-owned by Partners Group since 2022, so an eventual sale or exit is likely |
| - | Product-style bespoke development is less central than managed services |
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 Version 1?
A typical fit: a public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration.
Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities.
Decision matrix: Ciklum vs Version 1
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Version 1 |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Ciklum |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Ciklum (Not published) vs Version 1 (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 Version 1
| Use case | Ciklum fit | Version 1 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 public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| A utility wants Azure managed services. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| 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 | Strong | Version 1 |
Verdict: Ciklum vs Version 1
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.
Version 1 (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a utility wants Azure managed services. If your situation matches that, Version 1 is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Ciklum vs Version 1 FAQ
Is Ciklum better than Version 1?
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. Version 1's strongest advantage: strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies.
How do Ciklum and Version 1 differ in pricing?
Ciklum uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Version 1 uses managed service, 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: Ciklum or Version 1?
Ciklum 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 Version 1?
Ciklum's primary differentiator is: london headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. Version 1's primary differentiator is: managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. They also differ in team size (3,000–4,500 vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Retail vs Public sector, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.