Best Software Development Outsourcing UK

Endava vs ELEKS: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of ELEKS (4.4/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. ELEKS is the stronger option for data-heavy custom software, Ukrainian rates, mature processes. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.

Endava vs ELEKS: head-to-head summary

Criterion Endava ELEKS
Founded 2000 1991
HQ London, United Kingdom Tallinn, Estonia (engineering in Lviv; London office)
Team size 10,000+ 2,000+
Rating 4.5 / 5 4.4 / 5
Primary differentiator UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations Three decades of outsourced delivery with an in-house research and development unit
Pricing model Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts Time and materials, dedicated team, fixed price
Min. engagement Not published Not published
Primary tech stack Java, .NET, AWS .NET, Java, Python
Industries served Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare Financial services, Logistics, Healthcare, Media, Retail

Endava vs ELEKS: overview

Endava

Endava is the largest UK-headquartered company on this list built around nearshore delivery. It reported 11,479 staff at the end of June 2025, and the UK supplied 33% of revenue in the final quarter of that fiscal year. Delivery centres in Romania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Argentina and elsewhere let it staff large programmes at below-London cost. Headcount fell from 12,085 a year earlier, which reflects softer demand across the IT services market.

ELEKS

ELEKS began in Lviv in 1991, which makes it one of the oldest software companies in Ukraine. It now lists Tallinn, Estonia as its corporate headquarters and keeps a London office on Beech Street. Around 2,000 specialists work on custom software, data science, and research and development projects, mostly from Ukraine and Poland. Its long history with Western European clients shows in fairly mature delivery processes.

Services and capabilities: Endava vs ELEKS

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

Tech stack comparison: Endava vs ELEKS

Framework / platform Endava ELEKS
.NET ✓ ✓
Java ✓ ✓
Python ✓ ✓
React N/A ✓
AWS ✓ ✓
Azure ✓ ✓
Kubernetes ✓ N/A
Embedded N/A N/A

Pricing comparison: Endava vs ELEKS

Criterion Endava ELEKS
Minimum engagement Not published Not published
Engagement models Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time and materials
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: Endava vs ELEKS

Dimension Endava ELEKS
Best company size Enterprise Startup to mid-market
Best industries Financial services, Payments, Retail Financial services, Logistics, Healthcare
Best use cases A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme., A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. A logistics firm wants route and demand forecasting built into its operations software., A UK company needs a dedicated team for a multi-year product build at nearshore rates.
Typical project type Dedicated team Dedicated team

Endava vs ELEKS: pros and cons

Endava
+ Public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration
+ A UK board and London HQ simplify contracting and data-protection discussions for UK buyers
+ Delivery from several countries spreads risk if one location is disrupted
+ Long payments and banking track record with UK and European institutions
- Headcount dropped about 5% in the year to June 2025 as demand softened
- Smaller projects can get less senior attention than flagship accounts
- Day rates are higher than those of smaller Central European vendors
ELEKS
+ Thirty-plus years in business is a strong signal of stability for a long contract
+ A London office gives UK buyers a local contracting and meeting point
+ Data science and analytics work is a genuine strength alongside general development
+ Rates are in the Ukrainian band, well under UK onshore pricing
- Most engineering is in Ukraine, so buyers should review continuity plans given the war
- The London office is mainly a sales and account presence, not a delivery centre

Who should choose Endava?

A typical fit: a UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme.

UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare.

Who should choose ELEKS?

A typical fit: a logistics firm wants route and demand forecasting built into its operations software.

Three decades of outsourced delivery with an in-house research and development unit. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Logistics, Healthcare, Media, Retail.

Decision matrix: Endava vs ELEKS

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope ELEKS
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme Endava
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: Endava (Not published) vs ELEKS (Not published)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical Endava
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: Endava vs ELEKS

Use case Endava fit ELEKS fit Winner
A UK bank needs 50+ engineers for a multi-year core platform programme. Strong Limited Endava
A payments company wants a managed service covering development, testing and support. Strong Limited Endava
A logistics firm wants route and demand forecasting built into its operations software. Limited Strong ELEKS
A UK company needs a dedicated team for a multi-year product build at nearshore rates. Limited Strong ELEKS
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 ELEKS

Verdict: Endava vs ELEKS

Endava (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations.

ELEKS (4.4/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a UK company needs a dedicated team for a multi-year product build at nearshore rates. If your situation matches that, ELEKS is a competitive option.

Related comparisons

Endava vs ELEKS FAQ

Is Endava better than ELEKS?

Endava (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Endava's strongest advantage: public-company reporting gives buyers audited figures on headcount, revenue and client concentration. ELEKS's strongest advantage: thirty-plus years in business is a strong signal of stability for a long contract.

How do Endava and ELEKS differ in pricing?

Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. ELEKS uses time and materials, dedicated team, fixed price pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.

Which is better for enterprise: Endava or ELEKS?

Endava 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 Endava and ELEKS?

Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. ELEKS's primary differentiator is: three decades of outsourced delivery with an in-house research and development unit. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 2,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Financial services, Logistics).

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