Endava vs Equal Experts: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of Equal Experts (4.2/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. Equal Experts is the stronger option for senior engineers for complex delivery, government and retail. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Endava vs Equal Experts: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Endava | Equal Experts |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2007 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 1,000–4,000 (staff and associates) |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations | Senior-only teams drawn from a large associate network |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts | Time and materials, capability-based |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | Java, Kotlin, TypeScript |
| Industries served | Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare | Public sector, Retail, Financial services, Telecoms |
Endava vs Equal Experts: 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.
Equal Experts
Equal Experts launched in London in 2007 with a flat structure built around experienced engineers. The company lists a network of around 4,000 people, a mix of permanent staff and independent associates, and a consultancy directory reports that it is owned by its consultant and customer network through the Equal Experts Trust. UK clients have included HMRC, Defra and John Lewis. Teams are mostly senior and onshore, and its pricing reflects that.
Services and capabilities: Endava vs Equal Experts
| Capability | Endava | Equal Experts |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Equal Experts
| Framework / platform | Endava | Equal Experts |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Endava vs Equal Experts
| Criterion | Endava | Equal Experts |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Time and materials, Team extension |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Endava vs Equal Experts
| Dimension | Endava | Equal Experts |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Mid-market to enterprise |
| Best industries | Financial services, Payments, Retail | Public sector, Retail, Financial services |
| 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 government department needs senior engineers to rescue a struggling platform., A retailer wants a cloud platform team to build internal developer tooling. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Time and materials |
Endava vs Equal Experts: 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 |
| Equal Experts | |
|---|---|
| + | Consultants are typically very experienced, which reduces the need for close supervision |
| + | Proven track record on large UK government platforms such as HMRC's |
| + | Ownership structure aligns consultants with long-term client outcomes |
| - | Associate-heavy model means team members may change between engagements |
| - | Mostly onshore and senior, so day rates are among the higher ones on this list |
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 Equal Experts?
A typical fit: a government department needs senior engineers to rescue a struggling platform.
Senior-only teams drawn from a large associate network. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Retail, Financial services, Telecoms.
Decision matrix: Endava vs Equal Experts
| 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 | Endava |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Endava (Not published) vs Equal Experts (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Endava |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Equal Experts |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Endava vs Equal Experts
| Use case | Endava fit | Equal Experts 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 government department needs senior engineers to rescue a struggling platform. | Limited | Strong | Equal Experts |
| A retailer wants a cloud platform team to build internal developer tooling. | Limited | Strong | Equal Experts |
| 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: Endava vs Equal Experts
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.
Equal Experts (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a retailer wants a cloud platform team to build internal developer tooling. If your situation matches that, Equal Experts is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Endava vs Equal Experts FAQ
Is Endava better than Equal Experts?
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. Equal Experts's strongest advantage: consultants are typically very experienced, which reduces the need for close supervision.
How do Endava and Equal Experts differ in pricing?
Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. Equal Experts uses time and materials, capability-based pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Endava or Equal Experts?
Equal Experts 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 Equal Experts?
Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Equal Experts's primary differentiator is: senior-only teams drawn from a large associate network. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 1,000–4,000 (staff and associates)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Public sector, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.