Endava vs Kainos: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of Kainos (4.2/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. Kainos is the stronger option for UK government digital services, Workday programmes. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Endava vs Kainos: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Endava | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 1986 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations | Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts | Time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | Java, .NET, AWS |
| Industries served | Financial services, Payments, Retail, Media and telecoms, Healthcare | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises |
Endava vs Kainos: 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.
Kainos
Kainos was founded in Belfast in 1986 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the year to March 2026 it reported revenue of £431.1m, up 17%, and a workforce of 3,216 after adding 420 people, a rebound from a 2024/25 restructuring that cut staff by 7%. It runs three divisions: Digital Services, Workday Services and Workday Products. Its government work spans departments such as the Home Office and NHS bodies, delivered from the UK and Ireland.
Services and capabilities: Endava vs Kainos
| Capability | Endava | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kainos
| Framework / platform | Endava | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Endava vs Kainos
| Criterion | Endava | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Endava vs Kainos
| Dimension | Endava | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Payments, Retail | Public sector, Healthcare, 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 a GOV.UK service built and run., An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Endava vs Kainos: 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 |
| Kainos | |
|---|---|
| + | Belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based |
| + | Public reporting gives buyers verified financials and headcount |
| + | Very familiar with UK public-sector procurement frameworks |
| - | Little offshore capacity, so rates do not compete with nearshore vendors |
| - | Workday business takes a growing share of leadership focus |
| - | The 2024/25 restructuring shows exposure to swings in public-sector spending |
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 Kainos?
A typical fit: a government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run.
Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises.
Decision matrix: Endava vs Kainos
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Kainos |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Endava |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Endava (Not published) vs Kainos (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 Kainos
| Use case | Endava fit | Kainos 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 a GOV.UK service built and run. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| 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 | Kainos |
Verdict: Endava vs Kainos
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.
Kainos (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. If your situation matches that, Kainos is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Endava vs Kainos FAQ
Is Endava better than Kainos?
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. Kainos's strongest advantage: belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based.
How do Endava and Kainos differ in pricing?
Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. Kainos uses time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Endava or Kainos?
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 Kainos?
Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Kainos's primary differentiator is: combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Public sector, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.