Endava vs Thoughtworks: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Endava (4.5/5) edges ahead of Thoughtworks (3.9/5) overall. Endava is the better choice for large UK programmes, payments and banking, nearshore at volume. Thoughtworks is the stronger option for complex modernisation, engineering culture change. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Endava vs Thoughtworks: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Endava | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 1993 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Chicago, United States (UK offices) |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations | Thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts | Time and materials |
| 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 | Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare, Media |
Endava vs Thoughtworks: 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.
Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks was founded in Chicago in 1993 and has had a significant UK presence for decades. Apax Partners took it private in a deal valued at about $1.75bn that closed in late 2024, after a NASDAQ listing in 2021, and the transaction came with job cuts affecting about 6–7% of its 10,500 staff. It is known for its Technology Radar and for shaping agile and continuous-delivery practice. It has delivery centres in India, China, Brazil and elsewhere, but UK engagements usually lean on senior onshore consultants.
Services and capabilities: Endava vs Thoughtworks
| Capability | Endava | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Thoughtworks
| Framework / platform | Endava | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Endava vs Thoughtworks
| Criterion | Endava | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Thoughtworks
| Dimension | Endava | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Best industries | Financial services, Payments, Retail | Financial services, Retail, Public sector |
| 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 bank wants to break up a core monolith., A retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Time and materials |
Endava vs Thoughtworks: 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 |
| Thoughtworks | |
|---|---|
| + | Very strong senior consultants and engineering practices |
| + | Global delivery network for blended teams |
| + | Well suited to modernisation programmes that need cultural change |
| - | Taken private by Apax in 2024 alongside a restructuring that cut 6–7% of staff |
| - | Premium pricing, especially with senior UK consultants |
| - | Overkill for straightforward builds |
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 Thoughtworks?
A typical fit: a bank wants to break up a core monolith.
Thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare, Media.
Decision matrix: Endava vs Thoughtworks
| 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 Thoughtworks (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Endava |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Thoughtworks |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Endava vs Thoughtworks
| Use case | Endava fit | Thoughtworks 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 bank wants to break up a core monolith. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
| A retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
| 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 Thoughtworks
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.
Thoughtworks (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a retailer needs to rebuild its platform and change how teams work. If your situation matches that, Thoughtworks is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Endava vs Thoughtworks FAQ
Is Endava better than Thoughtworks?
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. Thoughtworks's strongest advantage: very strong senior consultants and engineering practices.
How do Endava and Thoughtworks differ in pricing?
Endava uses time and materials, managed service, outcome-based contracts pricing. Thoughtworks uses time and materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Endava or Thoughtworks?
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 Thoughtworks?
Endava's primary differentiator is: UK headquarters and governance with more than 10,000 engineers in lower-cost nearshore locations. Thoughtworks's primary differentiator is: thought leadership in software practice, backed by a large global delivery network. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 10,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Payments vs Financial services, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.