Kainos vs AND Digital: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Kainos (4.2/5) edges ahead of AND Digital (4.0/5) overall. Kainos is the better choice for UK government digital services, Workday programmes. AND Digital is the stronger option for companies building in-house digital capability. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Kainos vs AND Digital: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Kainos | AND Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2014 |
| HQ | Belfast, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 3,000+ | 1,000–1,500 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE | Delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs | Time and materials, capability-based |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | JavaScript, TypeScript, React |
| Industries served | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises | Retail, Financial services, Media, Public sector |
Kainos vs AND Digital: overview
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.
AND Digital
AND Digital was founded in 2014 by CEO Paramjit Uppal and is organised into city-based units it calls clubs. It passed 1,000 employees in 2021, and current third-party estimates range from 600 to 1,350. Its pitch is to build products while training the client's own people to take over. Delivery is largely UK-based, with smaller operations in the Netherlands and the US East Coast.
Services and capabilities: Kainos vs AND Digital
| Capability | Kainos | AND Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Kainos vs AND Digital
| Framework / platform | Kainos | AND Digital |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Kainos vs AND Digital
| Criterion | Kainos | AND Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Team extension, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Kainos vs AND Digital
| Dimension | Kainos | AND Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Mid-market to enterprise |
| Best industries | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services | Retail, Financial services, Media |
| Best use cases | A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run., An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | A retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it., A financial firm needs a product squad that hands over after a year. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Team extension |
Kainos vs AND Digital: pros and cons
| 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 |
| AND Digital | |
|---|---|
| + | Knowledge transfer is a stated goal, which reduces long-term dependency |
| + | Regional clubs give UK clients a local team in many cities |
| + | Good fit for digital product work in retail and consumer brands |
| - | Onshore model means no offshore cost advantage |
| - | Headcount figures vary widely between sources |
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.
Who should choose AND Digital?
A typical fit: a retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it.
Delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Financial services, Media, Public sector.
Decision matrix: Kainos vs AND Digital
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Kainos (Not published) vs AND Digital (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Kainos |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | AND Digital |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Neither; consider an embedded specialist |
Use case fit: Kainos vs AND Digital
| Use case | Kainos fit | AND Digital fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run. | Strong | Limited | Kainos |
| An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | Strong | Limited | Kainos |
| A retailer wants a new web platform and an in-house team trained to run it. | Limited | Strong | AND Digital |
| A financial firm needs a product squad that hands over after a year. | Limited | Strong | AND Digital |
| 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 | Strong | Limited | Kainos |
Verdict: Kainos vs AND Digital
Kainos (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE.
AND Digital (4.0/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a financial firm needs a product squad that hands over after a year. If your situation matches that, AND Digital is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Kainos vs AND Digital FAQ
Is Kainos better than AND Digital?
Kainos (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Kainos's strongest advantage: belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based. AND Digital's strongest advantage: knowledge transfer is a stated goal, which reduces long-term dependency.
How do Kainos and AND Digital differ in pricing?
Kainos uses time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs pricing. AND Digital 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: Kainos or AND Digital?
AND Digital 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 Kainos and AND Digital?
Kainos's primary differentiator is: combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. AND Digital's primary differentiator is: delivers products while explicitly upskilling the client's own staff. They also differ in team size (3,000+ vs 1,000–1,500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Public sector, Healthcare vs Retail, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.