Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) edges ahead of Ciklum (4.1/5) overall. Lemberg Solutions is the better choice for UK product companies, software plus hardware, nearshore rates. Ciklum is the stronger option for large dedicated teams with a London contract. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2002 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (offices in London, Hamburg, Kraków) | London, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 200+ | 3,000–4,500 |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office | London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Embedded Linux, RTOS | Java, .NET, Python |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel |
Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum: overview
Lemberg Solutions
Lemberg Solutions was founded in 2007 and has grown to 200+ engineers working across embedded, cloud, data and AI, and web or mobile product development. UK clients deal with a London office at 25 Adelaide Road in West Ealing, while most engineering happens in Lviv and Kraków, with a further office in Hamburg. Named clients include Astronics, Caltech, Bosch Rexroth, Cellink, Ferno and Speede. The company holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification and transfers all intellectual property to the client.
Ciklum
Danish entrepreneur Torben Majgaard started Ciklum in 2002 in Kyiv. It is now headquartered in London's Shoreditch and employs around 4,000 people. Its investors have included Horizon Capital, a fund associated with George Soros, and Dragon Capital, but current ownership is not publicly documented. Delivery is concentrated in Ukraine and Poland, plus the Czech Republic since its 2021 acquisition of Prague-based CN Group.
Services and capabilities: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Capability | Lemberg Solutions | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Framework / platform | Lemberg Solutions | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Team extension, Time and materials | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Dimension | Lemberg Solutions | Ciklum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy | Financial services, Retail, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier., An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team., A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum: pros and cons
| Lemberg Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | Covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three |
| + | ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification gives procurement teams documented security and quality processes to review |
| + | Established partnerships with NXP, Microchip and STMicroelectronics help when a product depends on specific silicon |
| + | All intellectual property passes to the client, which removes a common sticking point in outsourcing contracts |
| + | An in-house hardware lab lets the team prototype and test devices without waiting on third-party facilities |
| + | Engineering rates in Ukraine and Poland sit well below London consultancy day rates, while the London office keeps account management local |
| - | Mass production is not handled in-house, so you will need a separate manufacturing partner for physical products |
| - | Lemberg does not obtain regulatory certification for clients; it supplies the documentation and engineering support for approvals |
| - | At 200+ people it cannot staff the very large programmes that Endava or EPAM can |
| - | Some reviewers mention early friction over working hours before schedules were aligned with the client's time zone |
| Ciklum | |
|---|---|
| + | London HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers |
| + | Twenty years of experience running large remote teams |
| + | Several delivery countries spread location risk |
| - | Ownership has changed hands between investors several times, and the current cap table is not public |
| - | A large Ukrainian workforce means continuity plans need review |
| - | Mid-sized clients may find the sales process heavy |
Who should choose Lemberg Solutions?
A typical fit: a UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier.
One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Ciklum?
A typical fit: a retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team.
London headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Healthcare, Media, Travel.
Decision matrix: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Lemberg Solutions |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Lemberg Solutions (Not published) vs Ciklum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Lemberg Solutions |
Use case fit: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
| Use case | Lemberg Solutions fit | Ciklum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| A retailer needs a 30-person e-commerce team. | Limited | Strong | Ciklum |
| A healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. | Limited | Strong | Ciklum |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
Verdict: Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office.
Ciklum (4.1/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a healthcare firm wants a managed QA and testing service. If your situation matches that, Ciklum is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Lemberg Solutions vs Ciklum FAQ
Is Lemberg Solutions better than Ciklum?
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Lemberg Solutions's strongest advantage: covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three. Ciklum's strongest advantage: london HQ makes contracting simple for UK buyers.
How do Lemberg Solutions and Ciklum differ in pricing?
Lemberg Solutions uses time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team pricing. Ciklum uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Lemberg Solutions or Ciklum?
Ciklum 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 Lemberg Solutions and Ciklum?
Lemberg Solutions's primary differentiator is: one team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Ciklum's primary differentiator is: london headquarters with a long history of large dedicated teams in Ukraine and Central Europe. They also differ in team size (200+ vs 3,000–4,500), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive vs Financial services, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.