Zühlke vs Version 1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Zühlke (4.1/5) edges ahead of Version 1 (3.9/5) overall. Zühlke is the better choice for regulated industries, medical devices, banking. Version 1 is the stronger option for oracle and Microsoft estates, public-sector managed services. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Zühlke vs Version 1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Zühlke | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 | 1996 |
| HQ | Schlieren, Switzerland (UK offices in London, Manchester, Edinburgh) | Dublin, Ireland (UK offices including Birmingham) |
| Team size | 1,500–2,000 | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Swiss engineering discipline in regulated sectors with a UK team of about 150 | Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price | Managed service, time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, Azure | Oracle, Microsoft Azure, AWS |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare and medical devices, Public sector, Manufacturing | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities |
Zühlke vs Version 1: overview
Zühlke
Zühlke was founded in Switzerland in 1968 and employs close to 2,000 people, with nearshore centres in Serbia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Vietnam. The UK business marked 25 years in 2025 and has nearly 150 staff across London, Manchester and Edinburgh, led by UK CEO Angela Bishop since October 2024. UK clients include HSBC and NHS England. Its medical-device and regulated-industry engineering background is unusual for a services firm of this size.
Version 1
Version 1 was founded in Dublin in 1996 and has been majority-owned by Swiss investor Partners Group since July 2022, in a deal reported at around €800m. It had more than 3,200 staff by 2023 and opened a Birmingham hub with 500 planned jobs, plus UK acquisitions such as Automation Logic. Much of its UK work is Oracle, Microsoft and AWS managed services for public-sector bodies. Delivery comes from Ireland, the UK, Spain and India.
Services and capabilities: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Capability | Zühlke | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Framework / platform | Zühlke | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Criterion | Zühlke | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Managed service, Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Dimension | Zühlke | Version 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare and medical devices, Public sector | Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A medtech company needs software developed under IEC 62304., A bank wants a regulated customer platform built with strong engineering governance. | A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration., A utility wants Azure managed services. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Managed service |
Zühlke vs Version 1: pros and cons
| Zühlke | |
|---|---|
| + | Experience with medical device software regulations is rare among UK suppliers |
| + | Nearshore hubs give some cost flexibility beyond the UK team |
| + | Long-standing UK presence with named banking and NHS clients |
| - | Swiss rate cards are high, even with nearshore staff in the mix |
| - | The UK team is small relative to the group |
| Version 1 | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies |
| + | Indian and Spanish delivery lower costs on managed services |
| + | Private-equity backing has funded UK expansion |
| - | Majority-owned by Partners Group since 2022, so an eventual sale or exit is likely |
| - | Product-style bespoke development is less central than managed services |
Who should choose Zühlke?
A typical fit: a medtech company needs software developed under IEC 62304.
Swiss engineering discipline in regulated sectors with a UK team of about 150. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare and medical devices, Public sector, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Version 1?
A typical fit: a public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration.
Managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Financial services, Healthcare, Utilities.
Decision matrix: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Zühlke |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Zühlke (Not published) vs Version 1 (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Zühlke |
| 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 | Zühlke |
Use case fit: Zühlke vs Version 1
| Use case | Zühlke fit | Version 1 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A medtech company needs software developed under IEC 62304. | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
| A bank wants a regulated customer platform built with strong engineering governance. | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
| A public body needs Oracle E-Business Suite support and migration. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| A utility wants Azure managed services. | Limited | Strong | Version 1 |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Zühlke vs Version 1
Zühlke (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Swiss engineering discipline in regulated sectors with a UK team of about 150.
Version 1 (3.9/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a utility wants Azure managed services. If your situation matches that, Version 1 is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Zühlke vs Version 1 FAQ
Is Zühlke better than Version 1?
Zühlke (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Zühlke's strongest advantage: experience with medical device software regulations is rare among UK suppliers. Version 1's strongest advantage: strong in Oracle and Microsoft environments common in UK public bodies.
How do Zühlke and Version 1 differ in pricing?
Zühlke uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Version 1 uses managed service, time and materials, fixed price pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Zühlke or Version 1?
Zühlke 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 Zühlke and Version 1?
Zühlke's primary differentiator is: swiss engineering discipline in regulated sectors with a UK team of about 150. Version 1's primary differentiator is: managed services for Oracle, Microsoft and AWS estates with Indian and Spanish delivery. They also differ in team size (1,500–2,000 vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Healthcare and medical devices vs Public sector, Financial services).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.