Ciklum vs Cleveroad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Ciklum (4.3/5) edges ahead of Cleveroad (3.9/5) overall. Ciklum is the better choice for UK enterprises wanting an actual UK legal entity to contract with. Cleveroad is the stronger option for UK buyers wanting a physically staffed Manchester office. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Ciklum vs Cleveroad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom (Kyiv-founded; large Ukraine delivery centers) | New York, USA / Manchester, UK (Kharkiv delivery center) |
| Team size | ~3,900 | 150–300 (per company website; independently unverifiable precise figure) |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the few companies on this list genuinely headquartered in London rather than merely selling into the UK market | A genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely |
| Pricing model | Dedicated-team and consulting engagements | Fixed-project and dedicated-team engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, React, Data engineering | React, React Native, Node.js |
| Industries served | Retail, Financial services, Media | Retail, Logistics, Healthcare |
Ciklum vs Cleveroad: overview
Ciklum
Ciklum's legal headquarters moved from Kyiv to London some years after its 2002 founding, which is unusual on a UK-facing list: most outsourcing companies serving British clients are headquartered elsewhere and simply sell into the UK market. Its roughly 3,900-person team still delivers primarily from Ukraine, spanning full-lifecycle product engineering across cloud, data, and digital work for enterprise clients. That London incorporation gives UK buyers a domestic contracting entity, something several peers on this list, however strong their engineering, simply cannot offer.
Cleveroad
Cleveroad has hosted offices in New York, Los Angeles, Manchester, and Kharkiv since its 2011 founding, building general custom software and mobile apps for startups and mid-size businesses. That Manchester office is a genuine UK presence, distinguishing it from most of the peers on this list who only sell into the UK market without a physical local office. It competes primarily on general-purpose web and mobile delivery capacity rather than a named industry or technology niche.
Services and capabilities: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Capability | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Custom build | ✗ | ✓ |
| Consulting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Framework / platform | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Node.js | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Criterion | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Consulting, Fixed project | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Dimension | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail, Financial services, Media | Retail, Logistics, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A UK enterprise that specifically requires a domestic contracting entity for procurement reasons., A large program wanting UK legal accountability with offshore delivery scale. | A UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact., A mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Ciklum vs Cleveroad: pros and cons
| Ciklum | |
|---|---|
| + | An actual London legal headquarters, a step beyond most peers' UK sales presence. |
| + | Large delivery capacity built over two decades of real multi-team program experience. |
| + | Full-lifecycle product engineering practice, beyond narrow staffing focus. |
| - | Delivery workforce is concentrated in Ukraine, so day-to-day contact is rarely UK-based |
| - | Process overhead closer to an enterprise integrator than a founder-led boutique |
| Cleveroad | |
|---|---|
| + | Genuine Manchester office, a real UK presence rather than remote sales coverage. |
| + | Multiple commercial offices in the US and UK give buyers a choice of contracting entity. |
| + | Over a decade of continuous operation since 2011. |
| - | General-purpose positioning without a clearly named technical specialization |
| - | Kharkiv is one of several offices rather than the company's sole delivery base |
Who should choose Ciklum?
A typical fit: a UK enterprise that specifically requires a domestic contracting entity for procurement reasons.
One of the few companies on this list genuinely headquartered in London rather than merely selling into the UK market. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Financial services, Media.
Who should choose Cleveroad?
A typical fit: a UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact.
A genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Logistics, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Ciklum |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Ciklum |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Ciklum (Not published) vs Cleveroad (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Ciklum |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Use case | Ciklum fit | Cleveroad fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK enterprise that specifically requires a domestic contracting entity for procurement reasons. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A large program wanting UK legal accountability with offshore delivery scale. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
Ciklum (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Outsourcing (UK) projects. One of the few companies on this list genuinely headquartered in London rather than merely selling into the UK market.
Cleveroad (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need a mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. If your situation matches that, Cleveroad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Ciklum vs Cleveroad FAQ
Is Ciklum better than Cleveroad?
Ciklum (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Ciklum's strongest advantage: an actual London legal headquarters, a step beyond most peers' UK sales presence. Cleveroad's strongest advantage: genuine Manchester office, a real UK presence rather than remote sales coverage.
How do Ciklum and Cleveroad differ in pricing?
Ciklum uses dedicated-team and consulting engagements pricing. Cleveroad uses fixed-project and dedicated-team engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Ciklum or Cleveroad?
Cleveroad 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 Ciklum and Cleveroad?
Ciklum's primary differentiator is: one of the few companies on this list genuinely headquartered in London rather than merely selling into the UK market. Cleveroad's primary differentiator is: a genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely. They also differ in team size (~3,900 vs 150–300 (per company website; independently unverifiable precise figure)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Retail, Financial services vs Retail, Logistics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.