10 UK software and app development companies compared: location, founding year, team size, Clutch rating and pricing. Published by Magora.
How we chose these companies
There are thousands of software suppliers in the UK, and most “top 10” lists are either directories sorted by who pays for placement or rankings of household names such as Sage or Arm that do not take client projects. This list is for a different reader: someone with a product to build who needs a UK team to design and engineer it.
Every company here meets the same five criteria:
- UK headquarters, with an office you can visit.
- In-house design and engineering, rather than a sales front for a subcontractor.
- At least ten years of trading, so there is a track record to check.
- Published case studies with named clients.
- Independent client reviews on Clutch where the company has a profile.
Apart from listing ourselves first, we did not score or rank the companies against each other: the right choice depends on your project, so each entry ends with the kind of project it suits best, based on the company’s own stated focus. Clutch lists rates and project sizes in US dollars; we have left them as published.
At a glance
| Company | Headquarters | Founded | Team size | Clutch rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magora | London | 2010 | 50–249 | 4.9 |
| Apadmi | Salford | 2009 | 250–999 | 4.8 |
| Brightec | Shoreham-by-Sea | 2006 | 10–49 | 4.9 |
| GoodCore Software | Croydon | 2005 | 50–249 | 5.0 |
| hedgehog lab | Newcastle upon Tyne | 2006 | 50–249 | 4.8 |
| One Beyond | Farnborough | 1994 | 250–999 | 4.8 |
| Sonin | Reigate | 2009 | 50–249 | 4.9 |
| Square Root | London | 11+ years | Not published | Not verified |
| Tappable | Bedford | 2011 | Not published | Not verified |
| The Distance | London and York | 2009 | 10–49 | 4.8 |
1. Magora
- Headquarters
- London
- Founded
- 2010
- Team size
- 50–249
- Services
- Custom software, mobile and web apps, AI and AI agents, MVPs
- Named clients
- Dayinsure, Expensify, Casual Films
- Clutch rating
- 4.9 (71 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Website: discovery from £3,000, MVP from £10,000, £55/hour; Clutch: projects from $25,000
- Strongest fit
- Start-ups and SMEs going from MVP to a production product, including AI features
This list is published by Magora, so we have put ourselves first. We meet the same five criteria as every other company here, and you can check every figure against the sources below. Website.
2. Apadmi
- Headquarters
- Salford (Greater Manchester)
- Founded
- 2009
- Team size
- 250–999
- Services
- Mobile apps, app store optimisation, loyalty programmes, systems integration, AI
- Named clients
- Domino's, NHS, Co-op, BBC, Carlsberg
- Clutch rating
- 4.8 (29 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $100,000; $100–149/hour
- Strongest fit
- Large consumer brands that need a mobile-first partner at scale
Apadmi says it helps “ambitious brands unlock growth through exceptional digital products”, and lists offices in Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, New York, Wrocław and Colombo. Website.
3. Brightec
- Headquarters
- Shoreham-by-Sea (West Sussex)
- Founded
- 2006
- Team size
- 10–49
- Services
- Native iOS and Android apps, UX design, discovery, product lifecycle
- Named clients
- Google, Virgin Trains, Legal & General, Waterstones, Willis Towers Watson
- Clutch rating
- 4.9 (24 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $25,000; $100–149/hour
- Strongest fit
- Companies that want a small, senior mobile team
Brightec’s Virgin Trains app won App of the Year at the UK eCommerce Awards 2023, according to the company’s website. Website.
4. GoodCore Software
- Headquarters
- Croydon (London)
- Founded
- 2005
- Team size
- 50–249
- Services
- Bespoke software, legacy modernisation, SaaS, AI, team augmentation
- Named clients
- London Women’s Clinic, GC Business Finance, GPWales
- Clutch rating
- 5.0 (31 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Website: small projects £25,000–£50,000, medium £50,000–£100,000, large £100,000+; Clutch: $25–49/hour
- Strongest fit
- Business systems and modernisation projects with a defined budget
GoodCore lists ISO 27001, ISO 9001, SOC 2 and Cyber Essentials Plus on its website, and says it has more than 20 years of delivering software. Website.
5. hedgehog lab
- Headquarters
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Founded
- 2006 (Companies House)
- Team size
- 50–249
- Services
- Digital product strategy, delivery and product management; mobile and AI
- Named clients
- AJ Bell, Aviva, Deliveroo, Santander, E.ON
- Clutch rating
- 4.8 (82 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $100,000; $100–149/hour
- Strongest fit
- Regulated industries and public-sector buyers
hedgehog lab is a certified B Corp and a Crown Commercial Service supplier, according to its website. Website.
6. One Beyond
- Headquarters
- Farnborough (Hampshire)
- Founded
- 1994
- Team size
- 250–999
- Services
- Bespoke software, digital engineering, cloud, testing, team augmentation
- Named clients
- LCH (AI case study on its website); other client names not published on Clutch
- Clutch rating
- 4.8 (55 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $50,000; $50–99/hour
- Strongest fit
- Larger organisations modernising Microsoft .NET and Azure estates
One Beyond has engineering centres in London and Manchester and in Madrid, Budapest and Szeged, according to its Clutch profile. Website.
7. Sonin
- Headquarters
- Reigate (Surrey)
- Founded
- 2009
- Team size
- 50–249
- Services
- Product strategy and discovery, app design, mobile, web and IoT development
- Named clients
- Cambridge Audio, Caterpillar, The British Museum, Sheilas’ Wheels
- Clutch rating
- 4.9 (27 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $75,000; $150–199/hour
- Strongest fit
- Product-led teams that want strategy and design as well as build
Sonin has a second UK office in Edinburgh. Its website says it has worked with clients “since 2009”. Website.
8. Square Root
- Headquarters
- London (Stoke Newington)
- Founded
- 11+ years (per website)
- Team size
- Not published
- Services
- Bespoke software, mobile and web apps, AI, cloud, modernisation
- Named clients
- Aquinas Education, Coupay, Examfly
- Clutch rating
- Not verified
- Pricing signals
- Website: simple apps £10,000–£30,000; complex platforms £150,000+
- Strongest fit
- Buyers who want published price bands up front
We could not match Square Root’s UK business to a Clutch profile (a similarly named Irish firm is listed), so we have left the rating blank. Website.
9. Tappable
- Headquarters
- Bedford
- Founded
- 2011
- Team size
- Not published
- Services
- Bespoke software, business systems, MVPs, web and mobile apps, AI
- Named clients
- Marks & Spencer, ITV, Syneos Health
- Clutch rating
- Not verified
- Pricing signals
- Not published
- Strongest fit
- MedTech and compliance-heavy product builds
Tappable’s website reports a MedTech Breakthrough Award 2026 for the PatientGO app built with Syneos Health. Website.
10. The Distance
- Headquarters
- London and York
- Founded
- 2009
- Team size
- 10–49
- Services
- Digital product design, mobile and web apps, AI apps, automation and integration
- Named clients
- NHS, AstraZeneca, Bentley, EDF, Network Rail, Brother
- Clutch rating
- 4.8 (40 reviews)
- Pricing signals
- Clutch: projects from $50,000; $100–149/hour
- Strongest fit
- Enterprise and transport operators that need field and customer apps
The Distance says it has shipped “over 150 apps” and lists Cyber Essentials certification on its website. Website.
How to choose between them
Start with the size and risk of your project, not the size of the supplier. A first product or MVP needs a team that can cut scope and ship in weeks; a regulated platform needs a supplier with the certifications and the audit trail to prove it. Then compare how each shortlisted company answers the same questions: who will be on your project, who owns the code, how scope changes are priced, and what support costs after launch.
We cover those questions in detail in how to choose an app development agency in the UK, and what each stage of a project should cost in software development cost in the UK (2026). If you already have a brief, the app cost calculator gives a first estimate in a couple of minutes.
Want a second opinion on your shortlist?
Book a free 30-minute call. We will look at your brief, tell you honestly whether we are the right fit, and if we are not, which kind of supplier is.
Book a callFrequently asked questions
Is this list independent?
No. It is published by Magora, which is one of the ten companies listed and appears first. The other nine are in alphabetical order and are not ranked against each other; every company was assessed on the same criteria, and every figure links to the company’s own website, its Clutch profile or Companies House so you can check it.
How were the companies chosen?
We looked for UK-headquartered companies with an in-house design and engineering team, at least ten years of trading, published case studies with named clients, and independent client reviews on Clutch where a profile exists.
How much does it cost to hire a UK software development company?
UK agencies publish very different price points: on Clutch the minimum project sizes of the companies on this list range from $25,000 to $100,000, and hourly rates from $25–49 to $150–199. For a breakdown by project type, see our guide to software development costs in the UK.
Should I choose a large or a small development company?
A larger company brings more specialists and capacity for long programmes; a smaller one usually gives you senior people on every call. Match the supplier to the size and risk of your project rather than to the size of its logo wall.
What should I ask before signing?
Ask who will actually work on your project, who owns the code and when, how changes to scope are handled, and what support costs after launch. Our guide to choosing an app development agency lists the questions in full.
Sources. Company details were taken on 29 September 2026 from each company’s website and, where it has one, its Clutch profile, linked in each entry. Figures change; check the source before relying on them. Companies that want a correction can email info@magora.co.uk.
Pavel Shevtsov
Pavel Shevtsov is a seasoned professional in the field of software development, currently serving as the Managing Director at Magora, a leading software development company known for its innovative solutions. With a passion for leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges, Pavel has played a pivotal role in Magora's growth and success.
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