Ciklum vs Cleveroad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Ciklum (4.2/5) edges ahead of Cleveroad (3.9/5) overall. Ciklum is the better choice for enterprises wanting large-scale, internationally diversified product engineering. Cleveroad is the stronger option for startups wanting a US or UK commercial contact with Ukraine-based delivery. 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 | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Two decades of Ukraine-rooted delivery scale, now operating under a London holding structure | A multi-office footprint across the US, UK, and Ukraine rather than a single delivery location |
| 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 sits in London today, even though the company was founded in Kyiv back in 2002 and still runs a large share of its roughly 3,900-person team out of Ukraine. It positions itself as a full-lifecycle product engineering partner, taking a project from discovery through cloud deployment across cloud, data, and digital work, competing at a scale closer to SoftServe or GlobalLogic than to the mid-size boutiques on this list, and it broadened its geographic and skill footprint through acquisitions along the way. Buyers who prioritize a Ukraine-headquartered vendor specifically, rather than a Ukraine-delivered one, should verify current corporate structure before assuming this is still a Ukraine-domiciled company.
Cleveroad
New York, Los Angeles, Manchester, and Kharkiv are all Cleveroad offices, a spread the company built up since its 2011 founding around general custom software and mobile app development for startups and mid-size businesses. That geographic spread gives buyers a choice of commercial contact point outside Ukraine, at the cost of the narrow technical specialization some of the boutique firms on this list can offer. 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 software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Team extension / staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded & IoT engineering | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Enterprise modernization | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
| Framework / platform | Ciklum | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
| Python | N/A | 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 | An enterprise client that wants a large, internationally diversified engineering partner with Ukraine delivery roots., A product company needing delivery managed from discovery through cloud deployment. | A startup wanting a US or UK commercial point of contact alongside Ukraine-based delivery., A mid-market business needing general web or mobile app development. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Ciklum vs Cleveroad: pros and cons
| Ciklum | |
|---|---|
| + | Large delivery capacity built up over two decades, with real multi-team program experience. |
| + | Broadened its geographic and skill footprint through acquisitions rather than staying single-country. |
| + | Full-lifecycle product engineering practice, not narrowly staffing-focused. |
| - | Legal headquarters moved from Kyiv to London, so buyers wanting a Ukraine-domiciled vendor should verify current corporate structure directly |
| - | Scale and process overhead closer to an enterprise integrator than a founder-led boutique |
| Cleveroad | |
|---|---|
| + | Multiple commercial offices in the US and UK give buyers a choice of contracting entity. |
| + | Mid-size team suited to startup and mid-market project scale. |
| + | Over a decade of continuous operation since 2011. |
| - | General-purpose positioning without a clearly named technical or industry specialization |
| - | Kharkiv is one of several offices rather than the company's sole delivery base |
Who should choose Ciklum?
A typical fit: an enterprise client that wants a large, internationally diversified engineering partner with Ukraine delivery roots.
Two decades of Ukraine-rooted delivery scale, now operating under a London holding structure. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Financial services, Media.
Who should choose Cleveroad?
A typical fit: a startup wanting a US or UK commercial point of contact alongside Ukraine-based delivery.
A multi-office footprint across the US, UK, and Ukraine rather than a single delivery location. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| An enterprise client that wants a large, internationally diversified engineering partner with Ukraine delivery roots. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A product company needing delivery managed from discovery through cloud deployment. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A startup wanting a US or UK commercial point of contact alongside Ukraine-based delivery. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A mid-market business needing general web or mobile app development. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Ciklum vs Cleveroad
Ciklum (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IT Outsourcing (Ukraine) projects. Two decades of Ukraine-rooted delivery scale, now operating under a London holding structure.
Cleveroad (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need a mid-market business needing general web or mobile app development. If your situation matches that, Cleveroad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Ciklum vs Cleveroad FAQ
Is Ciklum better than Cleveroad?
Ciklum (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Ciklum's strongest advantage: large delivery capacity built up over two decades, with real multi-team program experience. Cleveroad's strongest advantage: multiple commercial offices in the US and UK give buyers a choice of contracting entity.
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: two decades of Ukraine-rooted delivery scale, now operating under a London holding structure. Cleveroad's primary differentiator is: a multi-office footprint across the US, UK, and Ukraine rather than a single delivery location. 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.