Top 15 Software Development Companies in London
There is a variety of choices regarding software development companies which are based in London, United Kingdom that have the potential of becoming a trusted partner. With our list of the top 15 firms in 2024 you can review and find a candidate that will suit your needs the closest.
We handpicked each software development company based on reviews, achievements, and the level of custom services they provide highlighting the most prominent options on the market right now. Our team also curated a guide that will help you discover what to look for in software companies and make informed decisions before stepping into collaboration.
The listed candidates are aimed at helping you narrow down your search for the right software development agency significantly. If you are looking for custom agencies that provide top-notch software services, consider reaching out to Limeup as our specialists have extensive experience delivering impactful solutions.
List of the best custom software development companies
Limeup
Limeup is a leading software development agency based in London, with over a decade of experience creating high-quality digital products for startups and enterprises worldwide.
The team of 70+ skilled software designers and developers has delivered competitive projects of different complexity, from MVP design to full-cycle product development having over a decade of experience we don’t overplay over hand when it comes to our skills.
Reach out to the Limeup team and discuss any software development challenges you might have.
The company specializes in building cost-effective solutions for fintech, healthcare, education, real estate, iGaming, and blockchain sectors. Limeup covers a comprehensive range of software development services tailored to the unique needs of each client:
- Web app development,
- Mobile app development,
- MVP development,
- Custom software development.
At Limeup, our developers don’t learn the ropes, they dive deeper into your project conducting research and analytics for the most fruitful results when it comes to your project. We clearly communicate with our stakeholders to fully grasp the established requirements and provide 100% match solutions.
If you would like to accelerate your research for the best software development companies and contact an industry leader that will guarantee a profitable solution, schedule a free consultation and get started with London’s top specialists. The team is ready to answer any of your questions and formulate an action plan.
Influential Software
Influential Software is an outsourcing development provider based in London that has been operating on the market for over 30 years, crafting software solutions for businesses of all sizes that generate a lot of buzz among the company’s customers and new leads.
The company has been flipping the script and providing various development services tailored to each client’s requirements. Influential Software has extensive expertise in entailing cutting-edge technology for fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and more industries.
Since its foundation, the Influential Software team has worked on more than 592 enterprise projects for over 112 clients worldwide, fostering new ideas for businesses. Among their notable customers are:
- Deloitte,
- American Express,
- London Stock Exchange,
- Cambridge University Press,
- Addison Lee,
- Qatar Insurance Company.
Enhanceable
Enhancable is relatively new in the software development business, building impactful solutions for funded startups and ambitious organizations and preaching that a successful project can be reached with teamwork and cutting-edge technologies.
Despite being an up-and-coming London company, Enhancable has worked on several projects with clients like SurvivorsPack and Ethical Equity.
Positioning itself as a digital innovator and reliable resource provider, the team strives to help businesses solve problems and deliver elegant software solutions that will be competitive.
Their team of skilled developers, designers, business analysts, and project managers provides numerous web development services. Interestingly, Enhancable provides guaranteed on-time project delivery. Otherwise, you will get a 15% discount.
AppDrawn
AppDrawn represents sole providers, London-based development companies promising to cover every aspect of project development. Over the course of its 23 years of operation, the company’s primary focus has been to help businesses develop software solutions that would modernize their functionality.
AppDrawn specializes in creating efficient technological solutions like billing and payments, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and customer-facing product development.
The company has expertise in various software crafting niches, such as logistics, fintech, retail, media, and entertainment industries. Among their notable clients are Renteq Highways, HSM, Wise Owl Education, Swervetracker, Beds & Herts, and LMC.
UMM Digital
UMM Digital is one of the few software providers in the UK with flexible payment models like partnership-based, milestone-based, success-based, and more.
The development teams consist of more than 100 applicants for every technology position. A rapid application development framework and digital innovation allow a company to save up to 40% of project time by implementing pre-built components.
UMM Digital has completed 750+ software products for companies, mainly from the financial, healthcare, and retail sectors. Their satisfied clients are from Fortune 500 corporations and nonprofits. One of the successful projects of UMM Digital is cooperation with Playmonk eSports, Belfrics, Uber, Toni n Guy, and the Royal Bank Of Scotland.
Flat Rock Technology
Flat Rock Technology is amongst London-based companies with a large team of professionals specializing in research, design, development, data analytics, testing, and deployment. With 400+ skilled tech specialists, the company offers various services covering the entire project cycle:
- Software engineering,
- Intelligent Automation,
- Cloud & Infrastructure DevOps,
- Support & Consulting.
The company is devoted to constantly improving its technical skills, which helps its clients grow and achieve their business goals more efficiently.
Recently, the company has developed projects like Hiddentec, a security tracking mobile app, and Marshall, a cloud-based application.
Rokk
Rokk represents an offshore software partner with in-house tech workers who create cutting-edge solutions. They offer design and development services for custom mobile and web applications, websites, etc.
Leveraging over two decades of experience, Rokk collaborates with businesses of all scales, from acclaimed enterprises to ambitious startups. Their motto is to provide the highest quality digital transformation tailored to each client.
With vast market experience, Rokk has partnered with world-famous brands, such as Mercedes-Benz and Channel VAS. They also proudly say they worked with UK government clients like HM Gov, business leaders, and one of the largest charities — Exeter City Community Trust.
Laracle
Being one of the fast-growing tech companies, Laracle has opened its doors in London. The agency strives to bring a new approach to development — simple, flexible, and more cost-effective. The company offers complete front-end and back-end services for clients to receive a smooth digital journey.
They also provide UI and UX design. Laracle’s team comprises full-stack developers, skilled project managers, UX/UI designers, and content writers.
Some clients they have partnered with include DogsTrust, Pepsico, Freeman, and Holland & Barrett.
Andersen
Andersen is one of the top-ranked companies based in London, with a 4.9-start rating on Clutch. Its team comprises numerous IT engineers, QA experts, UI/UX designers, and other technical specialists.
Andersen is one of the custom software development firms that provides a multitude of engineering services:
- Software development,
- UI/UX design,
- DevOps service, etc.
As an established provider, it has crafted over 1,000 projects for clients from the healthcare, fintech, and entertainment industries.
Andersen’s team members have participated in large enterprise development projects, such as:
- Siemens,
- S&P Global,
- Ryanair,
- IHS Markit,
- TUI,
- Johnson & Johnson.
The Beaverhead Ltd
The Beaverhead Ltd is among London’s most recognized corporations that help businesses improve their internal processes by delivering fit-for-purpose custom software solutions.
Using understandable language, the company’s tech specialists support clients and help them streamline the workflow, eliminating time-consuming, repetitive tasks. Beaverhead’s services include:
- Software design,
- Mobile and web application development,
- Customer relationship management,
- Enterprise resource planning,
- Project management tools,
- SaaS solutions,
- Third-party software integration.
Their proven portfolio presents collaborations with brands like Lazy Panda, Thriver, Pastorsline, Placepark, and Pjl.
CM System Designs
CM System Designs is a bespoke company in London that focuses on building long-lasting relationships with its clients by building impactful software solutions that improve businesses’ efficiency and scalability.
Working predominantly with SMEs, the company creates tailor-made digital solutions for each client’s specific requirements. Their services include bespoke management systems, software development, and legacy database modernization.
CM System Designs also offers business analysis and consulting that helps guide clients through digital transformation. PizzaExpress, Allware Systems, Forefront Ltd, and Franklin Commercial are among their trusted clients.
Sprint Innovations
Sprint Innovations is one of the companies in London that provides exceptional custom-built software, mobile apps, and AI and machine learning products which makes their team providers with a high ranking.
Their services range from software applications and SaaS platforms to developing chatbots, image recognition, natural language, and artificial intelligence solutions. Sprint Innovations helps businesses reach the next level in fintech, edtech, and real estate industries.
The company has gained reputable recognition by collaborating with brands such as Eurocom C.I., TowerEight, Grapevine, Summit, and more.
PioGroup Software
PioGroup Software represents a team of software engineers and tech professionals in London specializing in creating bespoke, robust, cutting-edge educational technology solutions. Being one of the agencies that is empowered by data analytics, the team takes on challenging projects and delivers elegantly built and efficient software and applications to make education more efficient.
PioGroup Software guides its clients through every stage of the project development process to create software products and applications. They work with businesses of all sizes and help small and medium enterprises, individual coaches, educational institutions, and startups develop.
Some of the services PioGroup Software provides are:
- Online learning platforms from scratch,
- Learning Management System (LMS),
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM),
- Human Resources Customer Relationship Management (HR CRM),
- E-recruitment websites and apps.
One Beyond
One Beyond is one of the largest development companies, providing software services for SMEs and enterprises, as well as funding startups for over 30 years.
Notably, the company won the Tech Leadership Team of the Year at the Thames Valley Tech Awards in 2022. It is also featured among the top 1000 product development companies worldwide in 2022 by Clutch.
One Beyond offers a multitude of development services, such as:
- Software development for enterprises,
- Product development and SaaS for established businesses,
- Custom business applications for SMEs,
- Software and applications for startups,
- Software for government and the public sector.
In the past 30 years One Beyond has become a reliable partner to Haven, Pearson, Costa Express, Haymarket, Hospify, and Intelligent Health.
Powercode
Powercode is one of the most innovative firms on our list that strives to aid businesses of all sizes to remain on top of an ever-changing technological industry.
Evolving with every new project, the company creates competitive software solutions that change the world, boost progress, and bring economic and social benefits. Powercode provides various services, including software integration and product design.
Having expertise in industries like e-commerce, healthcare, edtech, food tech, and real estate, they brought many success stories to life. Some include Hashtag you, Maritime Apartments, UniDats, RicePass, and Gemini Advisory.
Which company is the best for software development in London?
With such an abundance of choices it is certain that not all companies can be called the best. So what are the special criteria that make one development provider stand out from the rest?
Special features that set apart development providers from one another.
First and foremost, a custom software development agency must possess unparalleled expertise and knowledge in what they do. The best companies are capable of not only providing top-notch services but also being able to consult the client about different aspects of the development process.
Another factor that makes a vendor great is their communication style. When a business owner turns to a development organization seeking to make a high-quality solution they expect to be kept updated during all stages of the process. Hence the organization must make it their priority to ensure the client understands the stages and is satisfied with the result.
Speaking of satisfaction, the last but not the least important indicator of a notable software developer in their niche is the client satisfaction rate. The company is nothing without its clients, especially those that return for additional services again and again. Taking note of how former partners of the organization speak of them can demonstrate the level of integrity better than a lot of other descriptions.
Certainly, there are other factors that make one or another company tremendous and competitive. However we took a closer look at the three most prominent and comprehensible aspects that you can easily pay attention to.
Project progression with software development companies
Let’s say you are an entrepreneur looking to collaborate with a trustworthy partner. In that case, you may not be aware of the software development life cycle, especially when some agencies don’t have a detailed process on their websites. So let’s briefly go over it.
Steps of the software development cycle.
Any viable solution when stepping into a partnership with a software development firm starts with product discovery. This is where specialists collect project requirements from the client, perform market research, and analyze competitors to develop a thriving plan. The customers can also receive a strategic roadmap to visualize the final business outcomes.
Once the client has approved the project, the process of creating a wireframe and a clickable software prototype with visual design is set. At this point experts present what the product will look like and how it will function leaving room for potential tests with real users.
After the customer gives the green light, the architectural development begins.
Note: when looking for a software provider in London ensure they prioritize minimization of the number of iterations to ensure not a single step of the development process is delayed.
In later stages your software developers transfer the final product to your server. By now they will hand over existing product documentation, development notes, and source files to you.
Choosing partners in the United Kingdom that offer ongoing post-project technical support and maintenance is the way to go. With that option on the table you can ensure your software performs as expected after the project is complete.
The cost of partnering with a software development company
It is notoriously difficult to predict the final price tag for any given software without going into detail about the project. The cost of working with software development companies in London can vary depending on various factors. We can roughly break down several of these aspects that will paint you a picture of what the price is based on:
- Project complexity
- The scope of work required
- The team needed for the project
- Type of software for development
- The number of attributes and features
And that is only the tip of the iceberg.
Aspects that influence the cost of a software development.
Another thing to keep in mind that will affect the cost is whether you have a new idea for an award-winning product or want to improve an existing product. Based on that the software provider will carefully assess the extent of work to calculate the project quote.
Timing is also an essential factor that influences the price. Urgent projects usually cost more. Suppose you collaborate with custom software development companies with a large team on board to speed up project turnover. In that case this will also significantly increase the final price.
According to Clutch, the average hourly rate of developers in London varies between £20 and £250. It’s also worth mentioning that most agencies take projects with a minimum budget. On average you can expect software providers to estimate a minimum budget that starts from £8,000 to £20,000.
Hence, we recommend discussing the development processes and asking software companies for a quote before making any agreements to ensure everything is understood and presents reasonable.
What types of services do software development companies in London offer?
One of the factors to consider when sorting among software development agencies is the type of services they offer. Since you are likely to require specific offerings from a vendor you should pay attention to what capabilities they list on their official website. Let’s go over some of the common services offered by major agencies.
Main types of services provided by software development companies.
- Bespoke software development. By offering custom services, providers carefully gather requirements and discuss the project’s goals and needs in detail. It allows them to come up with a personalized strategy to achieve the necessary objectives tailored to the unique desires of the client.
- Web development. These services include building websites and web applications on the front end and back end with appropriate tech stacks. You may require web development if you are looking to build a new platform, a CRM, or a CMS and need help with cloud infrastructure, API integration and more.
- Mobile app development. This type of development is widely popular and often requested. A software development company can build applications for iOS and Android. Additionally, you get to choose one of two approaches: native or cross-platform app development, which entails the usage of different sets of tools and programming languages.
- MVP development. A minimum viable product is a practice that allows business owners to accelerate time-to-market by releasing a product with only the basic features to test the responses from the audience. This can majorly save on the development costs for unnecessary functionality and validate the product idea. For this providers develop low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes with suitable designs.
- UI/UX design. Design is an integral part of developing any kind of software as it controls how the users perceive the product visually and on the interactivity level. Well-thought-out user interface and user experience design can make or break the success of the software among the audiences. This service from bespoke software development companies usually includes stages like wireframing, mockups, prototyping, information architecture etc.
- Quality assurance. Testing is essential to ensure the software performs as intended and without bugs. There is a wide range of different quality assurance testing sprints that can be conducted to check for different issues, such as performance, functionality, UI, compatibility, security, and others This service can be requested as part of the stages of development or as an independent service for existing software.
- Support and maintenance. Maintaining your software after the project completion is just as important when cooperating with software development agencies. You want to ensure your team is quick to react to any changes with practices like constant monitoring, library updates, certification updates, backups, and data recovery.
- Consulting. Consultations are vastly valuable at any stage of the software development journey. Having a trusted partner by your side to share their insights and experience and guide you in the right direction can steer you away from unwanted decisions. IT consultancy covers a large spectrum of ideation, planning, project management, strategy development, etc.
Before collaborating with software companies in London, make sure they offer comprehensive services in the area you require. After all, you are likely to need assistance in more than one aspect.
How do you choose software companies?
Since London is one of the leading IT hubs in Europe knowing what to look for will be extremely helpful. When sorting out contractors for development you need to evaluate several factors. Representing one of the established UK software development companies we recommend considering the following criteria.
Features to consider while choosing a software development company.
The portfolio of works
Reputable software providers should have publicly available case studies with former projects and development works featured on their websites.
You want to look for companies with vast experience in your niche or similar projects using robust software development methodologies. That way they’re more likely to understand and meet your requirements.
When scrutinizing the portfolios of software development firms pay attention to the following information alongside with learning the ropes:
- Former client names
- Testimonials
- Project types
- Project duration
- The industry
- The team setup
- The testimonials
- The impact of the work
The last point on the list refers to the results achieved from the collaboration. The company should be able to describe the benefits and improvements the partnership brought to the client.
The online reputation
This point refers to all possible information, positive or negative, available online about your chosen London software development companies. We recommend conducting quick research to find unbiased information and honest opinions about the firms you’ll be sorting through.
How to check the online reputation?
Ways to check the online reputation.
The most convenient way to find needed information is to google it. Type the name of the company into the search bar and look for the following details:
- A LinkedIn page (company’s location and services).
- Independent reviews on Clutch, Trustpilot, etc.
- Featured articles in the media.
- Awards and accreditations.
Reviewing the online reputation will help you understand how active the given custom software development agencies are, how they operate internally, and whether they provide customer satisfaction with the products they deliver as a final result.
The collaboration process
The next critical factor in getting to the bottom of how the collaboration process with an organization from the United Kingdom typically looks. This would help to have a more comprehensive understanding of the development process. However another thing that will affect your final choice of a software company is the frequency and means of communication.
You should agree on how smoothly the feedback will be communicated and implemented into the work. Regular calls and daily updates with the project management and software developer team will help minimize the risk of misalignments. This will also ensure the specialists understand your feedback and implement the business value as needed.
Ideally, you want the team to set transparent communication by organizing regular calls via Zoom or related messaging services and keep in touch with collaboration tools such as Slack, emails, Microsoft Teams, etc. So neither you nor the company has to be back to square one.
Company’s trustworthiness
Does a company represent itself in a qualified way within a blog or posts in independent sources, does it have a LinkedIn account, is it supported by massive followers? Answering these questions will help you gauge the reputation of the contractor. Still, credibility is more about asking a company how they cut to the chase within projects and what they do when things are up in the air when it comes to the company reputation.
As the next step, narrow down the search and contact a few custom software development agencies as part of a free consultation to ask them more questions about their trustworthiness. This will shed the light on a company in few ways:
- Check for former customer names
- Find their loyal brand ambassadors
- Examine the scope of services.
Besides, it’s a great idea to ascertain and reach out to their employees or past clients to ask additional questions.
Established work process
An indicator of a solidly setup work process is the management that rises to the occasion to oversee the team and make sure they have a complete grasp on what the client is looking for. The custom software development companies have to investigate all the nuances about your project and adapt them to your business’s needs so that the final result will completely fulfill the required conditions.
Fostering a transparent work environment Limeup experts examine your needs firstly, so this way more prospects realize how we accomplish a project. Here are some more points to consider when you go through the list of possible partners:
- Does the company have established work process represented visually and verbally on their website?
- Are you able to examine their processes before even contacting them?
- Does their content hook you on and you would like to learn more about the company?
We have named only a few crucial questions to ask a candidate and you may have more in mind. It is also not a bad strategy to go off your gut feeling in regards to the given agency.
How to ensure software development companies in the UK follow requirements?
It is natural to assume custom software development firms will follow your requirements precisely. However the reality is that unexpected events can occur and lead to setbacks, delays, and iterations. So how can a client ensure a provider follows the project requirements and takes steps to prevent miscommunication? Let’s look at this pressing topic more closely.
First and foremost, you must make sure the initial project documentation is comprehensive and understood by every member of the team. It will serve as a road map leading the technical specialists in the right direction.
Be sure to express your needs regarding functionality, visual aspects, performance, and other vital elements in great detail. This will provide a more extensive visualization of your goals and minimize the risk of delivering unsatisfactory results.
When collaborating with top software development companies, implement the practice called user stories. This is a technique that provides a nuanced description of the features written from the end user’s perspective. It demonstrates how a certain functionality is supposed to function for a user and address their expectations.
User Story example.
It is a great practice in general to achieve a product that will be in demand with audiences. Pointing out how elements are supposed to function in real-life scenarios can also greatly aid in the team’s understanding of what you are looking to acquire.
Lastly, regular and transparent communication needs to be a priority at every stage of the development process. Set up review schedules to analyze whether the deliverables are aligned with the purpose and requirements. If anything is not how it should be it is best to detect it right away to minimize delays.
After partnering with a selected custom software development company, you should agree on selected channels and means of communication. This could be email, project management tools, messengers like Slack, video calls with Microsoft Teams and many other options that are available for you.
Using these methods, you can easily receive updates on the project’s status and voice any concerns you may have. Discussing communication styles with a chosen company before stepping into any agreements can save you unnecessary frustration and help you be prepared to control the process.
Why hire software developers?
The success of your project heavily depends on the development provider you choose and it is a no brainer to see the reason why. Partnering with experienced and skilled specialists can be a vital point of how your business idea ultimately turns out.
If you’re looking for a reliable UK software development company don’t hesitate to contact us. At Limeup, we have extensive experience developing software solutions for businesses from various industries.
Partnering with our skilled designers, developers, researchers and consultants will ensure your project is delivered on time and with all the required essentials. Receive impactful software solutions from our dedicated team to help your business grow.
Reach out to Limeup, and let’s pencil the consultation in to discuss how to convert your idea into a profitable product.