If you’re searching for a UK app developer then you’ve come to the right place. The UK has been referred to as a “powerhouse” of the global app development market, and for iOS, Android and Cross Platform, the data backs it all up.
In 2019, 79% of adults in UK owned a smartphone. On average brits spent 2 hours and 34 minutes interacting with their smartphones on a daily basis, spending 1 out of 5 minutes on social media. 72% of mobile connections in UK were 4G.
The app development market naturally follows, with plenty of app developers both in London and beyond, another hub being Manchester. This guide looks at the UK app development scene in detail, counting up the cost of having a mobile application developed in the country. It covers what you should think about when choosing an app developer in the UK and then lists some of the best companies who operate in the country.
We have put this list of UK app developers together based on our own research, suggestions from our network and based on rankings and data from other third party sources and sites. The list is in no particular order, rather we have tried to aggregate and curate a range of useful suggestions for UK app development shops. Whether you choose to work with them or not is up to you to decide. This guide is divided into four sections, providing background on the market, typical app development costs and the best way to make your selection before providing some more details on specific app development companies operating in the UK market.
You can jump to the start of each section using the section headings below:
- The app developer market in the UK
- UK app development costs and statistics
- How to choose app developers in the UK
- Best UK App Developers
We begin with an overview of the app developer market in the UK.
The app developer market in the UK
It’s a strong one.
Revenues in the UK app developer market are forecast to be more than £31 billion by 2025, and according to a report by Vision Mobile, the economy will be worth more than £30 billion by 2030.
App developers can be found all over the United Kingdom, but the majority is clustered around London. Of its 8000 app-development-related companies (around a fifth of all European app development agencies), 31% are located in the capital, and about 25% of those in the south-east part of the city.
Location of app development companies in UK
Source: SlashData
It’s estimated that these together employ 380,000 people (though not all of them are developers – this includes designers, admin and marketing people involved in the app industry.)
With all signs that the industry is growing, what kind of prices can you expect to develop a mobile application in the UK?
UK app development costs
How do UK app development costs measure up globally?
Globally, an iOS mobile app development price tag is in a ballpark of $28,000, for Android its $23,000 and $18,000 for a Window Phone OS.
The UK has some of the best app developers in the world, and thus costs can be close to the global average. According to this app development price calculator, a single platform app could cost £ 38,000, while a two-platform app can reach £42,000. These costs are calculated for developing an app from scratch, with a multi-lingual interface, a user account, in-app purchases and custom UI design.
The amount a developer charges per hour also comes close to global highs. Below you can find a graph for the estimated minimum and maximum you can expect to pay hourly for an app developer to work on your iOS or Android app.
Median cost of mobile app development in select regions worldwide, by platform
Data source: Statista
The reason for the high price is quality: not only are some of the best app developers in the world found here, but many US firms have offices here – while not technically from the UK, they operate on the territory and raise the average.
Having had a glimpse of the cost and skill of the developers in the UK, how do you go about choosing one?
How to choose app developers in the UK
There’s a few things you should know:
Two major sections: the research you can do on your own, and the interview phase with the app developer, where you’ll explore their skills and expertise while they try to understand your business and your app. The research you can do at home is as follows:
- Review their portfolio: not only to see how many apps they’ve made and how successful they’ve been, but also to see which industries they’ve worked for. A niche social network app has vastly different characteristics and challenges to a mobile enterprise app for industry. Experience in your specific field of business is just as important as development skills.
- Recommendations: ask others in your industry who have launched successful apps to recommend a developer, or find out who made the most successful apps if there’s an industry benchmark.
- Check out our Market Place: You’ll find a wealth of information and app developer profiles in Business of App’s Marketplace.
Top 5 UK App Development Companies, by Twitter Followers
| Company | Twitter Followers |
| Fueled | 6.8k+ |
| Brightec | 5.1k+ |
| Waracle | 3.7k+ |
| Adapmi | 3.4k+ |
| Mubaloo | 2.7k+ |
Best UK App Developers
These the top app development companies with offices in the UK. They’re not ranked in any order, they’re just “the best.” We’ve gone for a mix of budgets, skills and expertise as well as made sure to choose companies from all over the UK, not just in London.
Top UK App Development Companies:
- Netsells
- The Distance
- Intellectsoft
- Rantmedia
- Borne
- Tapptitude
- 3 Sided Cube
- Eleks
- Juego Studios
- Apadmi
- Chelsea Apps
List of mobile app development companies in the UK
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 300+ | - | - | - |
Intellectsoft is a digital transformation consultancy that provides cutting-edge engineering solutions for global organizations. Each day companies ranging from startups to the world’s most recognizable brands, including Universal Pictures, Jaguar Motors, Qualcomm, Ernst & Young, Clinique, Bombardier, London Stock Exchange, Harley-Davidson leverage Intellectsoft’s creative solutions and mobile development services to enhance their products and maximize KPIs.
- Platforms: Android, iOS, HTML5
- Sector Focus: Construction, Healthcare, Insurance, Fintech, Logistics & Automotive, Travel & Hospitality, Retail & Ecommerce, Sports & Teams, Musicians & Bands.
- US Office: 721 Colorado Avenue, Suite 101 Palo Alto, CA USA 94303
| Founded | Employees | Social | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51-200 | 7k+ |
Netsells is one of the leading UK based digital agencies that will turn 10 this year. It has an expertise in native (iOS and Android) and cross-platform mobile app development. The agency has been serving clients of all sizes from more than 40 countries. Some of its top clients are Hiscox, Uber, Trainline and Capita. Netsells developers team specialities ranges from web design, web development, logo design to mobile app development.
- Platforms: Android, iOS, HTML5
- Sector Focus: Broadcasting, Jobs, Finances, Fitness.
- UK Office: Suite 3, Mill House, North Street, York, YO1 6JD
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 51-100 | 2.5 |
Tapptitude is a product studio that partners with funded startups and established brands to build interactive, mobile-first products that people love to use.
Tapptitude supports clients proactively throughout the journey from idea to launching a product and scaling it up. Startups and brands work with Tapptitude to define their product, design their prototype, develop their MVP and scale a successful product.
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Sector Focus: IoT, Media, Retail, Productivity, On-Demand Delivery, Retail, Real Estate, Automative, FinTech,
- Offices: London, UK, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11-50 | $1m+ | 2k+ | 2,000 |
The Distance team has a long history of being on the app development market. They have been developing apps since the first iPhone launched and its extensive portfolio of apps, they’ve built for brands ranging from household names to world famous companies, speaks for itself.
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Sector Focus: Advertising, Business Services, Healthcare
- UK Office: Cromwell House 31 Micklegate, York YO1 6JH, UK; 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, UK
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 500+ | $25m+ | 10k+ |
Eleks – Ukraine, Kyiv based app development studio with more than 1,000 employees and 25+ years of software development experience the company leverages to develop superb mobile apps. The company’s development offices are located in Ukraine and Poland and the sales ones are in UK, US, Estonia and Germany. The spectrum of Eleks specialities is broad, it covers data science, mobility, quality assurance and testing, R&D, blockchain, AI, Cloud, IoT, ML, logistics and more.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, HTML5, Mobile Web, Web Development
- Sector Focus: Retail, Fintech, Logistics, Media & Entertainment, Heatlthtech, Government, Agriculture
- UK Office: South Quay, London, E14 9GE, E149JL, GB
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11-50 | $25k+ | 9k+ |
3 Sided Cube is mobile and web development agency with range of expertise that covers Mobile Applications (iOS and Android), Web Applications, Digital Strategy, Rapid Prototyping, Web Development and WordPress. It worked with global brands such as American Red Cross, Boots, RNLI, LUSH, RSPB, Lloyds Banking Group and Nordstrom.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Desktop
- Sector Focus: Healthcare, Ecology, Sports
- UK Office: Telephone House, 18 Christchurch road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3NE, GB
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 11-50 | - | 1k+ | 400+ |
Rantmedia is a small UK-based app development studio with 15+ experience of delivering superb software for desktop and mobile. Rantmedia team is ready to work with companies of all sizes, from small startups to global well established brands. It was awarded with BAFTA for Technical Achievement by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Wales.
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Sector Focus: Sports, Games, Broadcasting
- UK Office: 22 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LJ, London, UK
- Key clients: BBC, TV/S Soccer, NHS, Project AWARE
| Founded | Employees | Traffic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 201-500 | 35k+ |
GeekyAnts is a product studio specializing in web and mobile development using React, React Native, Flutter, Vue, Angular, NodeJS, Laravel, Python etc.
On the services side, they have worked with around 500+ clients all across the globe. The services provided ranges from business analysis, web and mobile development, UI/UX design, product management, delivery & support.
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Sector Focus: Healthcare, Communication, Financial.
- UK Office: 7 Bickleigh House, Frogwell Close,
London N15 6ED, England, UK
Juego Studios is a mobile game development studio with a broad expertise that covers mobile game & app development, enterprise app development, art & design, Augmented Reality tech, VR tech.
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Sector Focus: Gaming & Entertainment, Banking, Education, Healthcare, Heavy Industries, Pharmaceutical, Real Estate and Automotive.
- Offices:#152, City Road EC1V 2NX, London, UK
- Employees: 50+
Borne – Not just app development but digital products at large. Established in 2013, highly creative agency, with a team of 20 professionals that develop for both iOS and Android, web, as well as UX/ UI design, branding, market research user strategy and product mapping. Clients include Shell, The British Army, Xendpay. gowithYamo, Bendi, Shell, Joseph Homes, Holiday Swap, BuzzHire, Unifi, Zeus, Sidekicks.
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Sector Focus: Social, Health
- UK Office: Workhouse One, 3rd Floor 6-8 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4BX, UK
- Employees: 10+
Apadmi is a mobile technology company that works with clients of all sizes to understand how and where to use mobile in their organization to make life better for customers and internal staff alike – delivering the complete solutions needed to make it happen. Their clients include Argos, the NHS, BBC, Co-op, United Utilities, AstraZeneca, Lexus, and Range Rover. Named Top UK App Developer 2018 by Clutch, Large UK App Agency of the Year 2018 (UK App Awards), Large Digital Agency of the Year 2018 (UK Agency Awards). The company works across all mobile platforms, from voice technology to Java and ASP.NET
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon Alexa, Windows, HTML5, Blackberry
- Sector Focus: Healthcare, Utilities, Retail Finance
- UK Office: Manchester (Trafford Park and city centre), London
- Employees: 75+
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10-50 | 1m+ | 5k |
Chelsea Apps – is a mobile and web app development agency with 70+ million mobile app downloads and generating in excess of £250m for its clients. The team is dedicated to crafting apps that make a real impact. People that work in Chelsea Apps bring to bear a blend of youth and experience with strengths in areas such as creativity, development, enterprise-level security and big data innovation. Chelsea Apps worked for companies likes of TFL, Ladbrokes, Waitrose, KPMG, Peace One Day and Telefonica among others
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
- Sector Focus: Retail
- UK Office: 30 Stamford Street, London SE1 9LQ, & Telephone House, 18 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3NE United Kingdom
- Employees: 10+
hedgehog lab is a global product consultancy which focuses on assisting brands and enterprises in achieving their business goals using emerging technologies. Its team services list consists of services that cover research & insight, product strategy, design, mobile & web app development, AI tech and a number of services for a products scaling – support, analytics and more. Among its key clients are Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Kodak Alaris.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, AR, VR
- Sector Focus: IT and Healthcare
- Offices: Generator Studios, Trafalgar Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2LA ; 41 Corsham Street, London, N1 6DR.
- Employees: 51+
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 51-200 | $60m+ | 2k+ | 14,100 |
| Founded | Employees | Social | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 500-1001 | 7k+ |
INT is an award-winning digital-first enterprise bringing innovative ideas to life since 1997. Offering simple and sustainable digital solutions with the confluence of technology, analytics and marketing, INT is the trusted partner of fastest-growing Agencies, SMEs and Startups across 20+ countries.
INT consultative & collaborative approach is analytics-driven. It helps enterprises to navigate every facet of the digital landscape, to identify growth opportunities, reveal competitive advantages, and define engaging experiences for their customers.
- Platforms: Android, HTML5, Mobile Web
- Sector Focus: Media & Publishing, Banking, Real Estate, Insurance, Government, Financial Services, Retail
- Offices: Kolkata, India, Mumbai, India
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11-50 | - | 800+ | 11,400 |
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51-200 | $6m+ | 2k+ | 19,000 |
Dev Technosys Pvt Ltd is an ISO 9001:2008 certified web and mobile app development company. The company’s key services include: iPhone App Development, Android App Development, Web Design & Development, Enterprise Software Development, CRM Consulting, POS Development, IoT Solutions, Quality Assurance & Testing, Mobile Backend Engineering , Ecommerce Development, On Demand Services
- Platforms: Android, iOS, iPad, Web Development
- Sector Focus: Tourism, Fashion, Fitness, Transportation, Healthcare.
- Office: 60 ST MARTINS LANE, COVENT GARDEN WC2N 4JS, London
- Employees: 51+
| Founded | Employees | Social | Traffic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10-50 | 7k+ | 125,000+ |
| Founded | Employees | Social | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,000-5,000+ | 5k+ |
iTechArt is a custom software development company that provides dedicated teams of hotshot engineers. It helps VC-backed startups and fast-growing tech companies build successful, scalable products that users love. Its team has a broad range of tech expertise – Angular, Ruby on Rails, PHP, .NET, Salesforce, QA & Testing, React, React Native, Node, Java, Mobile and Python.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows.
- Sector Focus: Wellness & Fitness, Foodtech, E-commerce, Fintech, Elearning, Real Estate, Event Management, IoT, HealthTech.
- UK Office: 41 Corsham Street, London, UK N1 6DR, GB
Octal IT Solution
Serving In 70+ Countries For Web, Software And Mobile App Development
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 51-200 | $27m+ | 7k+ | 92,700 |
Octal IT Solution is mobile app software development company that worked with companies ranging from start-up size to Fortune 500 corporations. The company was recognized by multiple research firms such as BWDA, Extract.co, GoodFirms, AppFutura, ITFirms, TeamHunt, Clutch. The company key clients include Oricom, Aviva and FIAT. Since it was founded in 2004 it completed over 700 clients and 3,200 web and mobile app development projects.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Mobile Web, Windows Mobile
- Sector Focus: Enterprise, Games, Sports, Social, Education
- Offices: Flat L04 Hester House, 72 – 78 Conington Road Lewisham LONDON SE13 7FL
- Employees: 150
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 51-200 | $1m+ | 1,5k+ | 21,000 |
Has covered a number of sectors in its portfolio, ranging from finance and travel to healthcare and music streaming. Miquido created the famous SkyScanner app, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times. Since 2011 delivered 100+ solutions for international clients and 20M+ satisfied users, grown from 3 to over 100 people in just 6 years. Winner of Google best apps of 2016 (HelloFresh), Webit Awards 2017 (Picniic)
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Sector Focus: Business Services, Finance
- Office: 1st Katharine’s Way London E1W 1UN, UK
- Employees: 100+
| Founded | Employees | Revenues | Social | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 11-50 | $1m+ | 5k+ | 28,400 |
3 Edge Technologies is an app design and development agency based in Jaipur, India and specialized in building full stack mobile products, with native technologies for iOS & Android devices. It has a team that specializes at app development, UX and UI design, product management, strategists, all focused on delivering full-stack mobile app development services to funded startups and strong brands looking to grow their business and innovate on mobile. There are several factors that allow this company to stand out the rest – high quality WordPress development service, 24/7 tech support, competitive pricing, transparency and proven Agile methodology.
- Platforms: Android, iOS
- Sector Focus: Real Estate, Travel & Hospitality, B2B, Healthcare, Education & e-Learning, Banking & Finance, Startup solutions, Media & Entertainment, Food Ordering solutions
- Uk Office: 33 Harbour View Road – Newhaven – BN9 9TT – UK
- Employees: 15
| Founded | Employees | Social | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 11-50 | 5k+ |
Pocket App
We lead in business mobilisation. Design, technology, flexibility and execution are our forte.
Fueled, based in New York, is an award-winning app designer, having delivered Drop, Afterlight and Nimble, to name a few of their projects. Fueled were also chosen by HBO to make a Game of Thrones app, which says a lot about trust! It features full-service mobile app development and strategy, support from strategy and planning teams for app development, focus on creating beautiful, engaging designs offering innovative user interfaces.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
- Sector Focus: Consumer products
- Office: 68 Hanbury St London E1 5JL, UK
- Employees: 50+
| Founded | Employees | Social | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51-200 | 5k+ |
| Founded | Employees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51-200 |
Mubaloo is one of the top UK mobile app development powerhouses. It was put by Deloitte on the Technology Fast50 list, was also shortlisted for the UXUK Awards, recognized by the Princess Royal Training Awards for e-Coaching app developed by Mubaloo. The company’s key clients include London’s Air Ambulance and Bang & Olufsen. It features full-service, enterprise level development and strategy creation, user testing, conception and app prototyping.
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, HTML5, Blackberry
- Sector Focus: Emergency services, Stock market, Telecommunication hardware, Healthcare
- Offices: 42 St John’s Square London EC1M 4EA, London, UK
- Employees: 50+
