An app development company is a firm that designs, builds, tests and maintains software applications for clients, typically native or cross-platform mobile apps for iOS and Android together with the web front ends, back-end services and cloud infrastructure those apps depend on. The market ranges from listed engineering services groups with tens of thousands of staff to independent studios of a few hundred people that concentrate on product design and mobile delivery.
This list covers twelve firms that publish verifiable information about their size and history and that offer custom application development as a client service. It deliberately mixes large public or formerly public engineering groups such as EPAM Systems and Globant with independent specialists from Poland, Croatia and the United States. Entries are ordered by the most recent headcount each company has published, as explained in the methodology section.
Contents
- What an app development company does
- Methodology
- The list
- Comparison table
- Consolidation and rebrands
- Frequently asked questions
- See also
What an app development company does
Client engagements usually move through discovery and product strategy, user-experience and interface design, engineering, quality assurance, release to the app stores, and ongoing maintenance. Larger firms sell these phases as part of broader digital-transformation programmes that also cover data platforms, cloud migration and, increasingly, AI services; smaller studios more often sell a fixed product team for a defined build.
Most firms in this list deliver from engineering centres in lower-cost regions while selling into North America and Western Europe. EPAM names India, Ukraine, Poland, Mexico and Belarus among its large delivery locations, Endava started in London and expanded into delivery centres in Central Europe and Latin America, and STX Next combines a Poznań headquarters with delivery in Mérida, Mexico.
Methodology
Software agencies have no single audited league table, so this list uses a transparent and checkable proxy: the most recent total headcount published by the company itself, either in a regulatory filing or results release (for listed companies) or on the company's own website (for private firms). Larger firms are ranked higher. Headcount measures delivery capacity, not quality, and the ordering should be read that way.
To be included, a company had to (1) offer custom web or mobile application development to third-party clients, (2) operate under its current name and domain as of November 2026, and (3) publish a headcount figure that could be opened and checked. Figures from listed companies come from results published in 2025 or 2026; private-company figures are self-reported and rounded (for example "450+"), and are reproduced as published. Revenue is given only where it appears in a company's own financial release. Client names are given only where the company names them on its own website. Ratings from review marketplaces were not used.
The list
1
NYSE-listed software engineering services group with roughly 62,850 staff
Best for: Enterprise-scale engineering programmes
EPAM Systems is a US-listed engineering and consulting group whose predecessor was founded in 1993; the current Delaware corporation was incorporated in December 2002. Its principal executive office is in Newtown, Pennsylvania. EPAM reported full-year 2025 revenue of US$5.457 billion, up 15.4% on 2024, and a year-end headcount of about 62,850, of whom roughly 56,600 were delivery professionals. Application development, including mobile, sits within a much wider portfolio that spans platform engineering, data and AI work. Its 10-K identifies India, Ukraine, Poland, Mexico and Belarus among its main delivery locations. The firm is best suited to large enterprises running multi-year programmes rather than single-app projects.
- Founded
- 1993 (predecessor); incorporated 2002
- Headquarters
- Newtown, Pennsylvania, US
- Headcount
- c. 62,850 (31 Dec 2025)
- Revenue (FY2025)
- US$5.457bn [1]
- Listing
- NYSE: EPAM
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Audited financials and headcount published quarterly
- Delivery capacity across several continents
- Breadth beyond apps: data, cloud and platform engineering
Limitations
- Minimum engagement sizes suit large enterprises rather than start-ups
- Organic constant-currency growth in 2025 was 4.9%, well below headline growth of 15.4%
- Client names are not listed in the sources used here
2
Digital engineering firm founded in Argentina, listed on the NYSE
Best for: Design-led digital products for large brands
Globant was founded in Argentina in 2003 by Martín Migoya, Néstor Nocetti, Martín Umarán and Guibert Englebienne, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GLOB. The listed parent is Globant S.A., whose results are datelined Luxembourg. For 2025 it reported revenue of US$2,454.9 million, up 1.6% year on year, and 28,773 staff at year end, of whom 26,906 were technology, design and innovation professionals. The same release counts 944 customers that generated more than US$100,000 in the trailing twelve months and 336 accounts above US$1 million. The 2025 headcount figure separates technology, design and innovation staff from the total, reflecting a business that sells product design alongside engineering.
- Founded
- 2003, Argentina
- Headcount
- 28,773 (year-end 2025)
- Revenue (FY2025)
- US$2,454.9m [4]
- Listing
- NYSE: GLOB
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Integrated design and engineering under one contract
- Published client-concentration data (944 customers above US$100k)
- Large Latin American delivery base with time-zone overlap with the US
Limitations
- 2025 revenue growth was only 1.6%, and fourth-quarter revenue fell 4.7% year on year
- Scale and pricing are geared to large accounts
3
London-headquartered technology services firm listed on the NYSE
Best for: UK and European enterprise programmes
Endava was founded in 2000 by John Cotterell. The company is headquartered at 125 Old Broad Street in London and listed American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2018 under the symbol DAVA. For the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025 it reported revenue of £772.3 million, up 4.3%, and 11,479 employees. Endava grew from a single office serving clients principally in the City of London into a group with delivery centres in Central Europe and Latin America. Application development is one of several service lines rather than a standalone practice.
- Founded
- 2000
- Headquarters
- London, UK
- Headcount
- 11,479 (30 Jun 2025)
- Revenue (FY2025)
- £772.3m, year to 30 June 2025 [6]
- Listing
- NYSE: DAVA
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Founder-led since 2000
- Nearshore delivery for UK and European clients
- Audited annual results
Limitations
- Clients billing over £1 million fell from 146 to 133 during FY2025
- Fourth-quarter FY2025 revenue declined 3.9% year on year
4
Software consultancy founded in Chicago in 1993, private since 2024
Best for: Custom software and modernisation projects
Thoughtworks was founded in Chicago in 1993 and reports more than 10,000 employees across 45 offices in 22 countries. The company was listed on Nasdaq until 13 November 2024, when affiliates of funds advised by Apax Partners completed a take-private transaction valued at about US$1.75 billion. Since then it no longer files public financial statements, so no current revenue figure is available. Its application work is sold as part of custom software and modernisation engagements rather than as standalone app builds. Its about page names Nestlé Brazil as a client.
- Founded
- 1993, Chicago
- Headcount
- 10,000+ (self-reported)
- Ownership
- Apax Funds (since Nov 2024)
- Offices
- 45 in 22 countries
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- More than three decades of custom software delivery
- Global footprint across 22 countries
Limitations
- No public financial reporting since going private in 2024
- Few client names published on its own site
5
Custom software and app developer founded in 1998
Best for: Apps integrated with enterprise back-office systems
Itransition is a privately held software development and IT consulting company founded in 1998. Its website states a team of more than 3,000 engineers and more than 800 clients served. Mobile work covers both customer-facing and enterprise applications, and sits alongside ERP, e-commerce and data services. The only client named outright on the home page is The Economist; other examples are described anonymously, such as a US pharmaceutical multinational and a UK furniture manufacturer, while one named product, the investment platform TradeStops, is described as serving more than 30,000 North American investors. The firm suits mid-size and enterprise buyers who want application development bundled with back-office integration.
- Founded
- 1998
- Headcount
- 3,000+ engineers (self-reported)
- Clients served
- 800+ (self-reported)
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Large engineering bench for a private firm
- Combines app development with ERP and e-commerce integration
Limitations
- Headquarters location is not stated on the home page
- Most published case studies are anonymised
6
Product engineering firm founded in 2010 with 1,200+ staff
Best for: Apps built on Microsoft Azure and cloud data platforms
Simform was founded in 2010 and reports more than 1,200 employees, including over 350 platform-certified engineers. The company describes itself as a product-engineering and cloud partner, and its about page lists partnerships with Microsoft, Databricks, Snowflake, Datadog and IBM, along with AWS and Google Cloud badges and a CMMI Level 3 appraisal. Application development is delivered as part of product-engineering engagements that often extend into data and cloud work. Buyers looking primarily for app design may find the firm's emphasis on cloud and data platforms broader than they need, while those planning apps on Microsoft Azure fit its stated specialisms.
- Founded
- 2010
- Headcount
- 1,200+ (self-reported)
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Published cloud-vendor partnerships and CMMI Level 3 appraisal
- Combines app work with data and cloud engineering
Limitations
- About page names no clients
- Headquarters location is not stated on the about page
7
S
Software development and IT consulting firm operating since 1989
Best for: Healthcare and regulated mid-market apps
ScienceSoft has operated since 1989 and lists its US entity, ScienceSoft USA Corporation, at McKinney, Texas. It reports more than 750 consultants, engineers and architects, over 4,300 completed projects and more than 1,500 client organisations. Its mobile practice covers native iOS and Android as well as React Native, Flutter and progressive web apps, and the home page features a mobile app for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications and cites inclusion in the Financial Times ranking of America's fastest-growing companies and the IAOP Global Outsourcing 100. Named clients on the home page include Atlas Credit, bioAffinity Technologies and Alta Resources.
- Founded
- 1989
- Headquarters
- McKinney, Texas, US (US entity)
- Headcount
- 750+ (self-reported)
- Certifications
- ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO/IEC 27701
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Three ISO certifications covering quality, security and privacy
- Named healthcare app case study
- More than three decades in operation
Limitations
- Most named clients are small or regional organisations
- Project and client counts are self-reported
8
Poznań-based software house with a Python and cloud focus
Best for: Back-end-heavy web and mobile products
STX Next was founded in 2005 by Maciej Dziergwa, Peter Valkenburg and Andrzej Mleczko as the Polish branch of a Dutch company, became fully Polish-owned and rebranded in 2008, and has been majority-owned by the private equity firm Innova Capital since 2020. It is headquartered in Poznań, delivers from Mérida in Mexico, and has offices in London, Eschborn and Houston. The company reports more than 450 specialists, over 400 clients and more than 1,000 delivered projects. It holds ISO 27001 certification (2024), TISAX validation (2025) and AWS Advanced Tier partner status. Its work is concentrated in web and back-end development, with mobile delivered as part of wider product builds.
- Founded
- 2005
- Headquarters
- Poznań, Poland
- Headcount
- 450+ (self-reported)
- Ownership
- Innova Capital majority since 2020
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- ISO 27001 and TISAX for security-sensitive clients
- Nearshore delivery in Europe and Mexico
Limitations
- Only one client (VetMedux) is named on the about page
- Mobile is a secondary practice next to web and back-end work
9
Polish digital product consultancy operating since 2008
Best for: Commerce and marketplace apps
Netguru S.A. has operated since 2008, is based in Poznań and reports more than 400 people. Its co-founders Kuba Filipowski and Wiktor Schmidt remain on the leadership team. Clients named on its own site include IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX and its Otodom property portal, Żabka, Careem, Vinted and Delivery Hero. Netguru is a certified B Corporation and cites recognition from Inc. 5000, EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Forbes. The firm has also taken strategic stakes in the agencies Pilot44 and mohi.to, extending its reach into consumer-brand commerce. Most of its named clients are retail, marketplace and delivery businesses.
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Poznań, Poland
- Headcount
- 400+ (self-reported)
- Certifications
- B Corporation
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Long list of named consumer-brand clients
- B Corp certification
- Founders still involved in leadership
Limitations
- Recognition cited is largely business-growth lists rather than design or engineering awards
- Focus on commerce may suit other sectors less well
10
Zagreb-based design and development agency founded in 2005
Best for: Award-winning mobile product design
Infinum was founded in Croatia in 2005 by two engineering students who used prize money from an app-building contest to start the company, and its own timeline records 396 people in 22 teams in 2025. Its headquarters is at Strojarska cesta 22 in Zagreb. The agency lists an unusually long run of design awards, including Red Dot (2019, 2021), iF Design Award (2021, 2022, 2024), German Design Awards (2019), Awwwards (2015, 2016) and Anthem Awards (2024, 2025), plus Deloitte growth rankings in five years between 2013 and 2019. Infinum began as a mobile shop and still treats app design and engineering as a core service.
- Founded
- 2005
- Headquarters
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Headcount
- 396 (2025, company timeline)
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Extensive record of recognised design awards
- Mobile development has been a core service since founding
Limitations
- About page names no clients
- Ownership is not stated on its own site
11
Remote app and web studio founded in 2007, merged with 10up in 2023
Best for: Consumer iOS apps and enterprise WordPress
Fueled was founded in 2007 and reports a fully remote team of more than 300 people across North America, EMEA and other regions. In 2023 it merged with 10up, the WordPress engineering firm founded by Jake Goldman in 2011, adding enterprise WordPress engineering to Fueled's app and digital product work. Founder-emeritus biographies on its about page cite work for Victoria's Secret, Clinique and SoulCycle, and, from the 10up side, Salesforce, Hilton, Disney, WhiteHouse.gov and Google's Site Kit plugin. The company states that its work has been nominated for Emmy Awards and honoured with Webby Awards.
- Founded
- 2007
- Headcount
- 300+ (self-reported)
- Merger
- Combined with 10up in 2023
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Strong consumer-brand portfolio
- Combines native app work with enterprise WordPress engineering
Limitations
- Several named clients come from individual staff biographies rather than company case studies
- No office addresses published
12
M
Kraków-based mobile and AI product studio
Best for: Mid-size mobile product builds
Miquido is a Kraków-based studio that describes itself as having more than 15 years in the market, more than 200 experts and over 250 digital products delivered. Mobile app development is its core service. The firm lists a range of awards, including a Webby (2023) for best visual design, a Lovie Award bronze (2023), a UX Design Awards product-category win (2023) and a Mobile Trends award for best services app (2024), and it states that an app it built was included in Time magazine's list of the 50 best apps of the year. It also cites inclusion in the Financial Times ranking of Europe's fastest-growing companies. The studio's size makes it the smallest firm in this list.
- Headquarters
- Kraków, Poland
- Headcount
- 200+ (self-reported)
- Products delivered
- 250+ (self-reported)
- Pricing
- Quote-based
Strengths
- Mobile-first studio with recent design and app awards
- Smaller team allows closer senior involvement
Limitations
- Exact founding year is not stated on the home page
- Smallest delivery capacity of the firms listed
Consolidation and rebrands
Frequently asked questions
How are app development companies ranked in this list?
Entries are ordered by the most recent total headcount each company has published, taken from regulatory filings for listed firms and from the company's own website for private firms. Headcount reflects delivery capacity rather than quality. Companies had to offer custom app development to clients and operate under their current name in November 2026.
What is the largest app development company?
Among the firms reviewed, EPAM Systems is the largest by both headcount and revenue, reporting about 62,850 staff at the end of 2025 and full-year revenue of US$5.457 billion. App development is only one part of its engineering services portfolio, which also covers data, cloud and platform work.
How much does it cost to hire an app development company?
None of the twelve firms listed publishes a public price list; all quote per project or per team. Cost depends on scope, platforms, the delivery location of the team, and whether the engagement is a fixed-scope build or an ongoing dedicated team. Listed engineering groups generally target larger budgets than independent studios.
Is it better to hire a large firm or an independent app studio?
Large firms such as EPAM, Globant and Endava can staff many teams at once and publish audited financial data, which suits multi-year enterprise programmes. Independent studios such as Infinum, Netguru or Miquido are smaller, often specialise in mobile and product design, and may offer closer involvement from senior staff on a single product.
What happened to WillowTree?
WillowTree was acquired by TELUS International. Its former website now redirects to TELUS Digital, which states that WillowTree is part of TELUS Digital and that its web and mobile app development, experience design and product strategy services continue under the TELUS Digital name.
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