Nearshore, offshore or UK: which suits you?
Nearshore usually means a team in a nearby time zone, such as Poland, Romania or Portugal. Offshore usually means further away, such as India or South East Asia. Onshore means a UK team. Each has a place; here's a fair comparison.
The options side by side
| UK agency | Offshore (e.g. India) | Nearshore (e.g. Poland) | Let's Build Software | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How cost is kept down | Standard UK rates | Lower day rates | Lower day rates | AI-accelerated delivery |
| Working-hours overlap with the UK | Full | Partial | Most of the day | Full |
| Contract | UK law | Often overseas | Often overseas | UK law |
| Personal data | Usually UK | Transfer safeguards may be needed | Usually covered by UK adequacy rules | UK hosting or your own cloud |
| Release sign-off | Varies | Varies | Varies | Senior engineer, every release |
Published rates
| Market | Typical rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| UK contract software developer | Median £525 a day (middle half £428 to £575) | ITJobsWatch, six months to Oct 2026 |
| UK software agency | Roughly £400 to £900 a day | Elastic Mint UK cost guide |
| Asia, incl. India (vendor firms) | Senior $31 to $41 an hour; junior $24 to $31 | Accelerance 2026 rate survey |
| Europe, incl. Central and Eastern Europe (vendor firms) | Senior $64 to $76 an hour; junior $31 to $39 | Accelerance 2026 rate survey |
Sources: ITJobsWatch, Elastic Mint, Accelerance. Figures as published; rates vary by seniority and scope.
Cheapest per hour isn't always cheapest overall
Compare total cost, not day rates: the time your own people spend writing specifications and managing the work, the rework when requirements are misread, and the cost of delay.
We keep costs down by changing how software is built, not by paying people less. AI drafts the code, tests and documentation from a specification we agree with you. Senior engineers then review, harden and sign off every release before it reaches your users.
You get a fixed quote, a UK contract, UK working hours and software you own outright, with payment plans to spread the cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is nearshore software development?
Outsourcing to a team in a nearby country with similar working hours. For UK buyers that often means Central or Eastern Europe, or Portugal.
How much do working hours overlap?
Most of Europe is one or two hours ahead of the UK, so overlap is high. India is four and a half or five and a half hours ahead depending on the season, so overlap is partial.
Are there data rules for offshore teams?
If personal data leaves the UK, UK GDPR transfer rules apply. Some countries have UK adequacy, others need extra safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement.
Is the cheapest hourly rate the cheapest overall?
Not always. Management time, rework and delays can outweigh a lower rate. Compare fixed quotes for the same specification.
Tell us what you'd build
A senior software engineer reads every enquiry and replies within two working days with an honest view of cost and timeline. Payment plans are available.
Last updated 19 October 2026.