EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
EPAM Systems (3.9/5) edges ahead of LeewayHertz (3.8/5) overall. EPAM Systems is the better choice for global enterprises with large, compliance-heavy AI programs. LeewayHertz is the stronger option for companies already using The Hackett Group or ZBrain. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 2007 |
| HQ | Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA | San Francisco, USA (delivery in Gurugram, India) |
| Team size | 62,850 | 200–500 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications | GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform |
| Pricing model | Enterprise time and materials; dedicated teams; rates on request | Dedicated developers; fixed project; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Claude, OpenAI, Gemini | OpenAI, LangChain, ZBrain |
| Industries served | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Travel | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: overview
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with about 62,850 employees as of June 30, 2026, of whom roughly 56,650 work in delivery. It reports more than 5,700 Claude-certified engineers and set a target of 10,000, along with thousands of OpenAI- and Gemini-certified specialists. The company is targeting $600 million in AI-native services revenue for 2026. Its model is enterprise delivery, so individual staff augmentation usually sits inside a larger program.
LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz was founded in 2007 and, while it historically marketed itself from San Francisco, does most of its engineering in India. The Hackett Group acquired it in September 2024 to add generative-AI solution and implementation work, including the ZBrain platform. It offers dedicated developers alongside project delivery, though its public material leads with platforms and consulting more than staffing.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Capability | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| LLM / GenAI engineers | ✓ | ✓ |
| MLOps & deployment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Computer vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI agent development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fractional / part-time experts | ✗ | ✗ |
| Risk-free trial period | ✗ | ✗ |
| Nearshore time-zone overlap | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Framework / platform | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS SageMaker | ✓ | N/A |
| Azure ML | ✓ | ✓ |
| Databricks | ✓ | N/A |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Managed delivery | Dedicated team, Managed delivery |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Dimension | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail |
| Best use cases | Staffing a multi-team GenAI program at a global bank, Adding certified Claude engineers to an enterprise AI platform | Adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project, Staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Dedicated team |
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: pros and cons
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Largest bench on this list, with security and compliance processes to match |
| + | Thousands of engineers certified on major model platforms |
| + | Can staff any role an AI program needs |
| - | Built for enterprise programs; a single-engineer request is a poor fit |
| - | Highest overhead and slowest procurement on this list |
| - | Rates not published |
| LeewayHertz | |
|---|---|
| + | Long GenAI project history for a company of its size |
| + | Backing of a listed consulting group |
| + | India delivery keeps costs lower |
| - | Acquired by The Hackett Group in 2024, so priorities may follow the parent's consulting agenda |
| - | Staffing is secondary to platform and consulting work |
| - | Heavy content marketing makes independent verification harder |
Who should choose EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: staffing a multi-team GenAI program at a global bank.
Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Travel.
Who should choose LeewayHertz?
A typical fit: adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project.
GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing.
Decision matrix: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | EPAM Systems |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: EPAM Systems (Not disclosed) vs LeewayHertz (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | EPAM Systems |
| 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: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Use case | EPAM Systems fit | LeewayHertz fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staffing a multi-team GenAI program at a global bank | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Adding certified Claude engineers to an enterprise AI platform | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
EPAM Systems (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications.
LeewayHertz (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost. If your situation matches that, LeewayHertz is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz FAQ
Is EPAM Systems better than LeewayHertz?
EPAM Systems (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: largest bench on this list, with security and compliance processes to match. LeewayHertz's strongest advantage: long GenAI project history for a company of its size.
How do EPAM Systems and LeewayHertz differ in pricing?
EPAM Systems uses enterprise time and materials; dedicated teams; rates on request pricing. LeewayHertz uses dedicated developers; fixed project; rates on request pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: EPAM Systems or LeewayHertz?
LeewayHertz is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between EPAM Systems and LeewayHertz?
EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications. LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform. They also differ in team size (62,850 vs 200–500), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Fintech, Healthcare vs Fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.