Howdy.com vs Netguru: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Howdy.com (4.1/5) edges ahead of Netguru (4.0/5) overall. Howdy.com is the better choice for teams that want transparent nearshore pricing. Netguru is the stronger option for consumer brands adding AI to digital products. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Howdy.com vs Netguru: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Howdy.com | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2008 |
| HQ | Austin, Texas, USA | Poznań, Poland |
| Team size | 100–249 | 500–999 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay | Design and product talent alongside AI engineers |
| Pricing model | Engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) | Time and materials; team augmentation; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | 1 engineer | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Databricks | Python, OpenAI, LangChain |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce | Retail and e-commerce, Fintech, Proptech, Mobility |
Howdy.com vs Netguru: overview
Howdy.com
Howdy.com was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2018 by Jacqueline Samira, with Frank Licea later joining as co-founder and CTO. Unlike a pure marketplace, it recruits, employs and supports its engineers, and it runs in-country hubs it calls Howdy Houses in Latin American cities. In August 2023 it acquired the Brazilian talent marketplace GeekHunter, citing rising demand for AI and ML skills. A 2026 industry ranking lists its fee as a flat 15% of the billed rate.
Netguru
Netguru was founded in 2008 and is based in Poznań, Poland, with 500–999 employees according to several directories. It is a certified B Corporation whose clients include IKEA, Volkswagen, OLX and Vinted. Staff augmentation and delivery centers are listed among its engagement models, and AI development is part of its service line next to mobile, web and design work.
Services and capabilities: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| Capability | Howdy.com | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| Framework / platform | Howdy.com | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS SageMaker | N/A | N/A |
| Azure ML | N/A | N/A |
| Databricks | ✓ | N/A |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| Criterion | Howdy.com | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | 1 engineer | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team | Dedicated team, Managed delivery |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| Dimension | Howdy.com | Netguru |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare | Retail and e-commerce, Fintech, Proptech |
| Best use cases | Hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility, Building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup | Adding an LLM feature team to a consumer app, Augmenting a retailer's digital team with GenAI and design skills |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Dedicated team |
Howdy.com vs Netguru: pros and cons
| Howdy.com | |
|---|---|
| + | Fee structure is published, so you can see what the engineer actually earns |
| + | Engineers are employed and supported locally, which helps retention |
| + | GeekHunter acquisition widened its Brazilian candidate pool |
| + | U.S. time zones |
| - | AI depth depends on who is available; it is a general engineering staffing company |
| - | Disclosure: acquired GeekHunter in 2023, so part of its candidate supply comes through a marketplace subsidiary |
| - | Technical screening is lighter than at AI-only companies |
| Netguru | |
|---|---|
| + | Well-known enterprise and consumer client list |
| + | Product designers and engineers can join together |
| + | B Corp certification may matter to ESG-focused buyers |
| - | AI is a newer service line within a product agency |
| - | Agency rates sit at the higher end for Poland |
| - | Less suited to single-seat ML hires |
Who should choose Howdy.com?
A typical fit: hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility.
Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay. Minimum engagement starts at 1 engineer. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce.
Who should choose Netguru?
A typical fit: adding an LLM feature team to a consumer app.
Design and product talent alongside AI engineers. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail and e-commerce, Fintech, Proptech, Mobility.
Decision matrix: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| 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 | Howdy.com |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Howdy.com (1 engineer) vs Netguru (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Howdy.com |
| 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: Howdy.com vs Netguru
| Use case | Howdy.com fit | Netguru fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility | Strong | Limited | Howdy.com |
| Building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup | Strong | Limited | Howdy.com |
| Adding an LLM feature team to a consumer app | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Augmenting a retailer's digital team with GenAI and design skills | Limited | Strong | Netguru |
Verdict: Howdy.com vs Netguru
Howdy.com (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay.
Netguru (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need augmenting a retailer's digital team with GenAI and design skills. If your situation matches that, Netguru is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Howdy.com vs Netguru FAQ
Is Howdy.com better than Netguru?
Howdy.com (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Howdy.com's strongest advantage: fee structure is published, so you can see what the engineer actually earns. Netguru's strongest advantage: well-known enterprise and consumer client list.
How do Howdy.com and Netguru differ in pricing?
Howdy.com uses engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 engineer. Netguru uses time and materials; team augmentation; 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: Howdy.com or Netguru?
Netguru 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 Howdy.com and Netguru?
Howdy.com's primary differentiator is: published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay. Netguru's primary differentiator is: design and product talent alongside AI engineers. They also differ in team size (100–249 vs 500–999), minimum engagement (1 engineer vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs Retail and e-commerce, Fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.