Netguru vs EPAM Systems: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Netguru (4.0/5) edges ahead of EPAM Systems (3.9/5) overall. Netguru is the better choice for consumer brands adding AI to digital products. EPAM Systems is the stronger option for global enterprises with large, compliance-heavy AI programs. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Netguru vs EPAM Systems: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Netguru | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 1993 |
| HQ | Poznań, Poland | Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Team size | 500–999 | 62,850 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Design and product talent alongside AI engineers | Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications |
| Pricing model | Time and materials; team augmentation; rates on request | Enterprise time and materials; dedicated teams; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, OpenAI, LangChain | Claude, OpenAI, Gemini |
| Industries served | Retail and e-commerce, Fintech, Proptech, Mobility | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Travel |
Netguru vs EPAM Systems: overview
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.
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.
Services and capabilities: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| Capability | Netguru | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| Framework / platform | Netguru | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | ✓ |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| Criterion | Netguru | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| Dimension | Netguru | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail and e-commerce, Fintech, Proptech | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail |
| Best use cases | Adding an LLM feature team to a consumer app, Augmenting a retailer's digital team with GenAI and design skills | Staffing a multi-team GenAI program at a global bank, Adding certified Claude engineers to an enterprise AI platform |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Dedicated team |
Netguru vs EPAM Systems: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Decision matrix: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| 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 | Netguru |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Netguru (Not disclosed) vs EPAM Systems (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: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
| Use case | Netguru fit | EPAM Systems fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding an LLM feature team to a consumer app | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Augmenting a retailer's digital team with GenAI and design skills | Strong | Limited | Netguru |
| Staffing a multi-team GenAI program at a global bank | Limited | Strong | EPAM Systems |
| Adding certified Claude engineers to an enterprise AI platform | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Netguru vs EPAM Systems
Netguru (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Design and product talent alongside AI engineers.
EPAM Systems (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need adding certified Claude engineers to an enterprise AI platform. If your situation matches that, EPAM Systems is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Netguru vs EPAM Systems FAQ
Is Netguru better than EPAM Systems?
Netguru (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Netguru's strongest advantage: well-known enterprise and consumer client list. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: largest bench on this list, with security and compliance processes to match.
How do Netguru and EPAM Systems differ in pricing?
Netguru uses time and materials; team augmentation; rates on request pricing. EPAM Systems uses enterprise time and materials; dedicated teams; 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: Netguru or EPAM Systems?
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 Netguru and EPAM Systems?
Netguru's primary differentiator is: design and product talent alongside AI engineers. EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: Scale, compliance maturity and vendor certifications. They also differ in team size (500–999 vs 62,850), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Retail and e-commerce, Fintech vs Fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.