EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) edges ahead of Cleveroad (4.0/5) overall. EPAM Systems is the better choice for fortune 500 buyers needing AI at global engineering scale. Cleveroad is the stronger option for startups needing AI features inside a mobile or web product. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 2011 |
| HQ | Newtown, United States | Krakow, Poland |
| Team size | 62,000+ | 113-200 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice | Production-deployment discipline carried over from a decade of mobile and web delivery |
| Pricing model | Retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting | Fixed project or dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Azure | Python, React Native, AWS |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment | Retail & e-commerce, Healthcare, Logistics |
EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad: overview
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems was founded in 1993 in New Jersey and Minsk by Arkadiy Dobkin and Leo Lozner, and has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012 as a member of the S&P 500. The company employed roughly 62,850 people across more than 55 countries at the end of 2025, which puts it in a different capacity class from every other firm on this list. EPAM markets itself as a leader in AI transformation engineering, and its scale means AI work is one part of a much larger digital engineering and cloud transformation business rather than the whole of it.
Cleveroad
Cleveroad was founded in 2011, and public sources disagree on headquarters, with LinkedIn listing Claymont, Delaware and other trackers pointing to Krakow, Poland as the operational base. Employee estimates likewise vary, from roughly 113 up to a LinkedIn-reported 201-500 range. The company's roots are in mobile and web development for startups and enterprise clients, with safe, production-grade AI deployment positioned as a newer strength built on top of that existing delivery discipline.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Capability | EPAM Systems | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Machine learning | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI agents | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI consulting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Framework / platform | EPAM Systems | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | N/A | ✓ |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Dimension | EPAM Systems | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce | Retail & e-commerce, Healthcare, Logistics |
| Best use cases | Running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once., Needing a publicly-traded vendor for procurement or audit reasons. | Adding AI features to a mobile app already in production., Getting a startup MVP built with AI as one feature among several, not the entire product. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad: pros and cons
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Public-company financial transparency and stability that private firms on this list can't match. |
| + | Scale to staff multiple large AI programs across regions simultaneously. |
| + | S&P 500 membership signals enterprise procurement teams can vet it through standard due diligence. |
| + | Cloud partnerships span all three major hyperscalers. |
| - | AI is one line of business inside a much larger engineering firm, not a dedicated specialty |
| - | Enterprise scale typically means longer sales cycles and higher minimum engagement sizes than boutiques |
| Cleveroad | |
|---|---|
| + | Mobile and web development roots translate into disciplined production deployment practices. |
| + | Over a decade of delivery history across startup and enterprise clients. |
| + | Operates across four continents, giving flexible timezone coverage. |
| + | AI positioned as an addition to, not a replacement for, established product delivery skills. |
| - | Headquarters and employee count are reported inconsistently across public sources |
| - | AI-specific case studies are less prominent than the firm's mobile and web development portfolio |
Who should choose EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once.
Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose Cleveroad?
A typical fit: adding AI features to a mobile app already in production.
Production-deployment discipline carried over from a decade of mobile and web delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail & e-commerce, Healthcare, Logistics.
Decision matrix: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Cleveroad |
| 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 Cleveroad (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 | EPAM Systems |
Use case fit: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
| Use case | EPAM Systems fit | Cleveroad fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once. | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| Needing a publicly-traded vendor for procurement or audit reasons. | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| Adding AI features to a mobile app already in production. | Limited | Strong | Cleveroad |
| Getting a startup MVP built with AI as one feature among several, not the entire product. | Limited | Strong | Cleveroad |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Development projects. Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice.
Cleveroad (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need getting a startup MVP built with AI as one feature among several, not the entire product. If your situation matches that, Cleveroad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
EPAM Systems vs Cleveroad FAQ
Is EPAM Systems better than Cleveroad?
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: public-company financial transparency and stability that private firms on this list can't match. Cleveroad's strongest advantage: mobile and web development roots translate into disciplined production deployment practices.
How do EPAM Systems and Cleveroad differ in pricing?
EPAM Systems uses retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting pricing. Cleveroad uses fixed project or dedicated team 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 Cleveroad?
Cleveroad is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between EPAM Systems and Cleveroad?
EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice. Cleveroad's primary differentiator is: production-deployment discipline carried over from a decade of mobile and web delivery. They also differ in team size (62,000+ vs 113-200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Financial services, Healthcare vs Retail & e-commerce, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.