DataArt vs LeewayHertz: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
DataArt (4.0/5) edges ahead of LeewayHertz (3.6/5) overall. DataArt is the better choice for finance and healthcare firms extending data and AI teams. LeewayHertz is the stronger option for hackett Group clients adding GenAI developers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
DataArt vs LeewayHertz: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | DataArt | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 | 2007 |
| HQ | New York, New York, USA | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Team size | 5,000+ | 100–250 (sources vary) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Nearly three decades of domain work in finance, healthcare and travel | GenAI app development backed by a public consulting parent |
| Pricing model | Time and materials; dedicated teams; rates on request | Project pricing and hire-a-developer rates; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, Spark, Databricks | Python, LangChain, OpenAI |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Travel, Media | Financial services, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS |
DataArt vs LeewayHertz: overview
DataArt
DataArt was founded in New York in 1997 by Eugene Goland, who still leads it. Reported headcount ranges from about 4,000 to more than 6,000 across 30 to 40 locations. The firm builds data, analytics and AI platforms and works heavily in finance, healthcare and travel. Clients can bring in DataArt engineers as part of their own team or contract a full delivery team.
LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz was founded in 2007 and lists a San Francisco address, with much of its staff in India. Headcount estimates range from roughly 60 to 500. The Hackett Group acquired it in September 2024 for $7.8 million in purchase consideration, according to Hackett's SEC filings, and the two set up a joint venture called ZBrain XPLR. Its main business is building GenAI applications, and it hires out engineers as a secondary service.
Services and capabilities: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Capability | DataArt | 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: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Framework / platform | DataArt | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | ✓ |
| OpenAI | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Databricks | ✓ | N/A |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Criterion | DataArt | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team, Managed delivery | Managed delivery, Full-time dedicated engineers |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Dimension | DataArt | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Travel | Financial services, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS |
| Best use cases | Extending a trading firm's data team with ML engineers, Building a clinical data platform before adding models | Adding a GenAI developer to a Hackett-led consulting program, Building a RAG assistant for internal documents |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Managed delivery |
DataArt vs LeewayHertz: pros and cons
| DataArt | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep domain knowledge in regulated sectors |
| + | Strong data-platform engineering supports AI work |
| + | Long client relationships suggest stable delivery |
| - | AI specialists are a small share of a broad workforce |
| - | Headcount figures vary considerably between sources |
| - | Engagements often lean toward managed delivery |
| LeewayHertz | |
|---|---|
| + | Long experience shipping GenAI applications |
| + | Hackett ownership adds a consulting channel |
| + | Builds agents and RAG systems |
| - | Acquired by The Hackett Group in 2024, so priorities may follow the parent's consulting work |
| - | Headcount estimates vary widely |
| - | Heavy content marketing makes independent assessment harder |
Who should choose DataArt?
A typical fit: extending a trading firm's data team with ML engineers.
Nearly three decades of domain work in finance, healthcare and travel. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Travel, Media.
Who should choose LeewayHertz?
A typical fit: adding a GenAI developer to a Hackett-led consulting program.
GenAI app development backed by a public consulting parent. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS.
Decision matrix: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need a dedicated team for a long programme | DataArt |
| You want the supplier to own delivery as well as staffing | Both; DataArt rates higher overall |
| You need one expert part-time | Neither lists part-time experts; ask about reduced hours |
| You want to test an engineer before signing for months | Neither publishes a trial; ask for a short first term |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: DataArt (Not published) vs LeewayHertz (Not published) |
| You need overlap with U.S. working hours | Neither is nearshore; agree overlap hours up front |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | DataArt |
Use case fit: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
| Use case | DataArt fit | LeewayHertz fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extending a trading firm's data team with ML engineers | Strong | Limited | DataArt |
| Building a clinical data platform before adding models | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Adding a GenAI developer to a Hackett-led consulting program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Building a RAG assistant for internal documents | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: DataArt vs LeewayHertz
DataArt (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staff Augmentation projects. Nearly three decades of domain work in finance, healthcare and travel.
LeewayHertz (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need building a RAG assistant for internal documents. If your situation matches that, LeewayHertz is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
DataArt vs LeewayHertz FAQ
Is DataArt better than LeewayHertz?
DataArt (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. DataArt's strongest advantage: deep domain knowledge in regulated sectors. LeewayHertz's strongest advantage: long experience shipping GenAI applications.
How do DataArt and LeewayHertz differ in pricing?
DataArt uses time and materials; dedicated teams; rates on request pricing. LeewayHertz uses project pricing and hire-a-developer rates; 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: DataArt 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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between DataArt and LeewayHertz?
DataArt's primary differentiator is: nearly three decades of domain work in finance, healthcare and travel. LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: GenAI app development backed by a public consulting parent. They also differ in team size (5,000+ vs 100–250 (sources vary)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences vs Financial services, Retail & e-commerce).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.