EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
EPAM Systems (4.6/5) edges ahead of LeewayHertz (3.6/5) overall. EPAM Systems is the better choice for large enterprises, regulated industries, multi-team AI programs. 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.
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 2007 |
| HQ | Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Team size | 61,000+ | 100–250 (sources vary) |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Thousands of certified GenAI engineers inside a publicly listed firm with enterprise security and procurement processes | GenAI app development backed by a public consulting parent |
| Pricing model | Time and materials for augmented engineers; dedicated team and managed program contracts; rates on request | Project pricing and hire-a-developer rates; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | Python, LangChain, OpenAI |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS, Travel, Manufacturing | Financial services, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS |
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: overview
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with roughly 61,000 employees across delivery centers in Europe, the Americas and Asia. It is a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. On its Q2 2026 earnings call, management said EPAM had more than 5,700 Anthropic-certified engineers and was among the five largest certified partners worldwide, with AI-native work making up about 11% of revenue. EPAM employs its engineers directly and sells them as augmented capacity, dedicated teams or managed programs, though most large accounts end up in the managed model.
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: 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 |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | ✓ |
| OpenAI | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Databricks | ✓ | N/A |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | 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: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Dimension | EPAM Systems | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail & e-commerce | Financial services, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS |
| Best use cases | Adding a 15-person GenAI squad to a bank's existing platform team, Rolling out agentic workflows across several business units under one master agreement | 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 |
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz: pros and cons
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | A Q2 2026 earnings call put its Anthropic-certified engineer count above 5,700, the largest verified GenAI bench on this list |
| + | Public-company reporting, audited financials and mature security reviews make vendor onboarding easier at banks and insurers |
| + | Can staff ten or more AI engineers in parallel across several time zones without running out of senior people |
| + | Deep data-platform practice means LLM work and the data engineering under it can come from one supplier |
| - | Rates are among the highest on this list and are only shared after scoping |
| - | Small requests for one or two engineers rarely get the same attention as large programs |
| - | Engagements tend to drift toward managed delivery, which moves decisions away from your own team |
| 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 EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: adding a 15-person GenAI squad to a bank's existing platform team.
Thousands of certified GenAI engineers inside a publicly listed firm with enterprise security and procurement processes. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail & e-commerce, Software & SaaS, Travel, Manufacturing.
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: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need a dedicated team for a long programme | EPAM Systems |
| You want the supplier to own delivery as well as staffing | Both; EPAM Systems 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: EPAM Systems (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 | EPAM Systems |
Use case fit: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
| Use case | EPAM Systems fit | LeewayHertz fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding a 15-person GenAI squad to a bank's existing platform team | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Rolling out agentic workflows across several business units under one master agreement | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| Adding a GenAI developer to a Hackett-led consulting program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Building a RAG assistant for internal documents | Limited | Strong | LeewayHertz |
Verdict: EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz
EPAM Systems (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staff Augmentation projects. Thousands of certified GenAI engineers inside a publicly listed firm with enterprise security and procurement processes.
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
EPAM Systems vs LeewayHertz FAQ
Is EPAM Systems better than LeewayHertz?
EPAM Systems (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: a Q2 2026 earnings call put its Anthropic-certified engineer count above 5,700, the largest verified GenAI bench on this list. LeewayHertz's strongest advantage: long experience shipping GenAI applications.
How do EPAM Systems and LeewayHertz differ in pricing?
EPAM Systems uses time and materials for augmented engineers; dedicated team and managed program contracts; 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: 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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between EPAM Systems and LeewayHertz?
EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: thousands of certified GenAI engineers inside a publicly listed firm with enterprise security and procurement processes. LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: GenAI app development backed by a public consulting parent. They also differ in team size (61,000+ 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.