Howdy.com vs DataArt: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Howdy.com (4.1/5) edges ahead of DataArt (4.0/5) overall. Howdy.com is the better choice for teams that want transparent nearshore pricing. DataArt is the stronger option for financial and travel firms needing long-lived dedicated teams. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Howdy.com vs DataArt: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Howdy.com | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 1997 |
| HQ | Austin, Texas, USA | New York, USA |
| Team size | 100–249 | 5,000–6,000 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay | Dedicated development centers with nearly 30 years of history |
| Pricing model | Engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) | Dedicated development center; time and materials; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | 1 engineer | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Databricks | Python, Azure ML, AWS |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce | Fintech, Travel, Healthcare, Media |
Howdy.com vs DataArt: 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.
DataArt
DataArt was founded in New York in 1997 by Eugene Goland and now employs between 5,000 and 6,000 people across more than 40 locations. Its Dedicated Development Center model staffs a team that works on one client's project only. An AI/ML group is actively hiring, with recent roles including a lead AI/ML engineer for an HR copilot built for a French SaaS client.
Services and capabilities: Howdy.com vs DataArt
| Capability | Howdy.com | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DataArt
| Framework / platform | Howdy.com | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS SageMaker | N/A | N/A |
| Azure ML | N/A | ✓ |
| Databricks | ✓ | ✓ |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Howdy.com vs DataArt
| Criterion | Howdy.com | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DataArt
| Dimension | Howdy.com | DataArt |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare | Fintech, Travel, Healthcare |
| 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 | Setting up a long-term dedicated team that includes ML engineers, Adding an LLM engineer to a SaaS copilot project |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Dedicated team |
Howdy.com vs DataArt: 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 |
| DataArt | |
|---|---|
| + | Long-running dedicated teams with low churn |
| + | Strong presence in finance and travel |
| + | Wide location choice |
| - | Built for multi-year centers more than quick single hires |
| - | AI/ML group is still growing |
| - | Enterprise pricing |
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 DataArt?
A typical fit: setting up a long-term dedicated team that includes ML engineers.
Dedicated development centers with nearly 30 years of history. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, Travel, Healthcare, Media.
Decision matrix: Howdy.com vs DataArt
| 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 DataArt (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 DataArt
| Use case | Howdy.com fit | DataArt 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 |
| Setting up a long-term dedicated team that includes ML engineers | Limited | Strong | DataArt |
| Adding an LLM engineer to a SaaS copilot project | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Howdy.com vs DataArt
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.
DataArt (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need adding an LLM engineer to a SaaS copilot project. If your situation matches that, DataArt is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Howdy.com vs DataArt FAQ
Is Howdy.com better than DataArt?
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. DataArt's strongest advantage: long-running dedicated teams with low churn.
How do Howdy.com and DataArt differ in pricing?
Howdy.com uses engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 engineer. DataArt uses dedicated development center; time and materials; 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 DataArt?
DataArt 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 DataArt?
Howdy.com's primary differentiator is: published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay. DataArt's primary differentiator is: dedicated development centers with nearly 30 years of history. They also differ in team size (100–249 vs 5,000–6,000), minimum engagement (1 engineer vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs Fintech, Travel).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.