Howdy.com vs KORE1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Howdy.com (4.1/5) edges ahead of KORE1 (3.9/5) overall. Howdy.com is the better choice for teams that want transparent nearshore pricing. KORE1 is the stronger option for U.S. companies that want to hire AI engineers onto payroll. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Howdy.com vs KORE1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Howdy.com | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2005 |
| HQ | Austin, Texas, USA | Irvine, California, USA |
| Team size | 100–249 | Not disclosed |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay | Direct-hire and contract-to-hire paths for AI roles |
| Pricing model | Engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) | Contract bill rate or direct-hire placement fee; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | 1 engineer | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Databricks | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce | Healthcare, SaaS, Fintech, Manufacturing |
Howdy.com vs KORE1: 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.
KORE1
KORE1 was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Irvine, California, serving clients in more than 30 U.S. metro areas. Unlike most companies on this list, it is a traditional staffing and recruiting firm: it places AI and ML engineers as contractors, contract-to-hire or direct employees of the client. It says it fills AI roles in an average of 17 days with 92% twelve-month retention (per company website; independently unverifiable).
Services and capabilities: Howdy.com vs KORE1
| Capability | Howdy.com | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 KORE1
| Framework / platform | Howdy.com | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | N/A | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | N/A |
| AWS SageMaker | N/A | N/A |
| Azure ML | N/A | ✓ |
| Databricks | ✓ | ✓ |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Howdy.com vs KORE1
| Criterion | Howdy.com | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | 1 engineer | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team | Contract-to-hire, Full-time dedicated engineers |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Howdy.com vs KORE1
| Dimension | Howdy.com | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare | Healthcare, SaaS, Fintech |
| 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 | Hiring a U.S.-based ML engineer as a permanent employee, Contract-to-hire for an MLOps role |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Contract-to-hire |
Howdy.com vs KORE1: 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 |
| KORE1 | |
|---|---|
| + | Only company here built around converting contractors into your own employees |
| + | U.S.-based candidates for roles that need on-site or domestic staff |
| + | Stated 17-day average fill time |
| - | Recruiter-led screening; technical vetting relies on your interviews |
| - | U.S. salaries make it the costliest option per engineer |
| - | Performance claims are self-reported |
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 KORE1?
A typical fit: hiring a U.S.-based ML engineer as a permanent employee.
Direct-hire and contract-to-hire paths for AI roles. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, SaaS, Fintech, Manufacturing.
Decision matrix: Howdy.com vs KORE1
| 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 KORE1 (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 KORE1
| Use case | Howdy.com fit | KORE1 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup | Strong | Limited | Howdy.com |
| Hiring a U.S.-based ML engineer as a permanent employee | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Contract-to-hire for an MLOps role | Limited | Strong | KORE1 |
Verdict: Howdy.com vs KORE1
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.
KORE1 (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need contract-to-hire for an MLOps role. If your situation matches that, KORE1 is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Howdy.com vs KORE1 FAQ
Is Howdy.com better than KORE1?
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. KORE1's strongest advantage: only company here built around converting contractors into your own employees.
How do Howdy.com and KORE1 differ in pricing?
Howdy.com uses engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 engineer. KORE1 uses contract bill rate or direct-hire placement fee; 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 KORE1?
Howdy.com 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 KORE1?
Howdy.com's primary differentiator is: published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay. KORE1's primary differentiator is: direct-hire and contract-to-hire paths for AI roles. They also differ in team size (100–249 vs Not disclosed), minimum engagement (1 engineer vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs Healthcare, SaaS).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.