MobiDev vs Howdy.com: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MobiDev (4.4/5) edges ahead of Howdy.com (4.1/5) overall. MobiDev is the better choice for retail and fitness products, one AI engineer to start. Howdy.com is the stronger option for teams that want transparent nearshore pricing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MobiDev vs Howdy.com: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MobiDev | Howdy.com |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2018 |
| HQ | Atlanta, USA (R&D in Ukraine and Poland) | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Team size | 201–500 | 100–249 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness | Published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay |
| Pricing model | Monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request | Engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) |
| Min. engagement | 1 full-time engineer | 1 engineer |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | Python, AWS, Databricks |
| Industries served | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness, Healthcare | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce |
MobiDev vs Howdy.com: overview
MobiDev
MobiDev was founded in 2009 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, opened its first U.S. office in Atlanta in 2011, and now runs R&D centers in Ukraine and Łódź, Poland. Its AI team-augmentation offer starts at a single full-time engineer and quotes up to two weeks to allocate someone (per company website; independently unverifiable). The company says 89% of its engineers are middle or senior level and reports more than 65 AI and ML products built, mainly for retail, hospitality, fitness and health clients. Headcount figures range from 201–500 on aggregators to 400+ on a regional IT directory.
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.
Services and capabilities: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| Capability | MobiDev | Howdy.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| Framework / platform | MobiDev | Howdy.com |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | ✓ | N/A |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| LangChain | ✓ | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | N/A |
| AWS SageMaker | N/A | N/A |
| Azure ML | N/A | N/A |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| Criterion | MobiDev | Howdy.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | 1 full-time engineer | 1 engineer |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team, Managed delivery | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| Dimension | MobiDev | Howdy.com |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Adding a pose-estimation engineer to a fitness app, Placing an AI engineer to build product recommendations for a retailer | Hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility, Building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Full-time dedicated engineers |
MobiDev vs Howdy.com: pros and cons
| MobiDev | |
|---|---|
| + | You can start with a single engineer instead of a whole squad |
| + | Senior-weighted bench, with a stated six-year average experience among lead AI engineers |
| + | Strong record in computer vision for fitness and sports products |
| + | U.S. and UK incorporation makes contracting straightforward |
| - | Much of the delivery team is in Ukraine, so some buyers will want to discuss continuity planning |
| - | Industry focus is narrower than the large generalists |
| - | No published rates |
| 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 |
Who should choose MobiDev?
A typical fit: adding a pose-estimation engineer to a fitness app.
Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness. Minimum engagement starts at 1 full-time engineer. Works best with clients in Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| 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 | MobiDev |
| Your budget is at the lower end | MobiDev |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | MobiDev |
| 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: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
| Use case | MobiDev fit | Howdy.com fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding a pose-estimation engineer to a fitness app | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Placing an AI engineer to build product recommendations for a retailer | Strong | Limited | MobiDev |
| Hiring a full-time LatAm data engineer with clear cost visibility | Limited | Strong | Howdy.com |
| Building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup | Limited | Strong | Howdy.com |
Verdict: MobiDev vs Howdy.com
MobiDev (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness.
Howdy.com (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need building a two-to-four person nearshore team for a U.S. startup. If your situation matches that, Howdy.com is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MobiDev vs Howdy.com FAQ
Is MobiDev better than Howdy.com?
MobiDev (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MobiDev's strongest advantage: you can start with a single engineer instead of a whole squad. Howdy.com's strongest advantage: fee structure is published, so you can see what the engineer actually earns.
How do MobiDev and Howdy.com differ in pricing?
MobiDev uses monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 full-time engineer. Howdy.com uses engineer salary plus a flat 15% service fee (published) pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 engineer. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: MobiDev or Howdy.com?
MobiDev 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 MobiDev and Howdy.com?
MobiDev's primary differentiator is: long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness. Howdy.com's primary differentiator is: published 15% fee on top of the engineer's pay. They also differ in team size (201–500 vs 100–249), minimum engagement (1 full-time engineer vs 1 engineer), and primary industries served (Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality vs SaaS, Fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.