MobiDev vs KORE1: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MobiDev (4.4/5) edges ahead of KORE1 (3.9/5) overall. MobiDev is the better choice for retail and fitness products, one AI engineer to start. 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.
MobiDev vs KORE1: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MobiDev | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2005 |
| HQ | Atlanta, USA (R&D in Ukraine and Poland) | Irvine, California, USA |
| Team size | 201–500 | Not disclosed |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness | Direct-hire and contract-to-hire paths for AI roles |
| Pricing model | Monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request | Contract bill rate or direct-hire placement fee; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | 1 full-time engineer | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow |
| Industries served | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness, Healthcare | Healthcare, SaaS, Fintech, Manufacturing |
MobiDev vs KORE1: 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.
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: MobiDev vs KORE1
| Capability | MobiDev | 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: MobiDev vs KORE1
| Framework / platform | MobiDev | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 | ✓ |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MobiDev vs KORE1
| Criterion | MobiDev | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | 1 full-time engineer | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team, Managed delivery | Contract-to-hire, Full-time dedicated engineers |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: MobiDev vs KORE1
| Dimension | MobiDev | KORE1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness | Healthcare, SaaS, Fintech |
| 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 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 |
MobiDev vs KORE1: 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 |
| 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 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 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: MobiDev 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 | MobiDev |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: MobiDev (1 full-time engineer) vs KORE1 (Not disclosed) |
| 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 KORE1
| Use case | MobiDev fit | KORE1 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding a pose-estimation engineer to a fitness app | Strong | Limited | MobiDev |
| Placing an AI engineer to build product recommendations for a retailer | Strong | Limited | MobiDev |
| Hiring a U.S.-based ML engineer as a permanent employee | Limited | Strong | KORE1 |
| Contract-to-hire for an MLOps role | Limited | Strong | KORE1 |
Verdict: MobiDev vs KORE1
MobiDev (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness.
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
MobiDev vs KORE1 FAQ
Is MobiDev better than KORE1?
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. KORE1's strongest advantage: only company here built around converting contractors into your own employees.
How do MobiDev and KORE1 differ in pricing?
MobiDev uses monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 full-time 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: MobiDev or KORE1?
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 KORE1?
MobiDev's primary differentiator is: long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness. KORE1's primary differentiator is: direct-hire and contract-to-hire paths for AI roles. They also differ in team size (201–500 vs Not disclosed), minimum engagement (1 full-time engineer vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality vs Healthcare, SaaS).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.