MobiDev vs LeewayHertz: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MobiDev (4.4/5) edges ahead of LeewayHertz (3.8/5) overall. MobiDev is the better choice for retail and fitness products, one AI engineer to start. LeewayHertz is the stronger option for companies already using The Hackett Group or ZBrain. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MobiDev vs LeewayHertz: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MobiDev | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
| HQ | Atlanta, USA (R&D in Ukraine and Poland) | San Francisco, USA (delivery in Gurugram, India) |
| Team size | 201–500 | 200–500 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness | GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform |
| Pricing model | Monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request | Dedicated developers; fixed project; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | 1 full-time engineer | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | OpenAI, LangChain, ZBrain |
| Industries served | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness, Healthcare | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
MobiDev vs LeewayHertz: 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.
LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz was founded in 2007 and, while it historically marketed itself from San Francisco, does most of its engineering in India. The Hackett Group acquired it in September 2024 to add generative-AI solution and implementation work, including the ZBrain platform. It offers dedicated developers alongside project delivery, though its public material leads with platforms and consulting more than staffing.
Services and capabilities: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
| Capability | MobiDev | 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: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
| Framework / platform | MobiDev | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | ✓ | N/A |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS SageMaker | N/A | N/A |
| Azure ML | N/A | ✓ |
| Databricks | N/A | N/A |
| MLflow | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
| Criterion | MobiDev | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | 1 full-time engineer | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Full-time dedicated engineers, Dedicated team, Managed delivery | Dedicated team, Managed delivery |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
| Dimension | MobiDev | LeewayHertz |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality, Fitness and wellness | Fintech, Healthcare, Retail |
| Best use cases | Adding a pose-estimation engineer to a fitness app, Placing an AI engineer to build product recommendations for a retailer | Adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project, Staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost |
| Typical project type | Full-time dedicated engineers | Dedicated team |
MobiDev vs LeewayHertz: 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 |
| LeewayHertz | |
|---|---|
| + | Long GenAI project history for a company of its size |
| + | Backing of a listed consulting group |
| + | India delivery keeps costs lower |
| - | Acquired by The Hackett Group in 2024, so priorities may follow the parent's consulting agenda |
| - | Staffing is secondary to platform and consulting work |
| - | Heavy content marketing makes independent verification harder |
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 LeewayHertz?
A typical fit: adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project.
GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing.
Decision matrix: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
| 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 LeewayHertz (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 LeewayHertz
| Use case | MobiDev fit | LeewayHertz 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 |
| Adding developers to a ZBrain-based agent project | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost | Limited | Strong | LeewayHertz |
Verdict: MobiDev vs LeewayHertz
MobiDev (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Staffing projects. Long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness.
LeewayHertz (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need staffing a GenAI proof of concept at lower cost. If your situation matches that, LeewayHertz is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MobiDev vs LeewayHertz FAQ
Is MobiDev better than LeewayHertz?
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. LeewayHertz's strongest advantage: long GenAI project history for a company of its size.
How do MobiDev and LeewayHertz differ in pricing?
MobiDev uses monthly per engineer; dedicated team; rates on request pricing with a minimum engagement of 1 full-time engineer. LeewayHertz uses dedicated developers; fixed project; 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 LeewayHertz?
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 LeewayHertz?
MobiDev's primary differentiator is: long AI product record in retail, hospitality and fitness. LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: GenAI developers tied to the ZBrain platform. They also differ in team size (201–500 vs 200–500), minimum engagement (1 full-time engineer vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Retail and e-commerce, Hospitality vs Fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.