Addepto vs Existek: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Addepto (4.3/5) edges ahead of Existek (3.9/5) overall. Addepto is the better choice for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk.. Existek is the stronger option for mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Addepto vs Existek: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Addepto | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2012 |
| HQ | Warsaw, Poland | Bucharest, Romania |
| Team size | 50–100 | 50–249 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk. | Mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, consulting retainer | Project-based, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $25,000+ |
| Primary tech stack | Python, TensorFlow, AWS | Python, TensorFlow, AWS |
| Industries served | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Education, Business Intelligence |
Addepto vs Existek: overview
Addepto
Addepto was founded in Warsaw in 2018 by Data Science enthusiasts Edwin Lisowski and Artur Haponik, delivering AI consulting and data-driven solutions recognized by Forbes, Deloitte, and the Financial Times. In December 2025, Addepto was acquired by KMS Technology, and prospective clients should confirm how delivery teams, pricing, and leadership continuity have changed post-acquisition. Reported employee counts vary from roughly 11–50 to 72, reflecting the transition period around the acquisition.
Existek
Existek was founded in 2012 and operates with a 50–249 person team split across Bucharest, Romania and Vinnytsia, Ukraine, delivering custom software development, dedicated team staffing, and AI development services for clients in business intelligence, healthcare, oil & gas, and education. The company has been recognized by Clutch as a top developer in both Ukraine and Romania and holds a near-perfect 4.9 rating on the platform, with hourly rates of $50–$99/hr and a minimum project size of $25,000+. Its AI services page is comparatively general, offering less publicly documented technical specificity than boutique ML specialists in this list.
Services and capabilities: Addepto vs Existek
| Capability | Addepto | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Addepto vs Existek
| Framework / platform | Addepto | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Addepto vs Existek
| Criterion | Addepto | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $25,000+ |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Consulting retainer | Project-based, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Addepto vs Existek
| Dimension | Addepto | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Education |
| Best use cases | Company wants an AI consultancy with independent press recognition for vendor due diligence., Client is comfortable evaluating a firm mid-acquisition and confirming continuity directly before signing. | Mid-market company wants a Clutch-recognized offshore vendor with a $25K+ entry point for an AI-adjacent project., Oil & gas or business intelligence company needs custom software plus AI/ML from a single vendor. |
| Typical project type | Project-based | Project-based |
Addepto vs Existek: pros and cons
| Addepto | |
|---|---|
| + | Press recognition from Forbes, Deloitte, and the Financial Times provides independent third-party validation beyond client testimonials. |
| + | Founder-led AI consulting model since 2018, prior to being acquired. |
| + | Now backed by KMS Technology's broader resources post-acquisition, which may add delivery capacity. |
| - | Acquired by KMS Technology in December 2025 — leadership continuity, pricing, and delivery-team stability during integration are unconfirmed. |
| - | Reported headcount varies significantly across sources (11–50 vs. 72), making current team size hard to pin down. |
| - | Recent acquisition means the company's standalone track record may not reflect how engagements are run going forward. |
| Existek | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 near-perfect Clutch rating with top-developer recognition in both Ukraine and Romania. |
| + | $25,000+ minimum project size is more accessible than large enterprise-only vendors like EPAM. |
| + | 12+ years of operating history (since 2012) with dual-country delivery presence. |
| + | Serves niche industries (oil & gas, business intelligence) less commonly covered by boutique AI specialists. |
| - | Publicly available technical detail on Existek's specific AI/ML methodology is thinner than boutique specialists like Neurons Lab or Provectus. |
| - | AI development is one of several service lines (custom software, staff augmentation) rather than the firm's exclusive focus. |
Who should choose Addepto?
Addepto is the right choice for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk..
AI consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (Forbes, Deloitte, Financial Times), now part of KMS Technology.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce.
Who should choose Existek?
Existek is the right choice for mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service..
4.9 Clutch rating with dual Ukraine/Romania Clutch top-developer recognition and a $25,000+ accessible entry point.. Minimum engagement starts at $25,000+. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Education, Business Intelligence.
Decision matrix: Addepto vs Existek
| 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 | Existek |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Addepto (Not published) vs Existek ($25,000+) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Existek |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | Both offer MLOps support |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Addepto |
Use case fit: Addepto vs Existek
| Use case | Addepto fit | Existek fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company wants an AI consultancy with independent press recognition for vendor due diligence. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Client is comfortable evaluating a firm mid-acquisition and confirming continuity directly before signing. | Strong | Limited | Addepto |
| Mid-market company wants a Clutch-recognized offshore vendor with a $25K+ entry point for an AI-adjacent project. | Limited | Strong | Existek |
| Oil & gas or business intelligence company needs custom software plus AI/ML from a single vendor. | Limited | Strong | Existek |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Addepto vs Existek
Addepto (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. AI consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (Forbes, Deloitte, Financial Times), now part of KMS Technology.. It is best for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk..
Existek (3.9/5) is the better choice when mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service.. If your situation matches those criteria, Existek is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Addepto vs Existek FAQ
Is Addepto better than Existek?
Addepto (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Addepto is better for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk.. Existek is better for mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service..
How do Addepto and Existek differ in pricing?
Addepto uses project-based, consulting retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Existek uses project-based, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $25,000+. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Addepto or Existek?
Existek is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Addepto and Existek?
Addepto's primary differentiator is: ai consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (forbes, deloitte, financial times), now part of kms technology.. Existek's primary differentiator is: 4.9 clutch rating with dual ukraine/romania clutch top-developer recognition and a $25,000+ accessible entry point.. They also differ in team size (50–100 vs 50–249), minimum engagement (Not published vs $25,000+), and primary industries served (FinTech, Manufacturing vs Healthcare, Oil & Gas).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.