Addepto vs Zfort Group: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Addepto (4.3/5) edges ahead of Zfort Group (4.0/5) overall. Addepto is the better choice for companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk.. Zfort Group is the stronger option for companies wanting a long-established (24+ year) software firm's dedicated ML practice rather than a newer AI-only startup.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Addepto vs Zfort Group: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Addepto | Zfort Group |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2000 |
| HQ | Warsaw, Poland | Kharkiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 50–100 | 193 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies seeking a Forbes/Deloitte-recognized AI consultancy, provided they factor in post-acquisition integration risk. | Companies wanting a long-established (24+ year) software firm's dedicated ML practice rather than a newer AI-only startup. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, consulting retainer | Project-based, time & materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, TensorFlow, AWS | Python, TensorFlow, spaCy |
| Industries served | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Retail & E-commerce, Media & Entertainment, FinTech |
Addepto vs Zfort Group: 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.
Zfort Group
Zfort Group was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with representative offices in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and Israel, and approximately 193 employees across four continents as of mid-2025. The company's machine learning practice covers consulting, data analysis, and engineering across data science, NLP, computer vision, predictive analytics, deep learning, and recommendation systems, alongside a separate blockchain development line. Zfort holds a 5-star rating on Clutch, and its 24+ years of operating history (since 2000) predates most competitors in this list.
Services and capabilities: Addepto vs Zfort Group
| Capability | Addepto | Zfort Group |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✗ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✓ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✓ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Addepto vs Zfort Group
| Framework / platform | Addepto | Zfort Group |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Zfort Group
| Criterion | Addepto | Zfort Group |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Consulting retainer | Project-based, Time & materials, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Addepto vs Zfort Group
| Dimension | Addepto | Zfort Group |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | FinTech, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Retail & E-commerce, Media & Entertainment, FinTech |
| 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. | Company wants a long-established vendor with a 5-star Clutch rating for an NLP or computer vision project., Retail or media client needs a recommendation system built by a team with deep-learning and predictive-analytics experience. |
| Typical project type | Project-based | Project-based |
Addepto vs Zfort Group: 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. |
| Zfort Group | |
|---|---|
| + | 5-star Clutch rating reflects strong client satisfaction on the platform. |
| + | 24+ years of operating history (since 2000) is among the longest in this list, indicating institutional stability through multiple technology cycles. |
| + | Broad ML sub-specialty coverage (NLP, computer vision, predictive analytics, recommendation systems) under one practice. |
| + | Representative offices across five countries provide time-zone flexibility for global clients. |
| - | 193-person team splits attention across ML and a separate blockchain development practice, rather than being AI-exclusive. |
| - | Being founded in 2000 as a general software firm means its AI practice, while broad, is one line of business rather than the company's sole identity. |
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 Zfort Group?
Zfort Group is the right choice for companies wanting a long-established (24+ year) software firm's dedicated ML practice rather than a newer AI-only startup..
One of the longest-operating firms in this list (founded 2000) with a 5-star Clutch rating and broad ML sub-specialty coverage.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Retail & E-commerce, Media & Entertainment, FinTech.
Decision matrix: Addepto vs Zfort Group
| 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 | Zfort Group |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Addepto (Not published) vs Zfort Group (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Addepto |
| 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 Zfort Group
| Use case | Addepto fit | Zfort Group 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 | Strong | Both equally |
| Company wants a long-established vendor with a 5-star Clutch rating for an NLP or computer vision project. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Retail or media client needs a recommendation system built by a team with deep-learning and predictive-analytics experience. | Limited | Strong | Zfort Group |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Addepto vs Zfort Group
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..
Zfort Group (4.0/5) is the better choice when companies wanting a long-established (24+ year) software firm's dedicated ML practice rather than a newer AI-only startup.. If your situation matches those criteria, Zfort Group is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Addepto vs Zfort Group FAQ
Is Addepto better than Zfort Group?
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.. Zfort Group is better for companies wanting a long-established (24+ year) software firm's dedicated ML practice rather than a newer AI-only startup..
How do Addepto and Zfort Group differ in pricing?
Addepto uses project-based, consulting retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Zfort Group uses project-based, time & materials pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Addepto or Zfort Group?
Addepto 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 Zfort Group?
Addepto's primary differentiator is: ai consulting boutique with third-party press recognition (forbes, deloitte, financial times), now part of kms technology.. Zfort Group's primary differentiator is: one of the longest-operating firms in this list (founded 2000) with a 5-star clutch rating and broad ml sub-specialty coverage.. They also differ in team size (50–100 vs 193), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (FinTech, Manufacturing vs Retail & E-commerce, Media & Entertainment).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.