LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) edges ahead of Cleveroad (3.9/5) overall. LeewayHertz is the better choice for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. Cleveroad is the stronger option for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | LeewayHertz | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, California, United States | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Team size | 200–300 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best for | Enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group). | Healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Project-based, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, LangChain, Hugging Face | TensorFlow, OpenCV, Python |
| Industries served | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce | Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce |
LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad: overview
LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz was founded in 2007 by Akash Takyar and Viresh Bhathia and is headquartered in San Francisco, combining strategic AI advisory with engineering delivery and proprietary AI platforms. On September 23, 2024, LeewayHertz was acquired by The Hackett Group, a publicly traded management consulting firm, giving it access to Hackett's enterprise client relationships. Reported employee counts range from roughly 194 to 300, and as with any recently acquired firm, prospective clients should verify current team continuity.
Cleveroad
Cleveroad was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, with an R&D center there and additional delivery staff across five countries. The company has built more than a decade of experience in healthcare, logistics, fintech, and retail, delivering web and mobile applications alongside AI/ML solutions and dedicated development teams. Cleveroad was named to the 2025 Clutch 1000 — placing it among the top 30 highest-rated B2B service providers globally on the platform — though reported employee counts vary between roughly 50 and 200.
Services and capabilities: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Capability | LeewayHertz | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✓ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Framework / platform | LeewayHertz | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | N/A | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Google Cloud | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | ✓ | N/A |
| Hugging Face | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Criterion | LeewayHertz | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Retainer, Dedicated team | Project-based, Dedicated team, Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Dimension | LeewayHertz | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, FinTech |
| Best use cases | Enterprise wants AI consulting from a firm now backed by a publicly traded management consultancy., Company needs generative AI or AI agent development with proprietary platform accelerators. | Healthcare or logistics company wants an AI feature built by a Clutch 1000-recognized full-stack development firm., Fintech startup needs both application development and ML modeling from a single Estonia-based vendor. |
| Typical project type | Project-based | Project-based |
LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad: pros and cons
| LeewayHertz | |
|---|---|
| + | 17 years of AI/software delivery history since 2007, well-established before its 2024 acquisition. |
| + | Now backed by The Hackett Group, a publicly traded management consulting firm, adding financial stability and enterprise client access. |
| + | Proprietary AI platform assets built pre-acquisition can shorten delivery timelines for common use cases. |
| - | September 2024 acquisition by The Hackett Group is recent enough that integration effects on pricing and delivery team stability are still unfolding. |
| - | Employee-count sources disagree meaningfully (194 vs. 300), so confirm current AI-delivery headcount directly. |
| Cleveroad | |
|---|---|
| + | 2025 Clutch 1000 placement (top 30 highest-rated global B2B providers) is a strong, independently verified distinction. |
| + | 13+ years of operating history (since 2011) with consistent focus on healthcare, logistics, and fintech verticals. |
| + | AI-assisted development services line reflects the firm keeping pace with modern AI-augmented delivery practices, not just AI as a client-facing product line. |
| - | Employee-count sources conflict meaningfully (50 vs. 51–200), so confirm current AI-specific team size before contracting. |
| - | AI/ML is one of several service lines (alongside general web/mobile development) rather than the firm's primary identity. |
Who should choose LeewayHertz?
LeewayHertz is the right choice for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group)..
AI consultancy now operating as a Hackett Group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in FinTech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail & E-commerce.
Who should choose Cleveroad?
Cleveroad is the right choice for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice..
Named to the 2025 Clutch 1000, placing it in the global top 30 highest-rated B2B service providers on the platform.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce.
Decision matrix: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Cleveroad |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | LeewayHertz |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: LeewayHertz (Not published) vs Cleveroad (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | LeewayHertz |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | Both offer MLOps support |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | LeewayHertz |
Use case fit: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
| Use case | LeewayHertz fit | Cleveroad fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise wants AI consulting from a firm now backed by a publicly traded management consultancy. | Strong | Limited | LeewayHertz |
| Company needs generative AI or AI agent development with proprietary platform accelerators. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Healthcare or logistics company wants an AI feature built by a Clutch 1000-recognized full-stack development firm. | Limited | Strong | Cleveroad |
| Fintech startup needs both application development and ML modeling from a single Estonia-based vendor. | Limited | Strong | Cleveroad |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. AI consultancy now operating as a Hackett Group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. It is best for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group)..
Cleveroad (3.9/5) is the better choice when healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice.. If your situation matches those criteria, Cleveroad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
LeewayHertz vs Cleveroad FAQ
Is LeewayHertz better than Cleveroad?
LeewayHertz (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. LeewayHertz is better for enterprises that want AI consulting backed by a publicly traded management-consulting parent (The Hackett Group).. Cleveroad is better for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice..
How do LeewayHertz and Cleveroad differ in pricing?
LeewayHertz uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Cleveroad uses project-based, dedicated team 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: LeewayHertz or Cleveroad?
LeewayHertz 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 LeewayHertz and Cleveroad?
LeewayHertz's primary differentiator is: ai consultancy now operating as a hackett group company, combining startup-era agility with public-company backing.. Cleveroad's primary differentiator is: named to the 2025 clutch 1000, placing it in the global top 30 highest-rated b2b service providers on the platform.. They also differ in team size (200–300 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (FinTech, Healthcare vs Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.