SoftServe vs ELEKS: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
SoftServe (4.0/5) edges ahead of ELEKS (3.7/5) overall. SoftServe is the better choice for enterprises that want an established, dual-HQ (US/Ukraine) engineering firm with AI as one of several mature practices.. ELEKS is the stronger option for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
SoftServe vs ELEKS: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | SoftServe | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 1991 |
| HQ | Austin, Texas, United States / Lviv, Ukraine | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Team size | 12,000+ | 2,100+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Best for | Enterprises that want an established, dual-HQ (US/Ukraine) engineering firm with AI as one of several mature practices. | Enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe. |
| Pricing model | Time & materials, managed engagement | Time & materials, managed engagement |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud | Python, AWS, Azure |
| Industries served | Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce, Manufacturing, Energy | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce |
SoftServe vs ELEKS: overview
SoftServe
SoftServe was founded in 1993 in Lviv, Ukraine and now operates with a US headquarters in Austin, Texas and a European headquarters in Lviv, employing more than 12,000 people across 58 offices in 14 countries (with one source citing roughly 10,336 as of a recent count). The company's offerings span digital engineering, data analytics, cloud services, AI, machine learning, and IoT, and it ranked seventh among more than 130 Western European companies in Clutch's 2019 software development category. Its scale and 30+ year history make it a large, generalist engineering firm with AI as one of several core practices.
ELEKS
ELEKS was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, with roughly 2,100+ employees operating from offices across the US, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Switzerland, Japan, Croatia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. The firm leverages AI/ML, Big Data, IoT, cloud, cybersecurity, and UX expertise, reporting more than 1,000 successfully delivered data-driven projects over its 30+ year history, and has received a 2024 Spring Clutch Global Award plus recognition on the Global Outsourcing 100 list. As one of the oldest firms in this list, ELEKS' AI/ML practice is one of several mature service lines rather than a standalone specialty.
Services and capabilities: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| Capability | SoftServe | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| Framework / platform | SoftServe | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| Criterion | SoftServe | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Managed engagement, Time & materials, Staff augmentation | Managed engagement, Time & materials, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| Dimension | SoftServe | ELEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce | Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech |
| Best use cases | Large enterprise wants a single vendor covering AI/ML alongside cloud, data analytics, and IoT services., Company needs a choice between US and EU contracting jurisdictions from the same firm. | Enterprise wants AI/ML delivery from one of the longest continuously operating engineering firms in the region., Manufacturing or fintech company needs a data-driven project delivered by a firm with 1,000+ prior deliveries. |
| Typical project type | Managed engagement | Managed engagement |
SoftServe vs ELEKS: pros and cons
| SoftServe | |
|---|---|
| + | 12,000+ employees across 58 offices in 14 countries gives it enterprise-scale delivery capacity and geographic redundancy. |
| + | 31 years of continuous operation (since 1993) through multiple technology cycles, including the post-2022 relocation pressures on Ukraine-founded firms. |
| + | Ranked 7th among 130+ Western European companies in Clutch's 2019 software development category, an independently sourced recognition. |
| + | Dual US/Ukraine headquarters structure gives clients a choice of contracting jurisdiction. |
| - | 12,000+ person scale means AI/ML is one of several mature practices (alongside cloud, data analytics, IoT) rather than the firm's core identity. |
| - | Reported employee counts vary by thousands across sources (10,336 vs. 12,000+), reflecting the difficulty of pinning down exact current headcount at this scale. |
| ELEKS | |
|---|---|
| + | 33+ years of continuous operation (since 1991) is among the longest track records of any firm in this list. |
| + | 1,000+ successfully delivered data-driven projects gives it an extensive AI/ML/data delivery pattern library. |
| + | 2024 Spring Clutch Global Award and Global Outsourcing 100 listing are independently sourced recognitions. |
| + | 2,100+ employees across 11 countries provide broad geographic delivery coverage. |
| - | AI/ML is one of several mature service lines (alongside Big Data, IoT, cybersecurity, UX) rather than the firm's primary identity. |
| - | Legal HQ in Tallinn, Estonia while origin and significant delivery capacity remains tied to Lviv, Ukraine — confirm contracting entity. |
Who should choose SoftServe?
SoftServe is the right choice for enterprises that want an established, dual-HQ (US/Ukraine) engineering firm with AI as one of several mature practices..
31 years of engineering history (since 1993) with dual US and Ukraine headquarters and 12,000+ employees.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce, Manufacturing, Energy.
Who should choose ELEKS?
ELEKS is the right choice for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe..
33+ years of operating history (since 1991) with 1,000+ delivered data-driven projects and Global Outsourcing 100 recognition.. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Manufacturing, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce.
Decision matrix: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: SoftServe (Not published) vs ELEKS (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | SoftServe |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | SoftServe |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | SoftServe |
Use case fit: SoftServe vs ELEKS
| Use case | SoftServe fit | ELEKS fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large enterprise wants a single vendor covering AI/ML alongside cloud, data analytics, and IoT services. | Strong | Limited | SoftServe |
| Company needs a choice between US and EU contracting jurisdictions from the same firm. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise wants AI/ML delivery from one of the longest continuously operating engineering firms in the region. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Manufacturing or fintech company needs a data-driven project delivered by a firm with 1,000+ prior deliveries. | Limited | Strong | ELEKS |
| Fixed-scope ML build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Ongoing model retraining | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: SoftServe vs ELEKS
SoftServe (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. 31 years of engineering history (since 1993) with dual US and Ukraine headquarters and 12,000+ employees.. It is best for enterprises that want an established, dual-HQ (US/Ukraine) engineering firm with AI as one of several mature practices..
ELEKS (3.7/5) is the better choice when enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe.. If your situation matches those criteria, ELEKS is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
SoftServe vs ELEKS FAQ
Is SoftServe better than ELEKS?
SoftServe (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. SoftServe is better for enterprises that want an established, dual-HQ (US/Ukraine) engineering firm with AI as one of several mature practices.. ELEKS is better for enterprises wanting AI/ML delivery from one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in Central/Eastern Europe..
How do SoftServe and ELEKS differ in pricing?
SoftServe uses time & materials, managed engagement pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ELEKS uses time & materials, managed engagement 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: SoftServe or ELEKS?
SoftServe 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 SoftServe and ELEKS?
SoftServe's primary differentiator is: 31 years of engineering history (since 1993) with dual us and ukraine headquarters and 12,000+ employees.. ELEKS's primary differentiator is: 33+ years of operating history (since 1991) with 1,000+ delivered data-driven projects and global outsourcing 100 recognition.. They also differ in team size (12,000+ vs 2,100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare, FinTech vs Manufacturing, Healthcare).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.