Cleveroad vs Existek: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Cleveroad (3.9/5) edges ahead of Existek (3.9/5) overall. Cleveroad is the better choice for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice.. 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.
Cleveroad vs Existek: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Cleveroad | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| HQ | Tallinn, Estonia | Bucharest, Romania |
| Team size | 51–200 | 50–249 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best for | Healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice. | Mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, dedicated team | Project-based, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $25,000+ |
| Primary tech stack | TensorFlow, OpenCV, Python | Python, TensorFlow, AWS |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, FinTech, Retail & E-commerce | Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Education, Business Intelligence |
Cleveroad vs Existek: overview
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.
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: Cleveroad vs Existek
| Capability | Cleveroad | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ML Models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer Vision | ✓ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Consulting | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Cleveroad vs Existek
| Framework / platform | Cleveroad | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | 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: Cleveroad vs Existek
| Criterion | Cleveroad | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $25,000+ |
| Engagement models | Project-based, Dedicated team, Fixed project | Project-based, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Cleveroad vs Existek
| Dimension | Cleveroad | Existek |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, FinTech | Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Education |
| Best use cases | 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. | 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 |
Cleveroad vs Existek: pros and cons
| 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. |
| 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 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.
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: Cleveroad vs Existek
| 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 | Cleveroad |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Cleveroad (Not published) vs Existek ($25,000+) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Cleveroad |
| You need production MLOps support after model launch | Both offer MLOps support |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Existek |
Use case fit: Cleveroad vs Existek
| Use case | Cleveroad fit | Existek fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare or logistics company wants an AI feature built by a Clutch 1000-recognized full-stack development firm. | Strong | Limited | Cleveroad |
| Fintech startup needs both application development and ML modeling from a single Estonia-based vendor. | Strong | Limited | Cleveroad |
| 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: Cleveroad vs Existek
Cleveroad (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Named to the 2025 Clutch 1000, placing it in the global top 30 highest-rated B2B service providers on the platform.. It is best for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice..
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
Cleveroad vs Existek FAQ
Is Cleveroad better than Existek?
Cleveroad (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Cleveroad is better for healthcare, logistics, and fintech companies wanting an Estonia-based full-stack development firm with an AI practice.. Existek is better for mid-market companies wanting a Clutch-recognized offshore development firm with AI as an add-on service..
How do Cleveroad and Existek differ in pricing?
Cleveroad uses project-based, dedicated team 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: Cleveroad or Existek?
Cleveroad 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 Cleveroad and Existek?
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.. 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 (51–200 vs 50–249), minimum engagement (Not published vs $25,000+), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain vs Healthcare, Oil & Gas).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.