For years, software development in Eastern Europe has been a preferred choice among many leading companies from North America and Western Europe. The region boasts a large talent pool, good tech education, well-developed IT infrastructure, a high level of digital technology adoption, and a number of other benefits.
* Top Eastern European software development destinations are Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The combined number of software developers exceeds 1,530,500 experts in the whole region.
With many Eastern European countries making it to the top 20 of skill evaluation ratings, such as Topcoder or SkillValue, the region also stands out for the quality of software development services. By combining top-notch talent with mature development processes and industry best practices, local software development firms set high standards for software development.
In this context, finding a trustworthy engineering partner in EE is the first step for businesses aiming to harness the region's technical prowess for custom software solutions.
However, the selection process might be rather challenging, as there are around 3,500 software development companies in Eastern Europe. How do you choose a reliable partner that will help you meet your specific business needs and develop a robust custom solution? The main goal of our research was to provide you with insights into the local tech landscape and create a list of the most reliable companies from Eastern Europe to help you make an informed business decision and find a trustworthy partner. Let's explore the best software development companies of Eastern Europe together.
About the white paper
The white paper gathers information and statistics from over 30 sources. It is based on the research provided by international advisory companies, award associations, dedicated vendor listings, business associations, and other reputable sources. The report includes findings by Forbes, Deloitte, Kearney, IAOP, Strategic Sourcing Awards by the GSA UK, Clutch, LinkedIn, and others.
Part I. Top-quality software development in Eastern Europe
The region's software development market is experiencing steady growth, mainly driven by the high qualification of local talent, the growing number of vendors, strong STEM education, and governmental efforts. According to Statista, the revenue from the software development industry in Eastern Europe reached $9.2B in 2024. The local IT sector is projected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2028) of 22.27%, resulting in a market volume of $20.5B by 2028.
Besides a strong tech ecosystem, another reason software development in Eastern Europe is an attractive option for enterprises from Northern America and Western Europe is the diverse industry expertise of the local workforce. With a considerable number of vendors delivering projects for financial services, information technology, business services, healthcare, ecommerce, and other sectors, the region is an appealing choice for enterprises looking for specialized software development services as well as industry compliances. In the chart below, you can see the domain expertise breakdown by country.
The region's software development companies have a diversified tech specialization. One of the key advantages of the Eastern European software development sector is that the region has a lot of developers who work with JavaScript, Java, Python, and other programming languages and technologies that cover all the major tech tasks and challenges nowadays.
Part II. Top 15 software development companies in Eastern Europe
The main criteria for selecting a service provider for software development in Eastern Europe include cost-effectiveness, company size, technological and domain expertise, and communication, to name a few. In this report, we have considered all the essential vendor selection criteria and made a list of the best players in the Eastern European software development arena. Custom software development by vendors in the region has already turned into a measurable business value for IBM, Microsoft, Panasonic, OpenText, Volvo, and other industry leaders.
Selection methodology
We created a list of over 100 software development companies in Eastern Europe that either have a significant presence or were established in the region. They have development centers in one or several EE countries and offer nearshore and offshore development services.
We've selected companies with more than 1,000 experts as they have established development processes, the capacity to deliver solutions of various complexity and scale, wider domain and tech expertise, and numerous case studies of successfully delivered projects both for medium businesses and enterprise-level customers.
Then, we have matched this list against The Global Outsourcing 100 (2016 through 2023) by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) and the Global Sourcing Association (GSA) UK Awards (2019 through 2023) to select the vendors whose achievements have been recognized by the leading industry associations.
If we speak about tech and industry specialization, Eastern European software development expertise comes in all forms and shapes. So, for your convenience, we have analyzed the companies' websites for their technological competencies, industry expertise, and public case studies that describe the projects they have delivered. Also, we considered certifications, partnerships, and the biggest clients.
1. N-iX
N-iX is one of the top global software development companies with over 2,200 experts on board as well as a presence in the EE region, namely in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria. With delivery centers across the region, N-iX possesses strong expertise in custom software development, tech consulting, data analytics, Cloud and DevOps, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, embedded software and IoT, and other services. Since 2002, N-iX has formed strategic partnerships with global industry leaders, including OpenText, Lebara, Discovery Limited, Ringier, Redflex, Gogo, Fluke Corporation, Currencycloud, several Fortune 500 companies, and over 80 other enterprise clients.
The company is one of the key figures in Eastern European software development, and that is proven by multiple industry awards, including the GSA UK, Software 500, etc. Also, it has been recognized among The Global Outsourcing 100 providers by IAOP for seven years in a row.
2. Software Mind
This representative of Polish software development companies was founded in 1999. The vendor specializes in custom software development, enterprise app modernization, the implementation of AI solutions, and mobile app development. It has R&D centers in Poland, Romania, and Moldova. This company works mostly with midsize vendors from industries such as fintech, telecommunications, ecommerce, and others.
3. SoftServe
Founded in 1993, this software company specializes in software engineering services and partners with many international businesses. The vendor has development facilities in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. The company was shortlisted among the leading vendors in the Global Outsourcing 100 by IAOP for several years in a row.
4. GlobalLogic
This representative of software development companies in Eastern Europe has a worldwide presence and R&D centers in Poland, Ukraine, and Romania. The software vendor offers web app development, UI/UX design, and quality assurance. It builds custom iOS, Android, web, wearables, IoT, and VR solutions. The company works with clients in a wide range of domains, including social networking, media and entertainment, taxi booking, productivity, and others.
5. Infopulse
This Ukrainian company has over two decades of experience in software development. It has over 2,300 professionals and offices in Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria. The vendor's services include custom software development, IT managed services, IT strategy consulting, cybersecurity, and enterprise app modernization. This tech company provides development services for automotive, banking, finance, energy, healthcare, fintech, and other industries.
6. Ciklum
This is a reliable IT service provider that has over 4,000 experts working in its software development centers and offices in Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. It provides a wide range of services, namely custom software development, ecommerce development, BI and Big Data consulting, application testing, and more. This company works with a number of clients, including small businesses and enterprises in information technology, retail, financial technology, and other domains.
7. Future Processing
Founded in 2000, this engineering company has software development centers and offices in Poland, Ukraine, and other countries. Their in-house team spans over 1,000 professionals well-versed in custom software development, Business Intelligence, Big Data consulting, DevOps, as well as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The vendor mostly partners with midsize companies and small businesses.
8. ELEKS
Initially founded in Lviv (Ukraine), this company has several delivery centers across Eastern Europe. With over 2,000 experts, this vendor provides a variety of IT services, including cloud consulting, Big Data consulting, Artificial Intelligence, and IT staff augmentation. Its expertise also includes Data Science, enterprise mobility, QA and testing, IoT, and custom software development.
9. Andersen
This software development company was founded in 2007, and since then, its tech team has grown to 3,500 experts. With development centers in Poland and Hungary, this vendor specializes in custom software development, mobile app development, application testing, and UI/UX. The company has expertise in fintech, healthcare, ecommerce, logistics, and other domains.
10. Capgemini Engineering
The engineering centers of this IT service company are located in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. The company's services include blockchain development, cloud consulting, IoT development, and mobile app development. The company has a track record of cooperating with global businesses in the automotive, security, manufacturing, and other industries. It has helped over 100 clients improve their products and bring them to market.
11. Endava
It is one of the notable companies in the Eastern European software development industry, with over 4,800 IT experts and development centers in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia. The firm has over 20 years of experience and focuses on custom software development, IT strategy consulting, and enterprise app modernization. This vendor primarily works with midsize and large companies in financial services, media, telecom, and transportation.
12. Sigma Software
This is another software engineering vendor with over 2,000 professionals on board. Headquartered in Lviv (Ukraine), the company has development centers and offices across Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. This company specializes in mobile app development, BI and Big Data consulting, web as well as AR/VR development. The vendor partners with midsize and large companies and has extensive expertise in advertising and marketing, automotive, and financial services.
13. MentorMate
Established in Bulgaria in 2001, this tech vendor works predominantly with midsize businesses and enterprises. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, mobile app development, and UI/UX design. Among the vendor's key industry focus areas are education, manufacturing, healthcare, and fintech.
14. Grid Dynamics
This representative of software development companies in EE was founded in 2006. With over 3,000 experts, this software engineering company has development centers in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova. Its services and areas of expertise include web development, application testing, cybersecurity, and ecommerce development. The vendor has experience working with companies in retail, advertising, and marketing, as well as consumer products and services.
15. Coherent Solutions
This company has been in the Eastern European software development market since 1995, helping enterprises and midsize vendors build custom software solutions. Their portfolio includes over 1,000 completed projects and focuses mainly on projects for the healthcare, supply chain, ecommerce, and wellness industries.
All these vendors offer top-notch software development services. However, how do you find a company with specific expertise? In terms of software development companies, Eastern Europe boasts versatile knowledge of various technologies. We narrowed our list of top software development vendors even more based on the most popular services.
Read more: Top Tech Markets of Central and Eastern Europe: 2023 Industry Report
Part III. Companies and technological expertise: Find the right vendor for your needs
Finding a reliable company specializing in custom software development is just the first step. If you firmly decide to partner with a vendor from Eastern Europe, the software engineering portfolio of your engineering enterprise should cover your tech requirements. So, the next stage would be to choose a company with strong technical expertise that matches your business needs.
In this section, we are going to explore:
- Cloud solutions and DevOps services;
- Data Science, Big Data, and Business Intelligence expertise;
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning;
- Internet of Things and embedded software development;
- Enterprise software solutions;
- IT staff augmentation.
Cloud solutions and DevOps services
With the introduction of the cloud, both cloud solutions and DevOps as-a-service have been growing exponentially. According to Statista, the hosting, storage, and computing Cloud services market reached over $153B in 2023 and was forecasted to grow to $168B in 2025.
Along with the growing interest in cloud computing, the need for experts with relevant expertise is also increasing. As of the beginning of 2024, Indeed.com lists over 62,700 open job postings on the US market alone. The EU market has over 41,000 job opportunities for experts in cloud computing and DevOps services.
So, can the Eastern European market be the solution to this problem?
The best Cloud/DevOps service providers in the region
Among a multitude of software development companies, Eastern Europe boasts more than 300 vendors with solid expertise in cloud consulting and development as well as DevOps. If you plan to outsource cloud development to EE, here's a breakdown of the local talent pool by their expertise.
The region boasts many vendors with strong cloud and DevOps expertise. Here are the top software development companies Eastern Europe is known for:
Success stories
The variety of Cloud services these companies offer ranges from cloud adoption and cloud migration to custom development of scalable, high-load solutions.
- For example, N-iX has helped Vable, a UK-based content automation platform, move their existing on-premises product to the cloud and build a microservices architecture to enable flexible scaling and a growing customer base.
- N-iX has delivered a cloud-based Big Data analytics platform for Gogo, which helped the company reduce infrastructure costs and ensure uninterrupted performance of their aviation technology solution.
- Infopulse has helped one of its clients replace an outdated data center with an IT infrastructure in the cloud.
- Another recognized software vendor, Endava, partnered with a retail company to increase their system's and business scalability by introducing cloud architecture.
Data Science, Big Data, and Business Intelligence market overview
Acumen Research and Consulting forecasts that the data analytics market size will reach $329.8B by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 29.9%. In addition, the Big Data industry revenue is expected to generate over $473B revenue by 2030.
According to Google Trends, interest in Data Science specialists has skyrocketed over the decade. The number of searches for "Data scientist" went up by 760% between February 2014 and February 2024. Both American and European markets are looking for affordable specialists with excellent tech expertise and a strong reputation.
While looking for Data Science professionals, you should pay attention to the number of skilled experts in the country. Let's take a look at the number of DS specialists in this region:
The best data analytics companies in Eastern Europe
We have compared the software vendors list based on their technical expertise and narrowed down the companies with the strongest Data Science and Big Data portfolios. Here are the top vendors:
Examples of case studies
- N-iX helps global enterprises maximize their data analytics capabilities. The company's client list includes Lebara, Gogo, a Fortune 500 company under NDA, and other businesses—global leaders in healthcare, telecommunications, and information management.
- Capgemini Engineering assisted Tidemark in speeding up the development of their Big Data SaaS solutions.
- SoftServe has helped a manufacturing enterprise forecast future demand for their goods, enhance production resources planning, and optimize their day-to-day operations.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence is changing our understanding of technology across all major industries. From virtual personal assistants and face recognition to smart cars and robotic helpers—AI-based solutions are taking over our personal and business lives.
The global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market reached $119.78B in 2022 and is projected to reach $1,597.1B by 2030, marking a 38.1% CAGR during the forecast period.
Consequently, the need for developers with relevant skill sets and experience is growing. As of February 2024, the US has around 9,000 job opportunities for experts in AI and ML, while the European Union has over 3,000 open vacancies.
Let's compare it to the Eastern European tech talent pool. LinkedIn lists around 12,700 Scala experts, over 8,400 Hadoop specialists, and over 11,200 Python data experts.
The best AI/ML companies in EE
This area of software development in Eastern Europe is one of the fastest growing. The number of vendors that offer AI and ML expertise has grown four times since 2018. Poland has the largest number of AI & ML providers in Europe. As of 2024, Poland has around 330 vendors with sufficient AI expertise, followed by Ukraine with 210 and Germany with over 150 companies.
If you are looking for a reliable partner in Eastern Europe, here's the software vendors list of companies with solid data expertise:
Examples of case studies
- N-iX specializes in real-time Data Science and the development of self-taught analytical tools, AI algorithms and applications, natural language processing solutions, and fraud detection systems. The company has helped Gogo improve operations and customer experience by applying Machine Learning and Data Science expertise to user behavior and flight information.
- Ciklum has helped SeeTree, an agritech company, build an AI-based solution for tree monitoring.
- Grid Dynamics has developed an AI-powered product, Grid Genie, an experimental open omnichannel conversational commerce platform.
Internet of Things and embedded development market overview
The IoT market reached $483.28B in 2023 and is expected to reach $2270.42B by 2028, with a CAGR of 29,4%*. With the development of wireless networking technologies, the adoption of advanced data analytics, and the cost reduction of connected devices, the market is expected to grow at a positive rate [12].
The top industries that dominated the adoption of IoT are utilities, retail, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture.
McKinsey forecasts that by 2030, IoT products and services will have an even more significant impact on the global economy in the range between $5.5T and $12.6T [13]. In 2023, VC-backed investments in IoT solutions exceeded $171B across 58 countries [11].
Embedded software market worldwide
The global embedded software market is estimated to reach $40B by 2032. The general-purpose operating systems sector has the most significant share of the market (more than 50%), followed by the real-time operating systems sector, with 42%.
The number of open job postings for IoT developers on Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com shows that there's a definite shortage of qualified experts.
Companies that want to outsource embedded software development often choose embedded software companies in EE countries, such as Ukraine and Poland.
Related: How to partner with the best developers in Eastern Europe?
Best companies for IoT and embedded development in the region
Eastern Europe has an extensive tech talent pool with around 378,000 C and C++ developers in total. Leading IoT companies are working on projects in various industries, with the largest number of clients from financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and supply chain, and ecommerce domains. Here's a short software vendors list:
Examples of case studies
- As a part of the partnership with Weinmann Emergency, N-iX experts have worked on the firmware development for a defibrillator with monitoring functions. The N-iX teams have implemented predictive maintenance of the MEDUCORE Standard² device, enabling cost savings, solution reliability, and seamless operation.
- The N-iX team has also cooperated with Cardo Systems on the wireless motorcycle communication system. Ten experts from N-iX work as a part of an in-house team and are engaged in software and hardware testing of a wide range of their connectivity solutions.
- The SoftServe team developed a blockchain environment to measure the audience's reaction to different speakers at the conference by analyzing the character and noise level of applause in real time.
- Sigma Software worked with ENAiKOON GmbH on their new product for vehicle tracking.
- ELEKS has built a network of 47 smartwatches for real-time phone-free communication and boost interactions among the AdForum Worldwide summit participants.
Enterprise software solutions
Statista projects the growth of global spending on enterprise software solutions from $172.1B in 2017 to $424B in 2025. Enterprise software solutions range from payment processing and automated billing systems to complex enterprise content management (ECM), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), Business Intelligence (BI) systems, etc. Many industry leaders have outsourced their development to Eastern Europe.
Top enterprise solutions companies in EE
Enterprise software development covers a wide range of services, including enterprise automation and professional services (e.g., SAP). The main tasks enterprises have today include improving inventory management and productivity. They also want to reduce maintenance costs and machine downtime, increase speed to market, and boost flexibility to meet customer demand. To address all these challenges, companies use advanced analytics, cloud, DevOps, AI, and other technologies. We have shortlisted the initial software vendors list to companies that have both development capabilities and deep expertise in creating large-scale solutions for enterprises around the world:
Examples of case studies
- N-iX has helped Fluke Corporation increase equipment uptime, reduce maintenance costs, and improve the performance, customization, and scalability of Fluke's products.
- GlobalLogic collaborated with BMC on numerous projects, including database automation suites and user experience monitoring solutions.
IT staff augmentation
Team extension is widely used in the USA, United Kingdom, and Western Europe to speed up the development process and bring their products to market faster. Many industry-leading businesses, such as Microsoft, Mercedes, Lebara, Gogo, Rakuten, and others, chose to expand their teams with highly qualified tech experts from Eastern Europe.
Clutch lists around 540 Eastern European companies that offer staff augmentation services to their clients. With a tech talent pool of over 1.5M software engineers [2], Eastern Europe has become a gold mine of staff augmentation for the US, the UK, and Western Europe.
Keep reading: Going far and near to find software developers? Explore Eastern Europe
The best companies for IT staff augmentation in the region
We have cross-checked the list of companies from this report with the services they offer and case studies matching this service.
Success stories
- A leading UK fashion retailer, PrettyLittleThing (a part of Boohoo Group), has chosen N-iX for staff augmentation to increase the speed-to-market of their ecommerce solutions.
- N-iX has also helped a fintech leader that offers a P2P lending platform to expand their development capabilities and migrate their solution from a monolith to the microservices architecture.
- Avid Technology, a digital media solutions provider, has chosen GlobalLogic to expand in-house software development and testing teams.
- A health insurance company (under NDA) partnered with MentorMate to augment client's multiple scrum teams for various projects.
Wrap-up
Back in 2020, when the world was forced to introduce social distancing and shifted to the work-from-home mode, the line between on-site and remote development teams became hardly visible. Business leaders realized that offshore talent was closer than ever before and started considering software development in Eastern Europe.
In the report, we explored the advantages of partnering with local software development companies and the expertise this region has to offer.
- EE remains one of the most attractive destinations for software development due to the excellent price-quality ratio, constant growth of the IT industry, and solid technological expertise.
- The region has a large tech talent pool of around 1.5M professional developers. Poland, Ukraine, and Romania are leading the Eastern European software development market, offering a vast availability of IT experts.
- Software development in EE countries is a major business enabler of digital transformation and acceleration.
The research explores the leading software development companies in Eastern Europe and examines their expertise, partnerships, case studies, awards, and industry recognition. All the companies on the list have a proven record of delivering top-notch custom software products to clients all over the globe. They are well-known IT vendors with experience in many industries.
- EE has around 3,500 IT vendors with solid expertise in fintech, healthcare, education, and other industries.
- There are over 540 companies in the region that offer staff augmentation services to their clients.
- The Internet of Things and embedded development market is thriving as the region has over 378,000 C/C++ developers.
- The region has more than 300 companies with substantial expertise in cloud consulting and computing, as well as DevOps services.
- The number of companies that offer AI and ML development has gone up four times since 2018. Now, Poland houses around 330 vendors with strong AI/ML expertise, followed by Ukraine with over 210 companies.
You may also be interested in:
- IT outsourcing market in Eastern Europe [report]
- Software development in Ukraine: 2019-2020 IT market report [PDF]
- Where to outsource: Talent pool, billing rates, expertise
References
- Press releases Businesses preparing for a slowdown in sales and cash flow challenges due to COVID by Deloitte
- State of European Tech [2022 report]
- The 2021 Kearney Global Services Location Index
- The Global Outsourcing 100 by IAOP
- European IT & Software Excellence Awards 2020 by IT European Software Excellence Awards
- Software industry in Eastern Europe [Report] by N-iX
- The European Large-Scale Pilots Programme Driving IoT Innovation at Scale in Europe by European IoT Pilots
- Virtual reality and its potential for Europe by Ecorys
- Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Europe by CBI.eu
- 15 top IT outsourcing companies in Ukraine by N-iX
- Internet of Things from VentureScanner
- The European market potential for (Industrial) Internet of Things by CBI.eu
- McKinsey Report The Internet of Things: Catching up to an accelerating opportunity
- Virtual Reality from VentureScanner
- Global big data analytics market size 2021-2029 by Statista
- Enterprise application software market revenue worldwide from 2017 to 2025 by Statista
- Global hosting and cloud computing market 2010-2020 by Statista
- Dynamics of Data Science skills: How can all sectors benefit from data science talent by The Royal Society
- Artificial Intelligence Intelligence Quadrant from VentureScanner
- Machine Learning Leads AI Exit Activity by VentureScanner
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Study by Precedence Research
- Enterprise software - Statistics & Facts by Statista
- Global Market Insights: Embedded Software Market 2023
- 2016 Global Outsourcing 100, 2016
- The 2017 Global Outsourcing 100 2017
- The 2018 Global Outsourcing 100, 2018
- The 2020 Global Outsourcing 100, 2020
- The 2021 Global Outsourcing 100, 2021
- The 2022 Global Outsourcing 100, 2022
- The 2023 Global Outsourcing 100, 2023
- Strategic Sourcing Awards shortlist by the GSA UK, 2019
- Strategic Sourcing Awards shortlist by the GSA UK, 2020
- Strategic Sourcing Awards shortlist by the GSA UK, 2021
- Strategic Sourcing Awards shortlist by the GSA UK, 2022
- Strategic Sourcing Awards shortlist by the GSA UK, 2023
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