SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
SoftKraft (4.4/5) edges ahead of EPAM Systems (4.0/5) overall. SoftKraft is the better choice for EU startups on tight budgets needing a fully local AI team. EPAM Systems is the stronger option for global enterprises running AI programs with deep CEE delivery depth. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | SoftKraft | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 1993 |
| HQ | Bielsko-Biala, Poland | Newtown, United States |
| Team size | 11-50 | 62,000+ |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fully EU-based team pricing accessibly for startup budgets, not enterprise rates | Public-company scale with historical delivery roots across EU member states in Central Europe |
| Pricing model | Fixed project or dedicated team | Retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PostgreSQL, Apache Airflow | Python, AWS, Azure |
| Industries served | Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment |
SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems: overview
SoftKraft
SoftKraft was founded in 2015 by CEO Marek Petrykowski and CTO Blazej Kosmowski, running a lean 11-50 person team out of Bielsko-Biala, Poland, an EU member state. Around 70% of its clients come from North America despite the delivery team sitting fully within the EU, which gives European clients a genuinely local option most competitors its size don't offer. The firm's positioning centers on data-driven software, AI, and data engineering built specifically for startups and small-to-mid-sized companies, not enterprise accounts.
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems dates to 1993, co-founded in New Jersey and Minsk by Arkadiy Dobkin and Leo Lozner, and has traded on the NYSE as an S&P 500 constituent since 2012. It employed roughly 62,850 people across more than 55 countries at the end of 2025, with deep historical delivery roots in Central and Eastern Europe, including EU member states like Poland and Hungary. AI transformation engineering is a marketed practice area within a much larger digital engineering business.
Services and capabilities: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Capability | SoftKraft | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Generative AI | ✗ | ✓ |
| Machine learning | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI agents | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Framework / platform | SoftKraft | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | ✓ |
| OpenAI API | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | N/A | N/A |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Criterion | SoftKraft | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Dedicated team, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Dimension | SoftKraft | EPAM Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce |
| Best use cases | Building a data-driven MVP for an EU-based pre-seed or seed-stage startup., Getting AI and data engineering handled by one small, fully EU-based team. | Running an AI transformation program spanning multiple EU regions and business units., Needing a publicly-traded vendor for audit or procurement compliance reasons. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems: pros and cons
| SoftKraft | |
|---|---|
| + | Fully EU-based team (Poland) gives European clients local delivery without an offshore layer. |
| + | Small team size keeps overhead, and likely cost, below mid-size and enterprise vendors. |
| + | Founder-led leadership stays close to delivery rather than purely sales. |
| + | Startup and SME focus means scope and pricing fit smaller EU budgets from the outset. |
| - | Team of 11-50 limits capacity to a handful of concurrent projects |
| - | Less public case-study history than firms with a decade-plus track record |
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Public-company financial disclosure that no private firm on this list can match. |
| + | Deep, decades-old delivery presence across Central and Eastern European EU member states. |
| + | Scale to staff several large AI programs across regions simultaneously. |
| + | S&P 500 membership lets enterprise procurement teams vet it through standard due diligence. |
| - | US headquarters means the parent legal entity sits outside the EU |
| - | AI sits inside an enormous engineering business rather than functioning as a dedicated specialty |
Who should choose SoftKraft?
A typical fit: building a data-driven MVP for an EU-based pre-seed or seed-stage startup.
Fully EU-based team pricing accessibly for startup budgets, not enterprise rates. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech.
Who should choose EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: running an AI transformation program spanning multiple EU regions and business units.
Public-company scale with historical delivery roots across EU member states in Central Europe. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment.
Decision matrix: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | SoftKraft |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | SoftKraft |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: SoftKraft (Not disclosed) vs EPAM Systems (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | EPAM Systems |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | SoftKraft |
Use case fit: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
| Use case | SoftKraft fit | EPAM Systems fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building a data-driven MVP for an EU-based pre-seed or seed-stage startup. | Strong | Limited | SoftKraft |
| Getting AI and data engineering handled by one small, fully EU-based team. | Strong | Limited | SoftKraft |
| Running an AI transformation program spanning multiple EU regions and business units. | Limited | Strong | EPAM Systems |
| Needing a publicly-traded vendor for audit or procurement compliance reasons. | Limited | Strong | EPAM Systems |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems
SoftKraft (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Development projects. Fully EU-based team pricing accessibly for startup budgets, not enterprise rates.
EPAM Systems (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need needing a publicly-traded vendor for audit or procurement compliance reasons. If your situation matches that, EPAM Systems is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
SoftKraft vs EPAM Systems FAQ
Is SoftKraft better than EPAM Systems?
SoftKraft (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. SoftKraft's strongest advantage: fully EU-based team (Poland) gives European clients local delivery without an offshore layer. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: public-company financial disclosure that no private firm on this list can match.
How do SoftKraft and EPAM Systems differ in pricing?
SoftKraft uses fixed project or dedicated team pricing. EPAM Systems uses retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: SoftKraft or EPAM Systems?
EPAM Systems 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 SoftKraft and EPAM Systems?
SoftKraft's primary differentiator is: fully EU-based team pricing accessibly for startup budgets, not enterprise rates. EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: public-company scale with historical delivery roots across EU member states in Central Europe. They also differ in team size (11-50 vs 62,000+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Fintech, SaaS vs Financial services, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.