EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) edges ahead of SoftKraft (4.0/5) overall. EPAM Systems is the better choice for fortune 500 buyers needing AI at global engineering scale. SoftKraft is the stronger option for startups on a budget needing data-driven MVP work. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | SoftKraft |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 2015 |
| HQ | Newtown, United States | Bielsko-Biala, Poland |
| Team size | 62,000+ | 11-50 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice | Small dedicated team pricing squarely at startup and SME budgets, not enterprise rates |
| Pricing model | Retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting | Fixed project or dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Python, AWS, Azure | Python, PostgreSQL, Apache Airflow |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment | Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech |
EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft: overview
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems was founded in 1993 in New Jersey and Minsk by Arkadiy Dobkin and Leo Lozner, and has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012 as a member of the S&P 500. The company employed roughly 62,850 people across more than 55 countries at the end of 2025, which puts it in a different capacity class from every other firm on this list. EPAM markets itself as a leader in AI transformation engineering, and its scale means AI work is one part of a much larger digital engineering and cloud transformation business rather than the whole of it.
SoftKraft
SoftKraft was founded in 2015 by CEO Marek Petrykowski and CTO Blazej Kosmowski, and is headquartered in Bielsko-Biala, Poland with roughly 11-50 staff. About 70% of its client base sits in North America, despite the delivery team being based in Poland, which reflects a common nearshore pattern for smaller AI consultancies. The firm specializes in custom data-driven software, AI, and data engineering aimed specifically at startups and small to mid-sized enterprises rather than large corporate accounts.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| Capability | EPAM Systems | SoftKraft |
|---|---|---|
| Generative AI | ✓ | ✗ |
| Machine learning | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI agents | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| Framework / platform | EPAM Systems | SoftKraft |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| TensorFlow | N/A | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | SoftKraft |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| Dimension | EPAM Systems | SoftKraft |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce | Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech |
| Best use cases | Running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once., Needing a publicly-traded vendor for procurement or audit reasons. | Building a data-driven MVP for a pre-seed or seed-stage startup., Getting AI and data engineering from one small, accountable team instead of splitting the work. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft: pros and cons
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Public-company financial transparency and stability that private firms on this list can't match. |
| + | Scale to staff multiple large AI programs across regions simultaneously. |
| + | S&P 500 membership signals enterprise procurement teams can vet it through standard due diligence. |
| + | Cloud partnerships span all three major hyperscalers. |
| - | AI is one line of business inside a much larger engineering firm, not a dedicated specialty |
| - | Enterprise scale typically means longer sales cycles and higher minimum engagement sizes than boutiques |
| SoftKraft | |
|---|---|
| + | Small team size keeps overhead, and likely cost, lower than mid-size and enterprise firms on this list. |
| + | 70% North American client base shows the team has adapted to US buyer expectations despite being based in Poland. |
| + | Founder-led leadership stays close to delivery rather than purely sales. |
| + | Startup and SME focus means pricing and scope are built for smaller budgets from the start. |
| - | Team of 11-50 limits capacity for anything beyond a handful of concurrent projects |
| - | Less public case-study depth than firms with a decade-plus track record |
Who should choose EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once.
Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare, Retail & e-commerce, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose SoftKraft?
A typical fit: building a data-driven MVP for a pre-seed or seed-stage startup.
Small dedicated team pricing squarely at startup and SME budgets, not enterprise rates. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Fintech, SaaS, Healthtech.
Decision matrix: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| 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 | EPAM Systems |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: EPAM Systems (Not disclosed) vs SoftKraft (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 | EPAM Systems |
Use case fit: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
| Use case | EPAM Systems fit | SoftKraft fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running an AI transformation program that spans multiple business units at once. | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| Needing a publicly-traded vendor for procurement or audit reasons. | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| Building a data-driven MVP for a pre-seed or seed-stage startup. | Limited | Strong | SoftKraft |
| Getting AI and data engineering from one small, accountable team instead of splitting the work. | Limited | Strong | SoftKraft |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Development projects. Public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice.
SoftKraft (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need getting AI and data engineering from one small, accountable team instead of splitting the work. If your situation matches that, SoftKraft is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
EPAM Systems vs SoftKraft FAQ
Is EPAM Systems better than SoftKraft?
EPAM Systems (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: public-company financial transparency and stability that private firms on this list can't match. SoftKraft's strongest advantage: small team size keeps overhead, and likely cost, lower than mid-size and enterprise firms on this list.
How do EPAM Systems and SoftKraft differ in pricing?
EPAM Systems uses retainer or dedicated team, enterprise contracting pricing. SoftKraft uses fixed project or dedicated team pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: EPAM Systems or SoftKraft?
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 EPAM Systems and SoftKraft?
EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: public company scale (NYSE: EPAM) with AI folded into a much larger engineering practice. SoftKraft's primary differentiator is: small dedicated team pricing squarely at startup and SME budgets, not enterprise rates. They also differ in team size (62,000+ vs 11-50), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Financial services, Healthcare vs Fintech, SaaS).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.