How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- This article lists companies you hire, not software you buy: each entry is a development firm or marketplace that builds AI systems for clients.
- LeewayHertz suits enterprise AI programs, with agentic AI, copilots, and a full-stack generative AI platform called ZBrain.
- Turing and Toptal suit per-engineer hiring, with vetted AI talent pools and hourly rates that scale with seniority.
- Simform and Innowise suit mid-market teams that want strong engineering at lower rates, with EU and US delivery options.
- N-iX, Master of Code, and RTS Labs suit large nearshore engagements, voice and chat agents, and high-end generative AI programs respectively.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 LeewayHertz | Enterprise AI programs | $50-99/hr | Not applicable |
 Turing | Per-engineer AI hiring | $45-110/hr | Not applicable |
 Toptal | Vetted freelance AI talent | $60-150/hr | Not applicable |
 Simform | Mid-market AI products | $25-49/hr | Not applicable |
 Innowise | EU data residency | $30-60/hr | Not applicable |
 N-iX | Large nearshore engagements | $35-65/hr | Not applicable |
 Master of Code | Voice and chat agents | $45-110/hr | Not applicable |
 RTS Labs | High-end generative AI programs | $150K-500K project | Not applicable |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best top ai software development companies
Starting price$50-99/hr
Free planNot applicable
LeewayHertz suits enterprise AI programs, with deep expertise in deep learning, machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, plus hands-on work with GPT-4, BERT, LLaMA, and PaLM 2 models. Its enterprise generative AI platform, ZBrain, operates as a full-stack environment for building custom applications powered by LLMs trained on enterprise data.
The team counts over 100 full-stack developers, more than 160 completed software products, and over 15 years of software development experience, with clients including ESPN, Shell, 3M, Siemens, GETTR, and Kinesis. Hourly guides conflict, with ScalaCode citing $50 to $120 per hour, Clutch citing $50 to $99, and an older guide citing $25 to $50, so confirm current rates before budgeting. Now part of The Hackett Group, LeewayHertz suits enterprises in healthcare and finance that need structured, regulated AI delivery.
What we like- Enterprise AI focus
- Agentic AI and copilots
- ZBrain full-stack platform
- Fortune 500 procurement fit
Watch out for- Premium pricing tier
- Enterprise focus means less flexibility for startups
- Longer sales cycles
Starting price$45-110/hr
Free planNot applicable
Turing suits per-engineer AI hiring, as an AI-focused engineering marketplace offering vetted developers for AI and machine learning roles on a per-engineer basis. Its strength lies in training data and evaluation as well as engineering talent, and one generative AI guide rates Turing 8.3 overall with typical project costs of $200,000 to $800,000.
Hourly guides cite $45 to $110 per hour, and the marketplace model means the hirer manages team continuity rather than a single agency. For a company that wants to hire vetted AI engineers without building a full vendor program, Turing is the most AI-focused marketplace here.
What we like- AI-vetted talent pool
- Per-engineer hiring
- Training data and evaluation strength
- Global marketplace
Watch out for- Marketplace model, not a full agency
- Team continuity is the hirer responsibility
- Project costs reach $200K to $800K by one guide
#3Toptal
Best for: Vetted freelance AI talent4.7/5 on
G2 (270 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit toptal.com
Starting price$60-150/hr
Free planNot applicable
Toptal suits vetted freelance AI talent, screening the top 3 percent of applicants globally and covering niche stacks that agencies may lack. Hourly guides cite $60 to $150 per hour for senior developers, the highest band here, reflecting the vetting premium.
Like Turing, Toptal is a marketplace, not an agency, so team continuity and project management fall to the hirer. For a company that needs one or two senior AI engineers fast, Toptal vetting justifies the premium. For a full product team, an agency like LeewayHertz or Simform fits better.
What we like- Screens top 3 percent globally
- Niche stack coverage
- Fast hiring
- Global talent pool
Watch out for- Highest hourly rates here
- Marketplace model, not an agency
- Team continuity is the hirer responsibility
Starting price$25-49/hr
Free planNot applicable
Simform suits mid-market AI products, with product engineering DNA, cloud-native and AI/ML strength, and US and India delivery at $25 to $49 per hour by Clutch. One generative AI guide rates Simform 6.9 overall with typical project costs of $80,000 to $300,000 and 5 to 10 weeks to prototype.
Generative AI depth runs lower than LeewayHertz or RTS Labs, so enterprise AI programs may need a stronger specialist. For a mid-market company that wants a product team at a lower rate, Simform is the best value pick here.
What we like- Low hourly rates
- Product engineering DNA
- Cloud-native and AI/ML strength
- US and India delivery
Watch out for- Generative AI rating 6.9 by one guide, lowest here
- Smaller AI-specific depth than LeewayHertz
- Minimum project $80K to $300K by one guide
Starting price$30-60/hr
Free planNot applicable
Innowise suits EU data residency needs, with delivery in Estonia and Poland and broad engineering plus a growing AI practice at $30 to $60 per hour by guides. EU delivery helps companies with data residency rules or GDPR-sensitive workloads that prefer EU-based teams.
AI is a growing line rather than the core focus, so pure AI programs may suit LeewayHertz or RTS Labs better. For a European company that wants nearshore engineering with AI capability and EU residency, Innowise is the strongest fit.
What we like- EU delivery in Estonia and Poland
- EU data residency fit
- Broad engineering with growing AI
- $30 to $60 per hour
Watch out for- AI is a growing line, not the core focus
- Smaller AI-specific case base than specialists
- Enterprise depth below N-iX
Starting price$35-65/hr
Free planNot applicable
N-iX suits large nearshore engagements, with 2,000 plus engineers in Ukraine and Poland and broad engineering depth at $35 to $65 per hour by guides. Large engagement capacity suits companies that need a full team, not just one or two engineers, and the firm handles enterprise programs with formal process.
AI is one line among many rather than the sole focus, so pure AI specialists may offer deeper expertise. For a company that wants a large, stable nearshore team with AI capability included, N-iX is the most scalable option here.
What we like- 2,000 plus engineers
- Ukraine and Poland delivery
- Large engagement capacity
- Broad engineering depth
Watch out for- AI is one line among many
- Enterprise pricing not published
- Slower start than smaller firms
Starting price$45-110/hr
Free planNot applicable
Master of Code suits voice and chat agents, with a Toronto HQ and a specialty in customer-facing voice and chat agents at $45 to $110 per hour by guides. The narrow focus means deeper agent expertise than generalist firms, which matters for contact center and customer experience projects.
The focus is narrower than full-service firms, so a company that needs broad AI plus product engineering may need another vendor alongside. For a company whose AI project is a voice or chat agent, Master of Code is the most specialized pick here.
What we like- Voice and chat agent specialty
- Customer-facing agent focus
- Toronto HQ
- $45 to $110 per hour
Watch out for- Narrower focus than full-service firms
- Smaller team than N-iX or EPAM
- Enterprise pricing varies
Starting price$150K-500K project
Free planNot applicable
RTS Labs suits high-end generative AI programs, with a 9.3 overall rating by one generative AI guide, strong model selection, evaluation, cost engineering, and integration depth, plus full client IP ownership. Typical project costs run $150,000 to $500,000 with 3 to 6 weeks to prototype, the fastest prototype time here.
Project costs run highest here, so small teams should look at Simform or Innowise instead. For a company that wants the strongest generative AI engineering and can fund a premium program, RTS Labs is the top-rated pick.
What we like- Highest generative AI rating at 9.3 by one guide
- Strong model selection and evaluation
- Full client IP ownership
- 3 to 6 weeks to prototype
Watch out for- Highest project costs here
- Premium positioning
- Smaller team than enterprise agencies
How we chose
We compared AI software development companies on AI depth, delivery model, hourly rates, project costs, IP ownership, prototype speed, and client fit, using vendor pages, Clutch data, and October 2026 AI development guides. We favored firms with clear AI-specific case work over generalist firms that merely list AI as a service, and we flagged where hourly guides conflict, since rates vary by seniority and engagement model.
How to hire an AI development company
Start with your delivery model, then your budget. Full product teams point to agencies like LeewayHertz, Simform, Innowise, and N-iX. Per-engineer hiring points to marketplaces like Turing and Toptal. Voice and chat agents point to Master of Code. High-end generative AI points to RTS Labs.
Confirm IP ownership and data handling in writing
Confirm IP assignment and data handling in writing before work starts, since some firms take 60 plus days to fully vest IP after project end and data handling varies by vendor. Ask how training data, model outputs, and client data are stored, who owns fine-tuned models, and when IP transfers. A vendor that hesitates on IP terms is a red flag, no matter how strong the demo looks.
Budget for inference, not just engineering
LLM development cost has two parts: engineering and inference, and inference cost is often missing from the budget. Model API prices change often, so estimate inference cost at your real volume before you choose a model, and ask whether the vendor includes inference in project pricing or bills it separately. A cheap build with expensive inference costs more over a year than a pricier build on an efficient model.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI software development company?
LeewayHertz, for enterprise AI programs with agentic AI, copilots, and the ZBrain platform. Turing and Toptal suit per-engineer hiring, Simform suits mid-market value, and RTS Labs suits high-end generative AI programs, so the best pick depends on your delivery model and budget.
How much does it cost to hire an AI development company?
Hourly rates run $25 to $49 for Simform, $30 to $60 for Innowise, $35 to $65 for N-iX, $45 to $110 for Turing and Master of Code, $50 to $99 for LeewayHertz, and $60 to $150 for Toptal. Project costs run $60,000 to $300,000 for smaller firms and $150,000 to $500,000 for RTS Labs, with Turing projects cited up to $800,000.
Should I hire an agency or a marketplace?
Agencies suit full product teams with project management included, while marketplaces suit per-engineer hiring where you manage the team. Agencies cost more per hour but include management, while marketplaces cost less per engineer but shift continuity and management to you.
Do AI development companies own the IP?
Most firms here offer full client IP ownership, including RTS Labs, LeewayHertz, and Turing by one guide, but confirm vesting timelines in writing, since some firms take 60 plus days to fully vest IP after project end. Never assume IP transfers automatically.
How long does it take to build an AI prototype?
From 3 to 6 weeks for RTS Labs, 4 to 8 weeks for LeewayHertz, 5 to 10 weeks for Turing and Simform, and 5 to 9 weeks for smaller firms by guides. Prototype speed depends on scope, data readiness, and model choice, so treat these as guide ranges, not guarantees.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.leewayhertz.com
- https://www.turing.com
- https://www.toptal.com
- https://www.simform.com
- https://innowise.com
- https://www.n-ix.com
- https://masterofcode.com
- https://rtslabs.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.