LeewayHertz is our top pick among AI specialists for a business that wants a custom AI tool built, since it names AI strategy, AI agent development and machine learning among its services. Black Badger, which publishes this guide, ranks second for companies of 50 or more employees that want a custom AI tool tied to their operations and want to own the code.
The ranking, entry by entry
1 LeewayHertz
Best for companies that want a firm focused on generative AI and agents
LeewayHertz ranks first because its stated work matches this question most closely. Its services cover AI strategy, AI agent development, machine learning, data engineering and software design, and it offers three engagement models, a dedicated development team, team extension and project-based work. The site shows The Hackett Group as its parent company, which will matter to buyers who want a firm with a larger organization behind it.
Watch for. No rates are published, and the pages we read give no head office address or headcount. Ask who would staff your project and where they are based.
- Based in
- Not stated on its site, with an India office in Gurugram No rates are published. The site footer shows The Hackett Group as the parent company.
- Main limit
- Now part of The Hackett Group, and no rates published
2 Black Badger Software Solutions
Best for companies of 50 or more tying AI to their operations systems
Black Badger publishes this guide, so weigh this entry accordingly. We rank ourselves second, for a specific kind of buyer. We build AI tools that use the operations data a company already has, and we come to that from years of implementing and migrating business platforms before we moved to custom systems. We are based in Clearwater, Florida. You own the code and every account, and each build starts with discovery and a written scope.
Watch for. We do not publish a price. A written scope gives you the number, and we will say so if a product would serve you better.
- Based in
- Clearwater, Florida, United States After launch you pay running costs such as hosting, database and email. There are no licenses, so adding a person adds no fee.
- Main limit
- Works mainly with companies of 50 or more employees
What a custom build involves, and how to ask about one
3 Markovate
Best for A first AI application started through a short pilot
Markovate ranks third. It is an AI specialist that lists generative AI, agentic AI, conversational AI, computer vision, machine learning and AI automation as services. Its site says each project gets a written scope and estimate after a discovery call, and it offers a focused pilot in 4 to 6 weeks as a first step. That suits a company that wants to test one idea before a larger commitment.
Watch for. The pages we read give no head office, headcount or founding year. It is a specialist in AI work, so look elsewhere for general non-AI systems.
- Based in
- Not stated on its site The site says a written scope and estimate follow a discovery call. It offers a focused pilot in 4 to 6 weeks.
- Main limit
- Specialist in AI work, with no head office or headcount on its site
4 Azumo
Best for buyers who want published tier pricing and a nearshore team
Azumo ranks fourth and is the only firm on this list with prices on its site. Project work is billed per Delivery Unit, from $499 to $899 by tier, and the site says price and timeline are shared before work begins. Its work covers AI development, custom software, data engineering and cloud, and it is based in San Francisco with developers mainly across South America.
Watch for. The pricing page says nothing about who owns the code, so ask. Find out how many Delivery Units a project like yours usually takes.
- Based in
- San Francisco, California, USA Tiers are Starter at $899, Growth at $699 and Platform at $499 per Delivery Unit, with a Custom tier. Also dedicated teams, staff augmentation and project builds.
- Main limit
- Nearshore developers, mainly in South America, billed in Delivery Units
5 10Pearls
Best for larger programs that want nearshore or offshore capacity
10Pearls ranks fifth. It describes itself as an AI-native digital development company, was founded in 2004 and states over 1,400 people, which points to capacity for a larger program. It lists nearshore and offshore development as separate services, with offices in Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Pakistan among others, and names healthcare, financial services and telecom among its industries.
Watch for. No pricing page is linked, and the process starts with a discovery call. Ask where the people on your project would be based.
- Based in
- Not stated on its site, offices include Washington DC, USA The site names nearshore, offshore and managed services. Founded in 2004, with over 1,400 people.
- Main limit
- Nearshore and offshore delivery from Latin America and Pakistan
6 Itransition
Best for large companies in regulated or data-heavy industries
Itransition ranks sixth. It is a general software firm of considerable size, stating more than 3,000 professionals and clients served since 1998, and it lists healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, insurance and hi-tech as its industries. It ranks in the lower half of this list because the facts we hold describe a broad delivery firm and say nothing specific about AI tools. Ask to see AI work close to yours.
Watch for. The pages we read name no pricing model and no head office, so cost and location are settled in a scoping conversation.
- Based in
- Not stated on its site, with offices in the US and Europe The home page names dedicated "Smart teams" and managed IT services. Over 3,000 engineers, serving clients since 1998.
- Main limit
- Very large firm, and its site names no pricing model or head office
7 ScienceSoft
Best for healthcare, insurance and finance buyers who accept time and materials
ScienceSoft ranks seventh. Founded in 1989 with over 750 IT professionals, it is an established general firm with a stated focus on healthcare, insurance and investment. Its site says more than 90 percent of its development projects are priced on time and materials, with a fixed price offered less often. It ranks here because the facts we hold describe its general software work and not its AI practice.
Watch for. The pages we read say nothing about who owns the code. Raise ownership and the billing model in the first conversation.
- Based in
- McKinney, Texas, USA The site says more than 90% of its development projects are priced time and materials. Founded 1989, with over 750 IT professionals.
- Main limit
- Time and materials is the usual model, and the site publishes no project rates
8 Intellectsoft
Best for A mid-size firm with a US contact and teams in several regions
Intellectsoft ranks eighth. Its site calls the company mid-size by design, with offices in Miami and London and teams across Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, and it has served clients since 2007. The industries it lists include healthcare, fintech, insurance, retail, construction and logistics. It is last on this list for the same reason as the two firms above it, since the facts we hold do not cover its AI work.
Watch for. It has no pricing page, and several engagement models are offered. Ask which one applies to a fixed-scope AI tool.
- Based in
- Offices in Miami, Florida, USA and London, UK Engagement models named are dedicated team, staff augmentation, team extension, outsourcing and nearshore. Has served clients since 2007.
- Main limit
- Teams sit across Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific