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Why Eastern Europe is the Best Destination for Hiring Remote Software Developers
- Reasons Eastern Europe is the ideal spot for hiring remote developers
- 3 ways to hire software developers in Eastern Europe
- Breakdown of best countries in Eastern Europe for software development
- Hire developers in other сountries
- Challenges you face when hire developers in Eastern Europe
- How Mobilunity solves these challenges
- Future trends in hiring Eastern European remote developers
- Case studies: Mobilunity’s success stories
- What Mobilunity can offer you
The global shift towards remote and hybrid work models has significantly impacted the technology industry. As of 2024, approximately 79% of tech companies offer fully flexible work policies, allowing employees to choose their work environment, while only 3% require full-time office presence. This trend has heightened the need for proficient Eastern European programmers, prompting companies to seek talent sources outside their local areas.
Professionals in these nations are recognized for their skill in programming languages like Java, Python, and C++, along with their knowledge in new areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing.
What enhances the allure of many European countries for businesses is the equilibrium it provides between quality and affordability. Engineers in this area consistently provide top-notch solutions at competitive prices, making it a perfect option for businesses aiming to enhance their technical skills without going over budget.
Additionally, the area’s cultural alignment with Western markets, along with high English language skills, promotes effortless cooperation and integration into international teams.
Reasons Eastern Europe is the ideal spot for hiring remote developers
As of 2024, 75% of employers report difficulty filling roles, with the IT sector experiencing a 76% talent shortage. With the increasing global demand for tech talent, companies are expanding their search beyond local markets to find affordable and skilled software developers. This region ranks as a top destination for mobile and web development, providing a unique combination of technical skill, cost-effectiveness, and cultural alignment.
Expert knowledge base
Eastern European countries are well-known for their emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Nations such as Poland, Ukraine, and Romania consistently generate graduates who excel in programming, software development, and new technologies like AI and blockchain.
These countries lead the world rankings for coding skills, with engineers often acknowledged for their technical expertise and problem-solving capabilities. For instance, Poland ranks in the top 10 worldwide for Java and Python skills, whereas Ukraine is well-known for its custom software development services and cybersecurity capabilities.
Alongside their academic accomplishments, developers in this region engage in international programming contests like ACM ICPC and Google Code Jam, enhancing their standing as some of the top professionals globally.
Affordability without sacrificing quality
A major reason companies opt for this region is its affordability. Professionals in this area provide top-notch skills at much lower prices than those in Western Europe or North America.
To provide a comprehensive overview of developer rates, we’ve compiled data from trusted sources such as Upwork and Indeed, and insights from Mobilunity’s experienced recruiters, who specialize in on-demand engineering staff augmentation.
The table below presents the average hourly rates (in USD) for developers across different countries. The rates are categorized by qualification levels – Junior, Middle, and Senior engineers – offering a clear understanding of the costs associated with hiring developers based on their expertise and experience.
These rates position Eastern Europe as an appealing choice for businesses looking to enhance their development capabilities without straining their budgets. Additionally, companies gain from the area’s strong work ethic and commitment to quality, guaranteeing that projects are completed punctually and to a superior standard.
Cultural alignment and smooth collaboration
Cultural alignment is vital in promoting successful collaboration with dedicated teams. Professionals from Eastern European countries align closely with the values held by Western companies, including a robust work ethic, a focus on goals, and an open communication style.
Advance knowledge of English is another significant benefit. Countries such as Poland, Ukraine, and Romania score well on the EF English Proficiency Index, guaranteeing that developers can interact efficiently with international teams. This cultural and language alignment eases the onboarding process and integration, making engineers from this region an ideal option for Western companies.
Time zone benefit for international collaboration
The geographical position of Eastern Europe provides advantageous time zone alignments with Western Europe and North America.
- Developers in Poland and Romania are just 1–2 hours ahead of EU West, enabling real-time collaboration during business hours.
- Teams in Ukraine can seamlessly handle concurrent schedules with both Europe and the U.S., enabling companies to sustain efficient operations.
This strategic placement in time zones guarantees that dedicated teams stay efficient and reactive, facilitating smooth collaboration across different areas.
3 ways to hire software developers in Eastern Europe
There are three main ways to hire the best developers in Eastern Europe:
While hiring a freelance Eastern European developer is the quickest way, it comes with a lot of risks, as a freelance coder can drop your project any time in favor of a more appealing one. Also, it’s hard to ensure the security of the data provided to a freelance worker.
Outsourcing comes as a more viable option when a company delegates some tasks or even full project development to a team working remotely. The Eastern Europe software development outsourcing services provider usually takes care of the team management and reports on the software development progress. However, it also means that the outsourcing provider assumes greater control over critical aspects of the project. This includes selecting development methods, managing the team’s workload, and distributing efforts and infrastructure costs.
Additionally, this shift in control can sometimes result in reduced transparency regarding budgets, resource allocation, and overall decision-making processes, as the outsourcing provider determines how resources and efforts are prioritized.
However, if you want to build a dedicated development team in Eastern Europe of skilled coders with expertise required for your needs technologies to work solely on your project, a dedicated team is a perfect solution. Such a powerful team will be integrated and fully engaged in your business and software development processes, thus, providing the maximum value to your company.
If you manage to find the right IT team augmentation firm, you may receive outstanding development at very cost-effective rates, have absolutely full control over development, and avoid extra expenses on management, recruiting training, infrastructure, and more. Besides, this model provides amazing flexibility as you can easily increase or decrease the number of dedicated engineers in your team as per the project’s needs.
| Aspect | Freelance | Outsourcing | Dedicated dev teams |
| Definition | Hiring individual engineers for specific tasks or short-term projects. | Contracting an external company to handle entire development projects or operations. | Partnering with a service provider to hire dedicated developers working exclusively for your company. |
| Control | Limited control over processes and project management. | Minimal control; the outsourcing company manages the team and project delivery. | High control; developers work as part of your extended team, following your workflows and reporting directly. |
| Team structure | Individual contributors, often working independently. | Managed by the outsourcing provider, typically without direct involvement from the client. | Fully integrated team members who function as part of the client’s organization. |
| Cost | Usually the cheapest option, but costs can vary widely. | Medium to high, depending on project scope and provider rates. | Competitive and predictable costs. |
| Scalability | Limited scalability; adding more freelancers can lead to coordination challenges. | Moderate; scaling depends on the outsourcing provider’s capacity. | High scalability; teams can be adjusted easily based on project needs. |
| Quality assurance | Varies; relies on the individual’s skillset and commitment. | Quality is often ensured by the outsourcing company’s processes. | Quality depends on the developers’ expertise and your management; providers help ensure skilled professionals. |
| Commitment | Freelancers often work with multiple clients, so commitment may be limited. | Outsourcing teams are committed to the project but may also juggle multiple clients. | Dedicated engineers work exclusively on your projects, ensuring high commitment. |
| Best use cases | Small, short-term projects or tasks requiring niche expertise. | Larger projects requiring end-to-end management or specific expertise. | Long-term projects require dedicated engineers and close collaboration with in-house teams. |
| Communication | Direct with the freelancer, but responsiveness can vary. | Managed through the outsourcing provider, often less direct. | Direct communication with the developers as if they are part of your internal team. |
| Legal and administrative | Minimal; the client manages contracts and payments individually. | Handled by the outsourcing company. | Handled by the IT team augmentation provider, including contracts, payroll, and compliance. |
Breakdown of best countries in Eastern Europe for software development
This region hosts a variety of nations, each providing distinct benefits for companies in search of development expertise. Here’s an in-depth examination of the premier countries to hire developers, their advantages, and reasons for being preferred options for Eastern European software development.
#1 Ukraine
Ukraine is recognized as a leading choice for remote development thanks to its extensive talent base, solid technical skills, and affordability. The nation boasts over 200,000 IT experts and generates more than 16,000 new technology graduates each year, owing to its strong educational system centered on STEM fields.
Main takeaways:
- Trending technologies: Ukrainian engineers are proficient in AI, machine learning, AR, VR, and other modern technologies.
- Tech hubs: Cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, and Kharkiv feature vibrant IT ecosystems filled with a variety of tech companies, accelerators, and co-working environments.
- Cultural compatibility: Engineers from Ukraine resonate effectively with Western work values and communication methods, frequently demonstrating strong English skills.
- Current trends: In spite of geopolitical difficulties, Ukraine’s IT sector has demonstrated significant resilience, successfully drawing international clients and growing its IT team augmentation market.
#2 Poland
Poland stands as the biggest IT center among Eastern European countries, boasting more than 400,000 engineers. Being part of the European Union, it provides smooth integration with Western markets, making it a desirable location for companies that value easy collaboration.
Main takeaways:
- Education: Poland achieves a high position in international programming contests, indicating its top-tier technical education.
- Popular technologies: Developers focus on Python, JavaScript, and C++, excelling particularly in fintech and enterprise software.
- English proficiency: Advanced English skills guarantee effective communication and productive teamwork.
- Closeness to the EU West: Poland’s geographical position facilitates immediate cooperation with clients in the EU West, boosting efficiency and shortening response times.
#3 Romania
Romania is quickly becoming known as an affordable IT staff augmentation center, boasting a talented workforce of more than 100,000 developers. The nation is especially recognized for its proficiency in software testing and quality control.
Main takeaways:
- Multilingual expertise: Romanian engineers frequently communicate in several languages, rendering them adaptable for global projects.
- Leading technologies: Proficient in .NET, C#, and PHP, Romania stands out as a great option for tailored software development.
- Government assistance: Beneficial tax regulations for IT firms have driven expansion in Romania’s technology industry.
Industries served: Developers in Romania often provide support to sectors like healthcare, telecommunications, and eCommerce.
Hire developers in other сountries
Expand your team’s horizons by bringing in expert developers from around the world. Gain from the rich mix of perspectives and skills they offer, fostering innovation and progress in your technology initiatives.
This analysis highlights the distinct advantages of every country in Eastern Europe, enabling companies to select the location that most closely matches their particular requirements.
If you’re in search of affordable options, cutting-edge technologies, or smooth integration with Western markets, these regions offer numerous possibilities for establishing or expanding your dedicated development team.
You can also delve into the international talent market to enrich your team with skilled developers from multiple countries. Utilize their unique viewpoints and specialized knowledge to fuel innovation and progress in your technology initiatives.
Challenges you face when hire developers in Eastern Europe
Although countries from this region are an ideal location for recruiting dedicated developers, companies may face difficulties in managing the region’s varied markets and labor force. Effectively tackling these challenges is crucial for forming a successful remote development team.
Traversing legal complications
Every nation in this region possesses a unique array of labor laws, tax structures, and policies related to dedicated teams or IT team augmentation. For companies not acquainted with the area, grasping and adhering to these regulations can be tedious and complex.
Moreover, creating contracts that comply with local and international regulations can be challenging, especially for businesses unfamiliar with the area.
Retaining talent in competitive markets
The thriving tech sector has established a fiercely competitive landscape for talented engineers. As demand grows, keeping skilled employees can be a major difficulty for companies.
Elevated turnover rates can interfere with project schedules, raise hiring expenses, and affect overall efficiency.
Cultural integration and management of remote teams
While Eastern Europe has numerous cultural similarities with Western markets, variations in work styles and expectations can sometimes lead to tension.
Overseeing dedicated teams in various time zones and guaranteeing alignment with company values and objectives necessitate intentional effort and efficient tools.
How Mobilunity solves these challenges
Mobilunity focuses on delivering dedicated software development teams from various regions, providing companies with an efficient way to address these obstacles.
Legal compliance and management assistance
Mobilunity takes care of all legal and administrative elements related to hiring developers, such as creating and overseeing contracts, guaranteeing tax compliance, and following labor regulations in every country.
By acting as a reliable ally, Mobilunity simplifies the challenges of working through legal frameworks, allowing businesses to concentrate on their main activities.
Talent recruitment and retention
Mobilunity’s hiring team finds and chooses high-quality engineers suited to the unique requirements of each client. Mobilunity provides access to a large talent pool through its extensive network in Eastern Europe.
Software development in Mobilunity focuses on keeping talent. We offer career growth opportunities, attractive salaries, and a nurturing workplace. This method promotes lasting dedication, minimizing turnover and providing stability for client projects.
Flawless cultural integration and team leadership
Mobilunity highlights the importance of cultural alignment by choosing developers who satisfy technical demands as well as align with a client’s corporate culture. Consistent communication and feedback mechanisms are set up to guarantee smooth cooperation.
Mobilunity further enhances remote team management by offering access to sophisticated tools, promoting frequent meetings, and ensuring open communication channels to connect teams effectively.
Dedicated development team model
Mobilunity’s dedicated team approach offers clients engineers focused solely on their projects, fostering a unified team environment. This model guarantees that developers are completely incorporated into a client’s processes and synchronized with their business goals.
| Challenge | Description | Mobilunity’s solution |
| Navigating legal complexities | Diverse labor laws, tax systems, and regulations across countries make compliance challenging. | Handles legal compliance, contracts, and tax requirements, ensuring adherence to local and international laws. |
| Talent retention in competitive markets | High demand for skilled developers increases turnover rates and recruitment costs. | Provides career development opportunities, competitive compensation, and a supportive environment to retain top talent. |
| Cultural integration and team management | Differences in work styles and managing dedicated teams across time zones can impact productivity. | Ensures cultural alignment, facilitates communication, and provides tools for efficient dedicated team management. |
| Ensuring team commitment and stability | Lacking long-term commitment to development, developers tend to leave the project. | Offers a dedicated team model where engineers work exclusively on the client’s projects, ensuring stability and focus. |
By tackling these challenges directly, Mobilunity not only streamlines the process of hiring and overseeing dedicated engineers but also guarantees that companies meet their objectives with effectiveness and dependability. Whether it’s adhering to legal standards, keeping talent, or smooth integration, Mobilunity’s knowledge ensures that hiring dedicated teams in Eastern Europe is a seamless and beneficial decision.
Future trends in hiring Eastern European remote developers
Eastern Europe has long been recognized as a thriving hub for software development, and its prominence continues to grow as global tech demands evolve. Here are the key trends shaping the future of software development in the region.
The latest technologies
Eastern Europe is swiftly progressing in advanced technologies, establishing itself as a favored location for innovation-focused initiatives. Developers in nations such as Ukraine, Poland, and Romania are progressively focusing on:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This region has experienced a rise in AI and ML initiatives, as numerous developers enhance progress in predictive analytics, natural language processing, and autonomous technologies.
- Emerging virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platforms, combined with enhanced project management software, are set to create a smoother integration between physical and virtual workspaces.
- At the same time, cybersecurity and data protection will remain top priorities as remote work expands. Businesses must invest in robust security infrastructure and provide ongoing training to remote teams on best practices for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
This knowledge establishes Eastern Europe as a worldwide authority in providing cutting-edge technological solutions.
The growth of nearshoring
Nearshoring – delegating tasks to neighboring nations – has seen considerable growth, especially among companies in the EU West. Benefits of nearshoring in Eastern Europe consist of:
- Closeness to the West: Reduced travel distances and shared time zones enable immediate collaboration.
- Cultural cohesion: Software developers from Eastern Europe possess comparable work ethics and communication approaches to their Western peers, facilitating smooth integration into current teams.
- Excellent quality at competitive prices: Nearshoring to this region provides a combination of quality and cost-effectiveness that is hard to find in other areas.
This trend is anticipated to expand as companies in the EU West progressively look for efficient, affordable, and culturally compatible IT team augmentation solutions.
Long-term collaboration
In the coming ten years, Eastern Europe’s significance in the global IT arena is poised to grow. Governments in the area are allocating resources to STEM education and technological infrastructure, securing a consistent flow of well-qualified experts.
Due to its robust basis in emerging technologies and capacity to adjust to worldwide trends, this region is set to emerge as a global leader in software development, especially in high-demand areas such as AI, blockchain, and cloud solutions.
Case studies: Mobilunity’s success stories
Mobilunity’s proficiency in creating dedicated development teams has helped companies in various sectors attain impressive outcomes. Here are three success stories that show how Mobilunity provides customized solutions to address various business requirements.
#1 Expanding an online restaurant reservation platform
Client: A France-based encompassing software suite for restaurants that allow them to manage their reservations without commissions or intermediaries.
Challenge: The client required a scalable backend system to manage high traffic during sales events while maintaining seamless customer experiences. Elevated local recruitment expenses led them to seek a remote workforce.
Solution: Mobilunity gathered a focused group of backend developers and DevOps experts from Ukraine. The team’s duties involved optimizing backend systems, boosting scalability, and refining operations to enhance solution performance.
Results:
- Quicker delivery: The committed team shortened project durations by 30%.
- Cost reduction: The client achieved a 40% savings compared to local hiring.
- Enhanced customer experience: Website loading speeds improved by 50%, enabling the site to manage twice the former traffic capacity without any downtime.
Learn more about this project here.
#2 Building a dedicated team for an insurance company
Client: An online insurance broker from Switzerland focused on reducing administrative expenses.
Challenge: The client required a team to be assembled within weeks to meet their deadlines and maintain commitments. The developers had to quickly integrate into the project, support the existing code, and start contributing immediately.
Solution: Mobilunity helped hire two developers who fully complied with all the technical requirements in only two weeks. The team quickly onboarded, familiarized themselves with the codebase and project needs, and began improving the code while working closely with the client’s team to maintain a smooth workflow. Once the process was established, we assisted the client in hiring the whole team – Team Lead, 2 front-end and 3 back-end specialists, and 2 QA engineers.
Results:
- Successful migration: The development team migrated from Laravel version 4 to 5.3 module by module, while working on new features creation and deployment.
- Established workflow: The project is managed with daily stand-ups, weekly planning calls, task discussions, and end-of-sprint retrospectives to review progress and make improvements
Explore the full story here.
#3 Assisting a Danish provider of trade solutions
Client: A provider of electronic trade solutions for the construction industry targeting the European market.
Challenge: The project was transferred to us from an external vendor responsible for a significant portion of the development. Much of the documentation was incomplete and in Danish, creating challenges during the initial knowledge transfer to the new team.
Solution: The team created a step-by-step strategy to adapt to documentation challenges, supported by regular communication. Weekly meetings and open dialogue allowed the team to resolve issues efficiently. Mobilunity’s strong organizational structure, focus on developer satisfaction, and transparency with the client ensured productivity and long-term success.
Results:
- Punctual delivery: The system was implemented in six months, adhering to the client’s tight schedule.
- Enduring collaboration: The client engaged Mobilunity’s team for continuous assistance and feature enhancement.
Read more about this project here.
These case studies showcase Mobilunity’s capacity to achieve outstanding outcomes across various sectors, including eCommerce, fintech, and healthcare. Mobilunity guarantees successful high-quality results by creating specialized teams customized to meet each client’s distinct needs.
What Mobilunity can offer you
Mobilunity has positioned itself as a reliable ally for organizations looking for qualified remote software development in Eastern Europe. Our customized strategy for providing dedicated dev teams guarantees that clients obtain high-quality talent and a smooth integration into their current operations.
Our method for the best software engineering collaboration
At Mobilunity, we focus on linking international businesses with devoted developers from various regions. Our dedicated team approach guarantees that developers concentrate solely on the client’s projects, operating as a complement to their internal team. This method provides:
- Adaptability: Teams can be adjusted in size according to project requirements.
- Transparency: Clients maintain complete oversight of the team’s workflow and procedures.
Holistic talent management
Mobilunity offers comprehensive talent management services, addressing all phases of the developer lifecycle:
- Hiring: We utilize our broad network to find highly qualified developers who align with the client’s technical and cultural needs.
- Onboarding: Our onboarding procedure guarantees that new team members adapt swiftly and efficiently to the client’s projects.
- Retention: We emphasize developer contentment by offering competitive salaries, opportunities for professional growth, and a nurturing work atmosphere.
- Continuous assistance: Mobilunity oversees all administrative responsibilities, such as payroll, HR, and legal compliance, allowing clients to concentrate on their main business activities.
Reasons clients have confidence in Mobilunity
Mobilunity’s established success is founded on three fundamental principles:
- Transparency: We uphold open dialogues with clients throughout the entire process, guaranteeing clear expectations and results.
- Flexibility: Our services are customized to address the specific requirements of every client, ranging from startups to major corporations.
- Demonstrated skill: With extensive experience and a portfolio of successful projects in multiple sectors, Mobilunity is a trustworthy ally for creating dedicated teams.
By combining expertise, transparency, and a client-first approach, Mobilunity empowers businesses to harness the full potential of best Eastern European software developers. Whether it’s scaling operations, accessing niche expertise, or achieving cost efficiency, Mobilunity is the partner companies can trust for long-term success.
Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.
