Index.dev vs Qubit Labs: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Index.dev (4.2/5) edges ahead of Qubit Labs (3.7/5) overall. Index.dev is the better choice for startups that want a 30-day refundable trial before committing to a remote ML engineer. Qubit Labs is the stronger option for cost-conscious teams that can write a precise brief for an Eastern European ML hire. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Index.dev vs Qubit Labs: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Index.dev | Qubit Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 30,000+ network | 50–100 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A 30-day trial with full refund on every placement | Recruiting across several lower-cost Eastern European countries |
| Pricing model | Monthly rate per engineer; direct-hire fee option; 30-day trial with refund; rates on request | Monthly per engineer with a service fee; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce, Healthcare, AI labs | Technology, Fintech, E-commerce, Gaming, Healthcare |
Index.dev vs Qubit Labs: overview
Index.dev
Index.dev is a London company, founded in 2019 according to its own job ads, trading under the legal name Index Soft Limited. It calls itself an AI-first engineering talent platform. Its main network has more than 30,000 engineers in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe, and a separate AI unit supplies Master's and PhD-level people for LLM fine-tuning and RAG work. Every engineer goes through five stages of vetting run by people, including a live screening call and technical validation, and Index.dev says about 1% are accepted. All placements come with a 30-day trial and a full refund if the match fails.
Qubit Labs
Qubit Labs launched in 2016 as a Ukrainian IT outstaffing company and is now listed with headquarters in Tallinn or Kyiv depending on the source. It builds remote dedicated teams in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Georgia, Romania and other countries, and in recent years it has added AI staff augmentation and deep tech recruiting. Screening is recruiter-led. The firm is a practical option for cost-conscious teams that know exactly what they want, but it has less proven ML depth than AI-only suppliers.
Services and capabilities: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Capability | Index.dev | Qubit Labs |
|---|---|---|
| ML engineers | ✓ | ✓ |
| LLM / GenAI engineers | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI agent developers | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| Computer vision engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data engineers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Engineer-led technical screen | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fractional / part-time experts | ✗ | ✗ |
| Trial before commitment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Nearshore time-zone overlap | ✓ | ✗ |
| Direct hire option | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Framework / platform | Index.dev | Qubit Labs |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| LangChain | ✓ | N/A |
| Hugging Face | ✓ | N/A |
| OpenAI | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | ✓ |
| Google Cloud | ✓ | N/A |
| Databricks | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Criterion | Index.dev | Qubit Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated engineer, Dedicated team, Direct hire, Trial period | Dedicated engineer, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Dimension | Index.dev | Qubit Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce | Technology, Fintech, E-commerce |
| Best use cases | Trialling a Latin American ML engineer for a month before committing, Hiring a PhD-level specialist to fine-tune an open-source LLM | Hiring a Python ML engineer in Poland or Romania, Building a remote data team outside Ukraine |
| Typical project type | Dedicated engineer | Dedicated engineer |
Index.dev vs Qubit Labs: pros and cons
| Index.dev | |
|---|---|
| + | The 30-day refundable trial is the most generous published trial on this page |
| + | A separate AI unit for advanced work such as fine-tuning |
| + | Clients can hire directly as well as contract |
| - | Vetting is human-led but not specifically run by ML engineers |
| - | Network figures and acceptance rates are company claims |
| - | Founding date only appears in job listings |
| Qubit Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Hires in several countries, not only Ukraine |
| + | Lower cost than Western European suppliers |
| + | Clients say shortlists arrive quickly |
| - | Recruiter-led screening for technical roles |
| - | AI staffing is a recent addition |
| - | Headquarters listed differently across sources |
Who should choose Index.dev?
A typical fit: trialling a Latin American ML engineer for a month before committing.
A 30-day trial with full refund on every placement. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce, Healthcare, AI labs.
Who should choose Qubit Labs?
A typical fit: hiring a Python ML engineer in Poland or Romania.
Recruiting across several lower-cost Eastern European countries. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Technology, Fintech, E-commerce, Gaming, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You want a working engineer, not a recruiter, to run the technical screen | Neither documents an engineer-led screen; run your own technical interview |
| You need one specialist for a few days a week | Neither advertises part-time experts; ask about reduced hours |
| You need several engineers working as one team | Qubit Labs |
| You want to test an engineer before committing | Index.dev |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Index.dev (Not published) vs Qubit Labs (Not published) |
| Your team works U.S. hours | Index.dev |
| You may want to hire the engineer permanently later | Index.dev |
Use case fit: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
| Use case | Index.dev fit | Qubit Labs fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trialling a Latin American ML engineer for a month before committing | Strong | Limited | Index.dev |
| Hiring a PhD-level specialist to fine-tune an open-source LLM | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Hiring a Python ML engineer in Poland or Romania | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Building a remote data team outside Ukraine | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Index.dev vs Qubit Labs
Index.dev (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Engineer Staffing projects. A 30-day trial with full refund on every placement.
Qubit Labs (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need building a remote data team outside Ukraine. If your situation matches that, Qubit Labs is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Index.dev vs Qubit Labs FAQ
Is Index.dev better than Qubit Labs?
Index.dev (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Index.dev's strongest advantage: the 30-day refundable trial is the most generous published trial on this page. Qubit Labs's strongest advantage: hires in several countries, not only Ukraine.
How do Index.dev and Qubit Labs differ in pricing?
Index.dev uses monthly rate per engineer; direct-hire fee option; 30-day trial with refund; rates on request pricing. Qubit Labs uses monthly per engineer with a service fee; rates on request pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Index.dev or Qubit Labs?
Qubit Labs 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 Index.dev and Qubit Labs?
Index.dev's primary differentiator is: a 30-day trial with full refund on every placement. Qubit Labs's primary differentiator is: recruiting across several lower-cost Eastern European countries. They also differ in team size (30,000+ network vs 50–100), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs Technology, Fintech).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.