If you’re reading this article, you’re ready to hire offshore developers. You just need some help on how and where to find the right talent.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best countries for hiring elite offshore developers, examining their technical expertise and software engineering ecosystems. Then we’ll analyse the top companies and platforms that can help you source specialists from these locations.

We hope you find it helpful!

Where and what are the top places to hire offshore developers?

The top places to hire offshore developers include tech hubs like Bangalore in India, Warsaw in Poland, as well as trusted companies and platforms such as The Scalers and Toptal. 

Here’s a quick overview of the countries and companies we’ll cover in this article before diving into the details:

Top countries

• India. Best for large, scalable dev teams with strong experience working with Western companies.
• The Philippines. Best for cost-effective developers in support functions, such as IT-BPO.
• Poland. Best for EU-based projects needing strong technical skills.
• Romania. Best for EU projects needing secure, multilingual development teams.
• Colombia. Best for Latin American market expertise and timezone overlap with the US.

Top platforms/companies

• The Scalers. Best for building dedicated development teams.
• Toptal. Best for accessing elite freelance developers.
• Upwork. Best for quick freelance hiring.
• Baires Dev. Best for building engineering teams in Latin America.
• Arc. Best for vetted full-time remote developers and contract work.

Best countries to hire offshore developers in 2026

1. India

India is home to the world’s second-largest community of software engineers, trailing only China and surpassing the US.

With 5.8 million engineers living and working in tech hubs like Bangalore, the nation has become an attractive destination for organisations seeking developers with in-demand, niche skills and high English proficiency.

The country’s ecosystem continues to grow fast. India has more than 1,800 Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with over 120 new centres established in 2024 alone. The sector has experienced 17% YOY workforce growth, adding 180,000 new jobs in the past year.

2. The Philippines

The Philippines has quietly built one of Asia’s fastest-growing developer communities, with 200,000 specialists (and counting). Major tech corporations have been quick to capitalise on this growth, with companies like Amazon and Apple establishing innovation centres in Manila and Cebu City.

What sets Filipino developers apart is their expertise in IT-BPO services and proficiency in English, as well as the country’s historical ties to Spain and the US. This cultural familiarity makes these professionals attractive to businesses from these regions, who prefer working with teams that understand their business practices and communication styles.

3. Poland

Poland’s software engineering talent pool comprises approximately 500,000 professionals. Most of them are located in Warsaw and Kraków, the country’s two largest cities and tech hubs.

As per the N-iX Tech Market in Poland: 2024 Analytical Report:

• Warsaw is home to over 103,000 developers, nearly 25% of Poland’s entire tech workforce.
• Kraków has more than 56,000 software developers, with its tech talent pool growing at 10% annually.
• Warsaw produces over 3,000 ICT graduates every year, fueling a steady pipeline of junior engineers.
• Kraków ranks #1 among large European cities for human capital and business friendliness.

Despite its attractiveness and top-tier talent pool, rising costs of living and salaries similar to Western countries have reduced Poland’s appeal as an offshore destination.

4. Romania

Romania’s software development sector has experienced significant growth in recent years, with approximately 150,000 IT professionals concentrated mainly in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.

The country stands out for its multilingual workforce, with developers fluent in English, French, and German, which makes it attractive to Western European clients looking ot build teams that speak their language. These developers have built a strong reputation in cybersecurity and are increasingly working on cutting-edge projects in AI and automation technologies.

While Romania may not yet match the scale of established offshore destinations like India or Poland, it offers compelling advantages: competitive pricing compared to Western Europe, EU regulatory compliance, favourable time zones for European businesses, and a growing pool of specialised talent that’s particularly strong in security-focused development projects.

5. Colombia

Colombia has become a popular offshoring location in Latin America over the past decade. The country has around 85,000 developers spread across metropolises like Bogota and Medellín.

The region’s tech growth and dedication to innovation can’t be fully understood without acknowledging its startup ecosystem.

In 2025, Colombia climbed to 36th place in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index — its fourth consecutive year of growth — with an ecosystem expansion rate of over 22%, the fastest in Latin America.

Medellín grew by more than 40%, the highest growth rate among South America’s leading ecosystems and the strongest of any Colombian city, reinforcing its position as a rising innovation hub with a solid pool of engineering talent.

Best platforms and companies to hire offshore developers in 2026

1. The Scalers

The Scalers specialises in building dedicated software development teams in Bangalore, India, leveraging the city’s rich talent pool. Since 2014, they’ve set up over 130 offshore teams for Western organisations based in the US, Europe, and Australia.

Their approach to offshore software development differs from what other providers offer. They build teams with engineers who work exclusively for their partners and who are culturally aligned with their goals, mission, and vision.

Companies looking to hire dedicated developers and seeking cost-effective operations in one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the world will find The Scalers a good choice.

2. Toptal

Toptal is a freelancing platform that connects companies with the top 3% of global tech talent across various fields. Since 2010, they’ve served over 25,000 clients, including major brands and startups like Zendesk, Shopify, and Motorola.

They are known for using a rigorous vetting process that sources premium talent at premium rates. Organisations use Toptal when they need the best freelancers for critical projects and prioritise quality over cost.

3. Upwork

Upwork is the world’s largest freelance marketplace with over 5 million clients and 12 million registered freelancers. The platform covers virtually every skill level and budget range, so it is accessible for projects of all sizes and complexity levels.

Unlike specialised platforms, Upwork offers a self-managed hiring process where companies can browse profiles, post jobs, and handle negotiations directly. It’s an excellent option for organisations looking for quick access to a vast freelance talent pool.

4. BairesDev

BairesDev operates from San Francisco and helps companies hire top LATAM tech talent. They work across more than a hundred sectors and tackle complex projects in real estate data management software, educational technology platforms, among others.

Their services cover the entire software development lifecycle, from initial conceptualisation to final implementation. Given that Baires Dev hires just specialists located in LATAM, their offering attracts US companies that need time zone-aligned engineering teams.

5. Arc

With Arc, companies can hire remote engineers and other technical professionals working from anywhere in the world. The platform offers both freelance and full-time remote hiring options with built-in vetting processes.

Beyond recruiting, they handle secure payments and compliant global hiring through trusted EOR partners. Companies that need vetted developers quickly for either contract work or full-time positions often find Arc a good fit.

How to choose the right country and company to hire offshore programmers

As we’ve covered so far, building the right offshore software engineering team depends on two key decisions: choosing a country with an abundance of professionals that possess the skills you need, and selecting a trusted partner or platform to connect with them.

But how do you choose the best country and company for your business requirements?

Choosing the right country

Consider these factors before hiring or setting up your offshore team:

• Time zones. Overlapping working hours with your local team can benefit real-time collaboration. However, in some cases, less overlap can actually be an advantage if you want development progress to continue after your day ends.
• Language and communication. Strong English proficiency or fluency in your required language is essential. As a general rule, you should always look for engineers in countries where English is widely used in business contexts.
• Cultural fit. Work style and business practices vary across regions. A good cultural match makes collaboration more natural and long-term partnerships easier, and this is something a reliable offshore partner can help with.
• Technical expertise. Each country has its own strengths. India, for instance, offers a vast pool of engineers skilled in in-demand programming languages, while the Philippines is especially strong in IT-BPO and support.
• Cost. When you go offshore, you can hire top engineers at lower salaries than at home. Aim for cost-effective countries where quality matches or exceeds local talent.

Choosing the right platform or company

These are the key factors to weigh when deciding who to partner with for offshore hiring:

• Project complexity. Small, short-term tasks are best suited for freelance marketplaces, while larger or ongoing projects require the assistance of a trusted offshore development partner.
• Team size needs. Decide if you just need one or two developers, or if you’re building a full team. Different companies specialise in different models.
• Management preference. Some companies prefer hands-on oversight, others want a fully managed service. Choose a setup that matches your management style.
• Budget and pricing model. Clarify whether costs are hourly, project-based, or retainer-based. Transparency at the start prevents problems later.
• Quality assurance. The best partners vet their developers carefully and back it up with guarantees. That way, you’re not taking their word for it.

Hire offshore developers with a unique and proven model

Now that you know how to choose the right country and partner, it’s time to see how a proven offshore model can make it all happen.

At The Scalers, we’ve built an offshore model with unique advantages no other partner can offer you.

Our offshore model tackles the common issues and concerns tech leaders have about offshoring and offers organisations, like yours, all you need to build a top dev team:

• You’ll get a fully dedicated development team sourced from the top 1% of Indian tech talent in Bangalore, ‘The Silicon Valley of Asia.’
• You’ll enjoy a dedicated office where your developers can work in a modern space and have access to the best equipment and tech appliances.
• You’ll have the ongoing support of a CHO, a professional responsible for your team’s daily well-being and for planning events, celebrations, and workations where you can meet your team in person.

But don’t just take our word for it. See what the COO of Colmore, a US FinTech, says about our model.

If you want to know more about our recruitment process and how we can help you hire offshore developers and build an A-team, fill out this form. One of our senior executives will contact you shortly to talk about your new tech team!

In summary

We hope this guide has given you a clear roadmap for hiring offshore developers in 2026. Understanding the strengths of different countries, evaluating platforms and partners, and selecting the right model will help you build high-performing, cost-effective development teams.

If you want to learn more about how we collaborate with organisations of all sizes and industries, read how we’ve helped some of our partners succeed.

See you in the next one!

FAQs

What are the benefits of hiring through a global partner (like The Scalers) versus a platform?

Working with a global partner provides fully dedicated teams, cultural alignment, ongoing support, and modern infrastructure, while platforms are better for short-term or freelance projects.

What makes India, Poland, and Colombia top choices?

India is known for its vast pool of skilled engineers with expertise in in-demand technologies. Poland provides high-quality EU-based developers with strong technical skills, and Colombia has a young engineering workforce with timezone alignment for US organisations.

Which provider offers the best onboarding and retention?

The Scalers ensures new hires are fully set up and ready to contribute from day one. Employee attrition is under 15%, compared to the market average of 34%, keeping offshore teams happy and motivated.

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