EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
EPAM Systems (4.3/5) edges ahead of Thoughtworks (4.1/5) overall. EPAM Systems is the better choice for large enterprises with Salesforce and SAP estates. Thoughtworks is the stronger option for engineering-led firms that value delivery practice. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 1993 |
| HQ | Newtown, PA, USA | Chicago, IL, USA |
| Team size | 60,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Engineering depth across Salesforce, SAP and major model providers, including a formal partnership with Anthropic | Long-standing engineering discipline, testing and continuous delivery applied to AI features |
| Pricing model | T&M, dedicated teams and fixed-scope programmes; rates on request | T&M with senior-weighted teams; rates on request |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Salesforce, SAP, Azure OpenAI | Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex AI |
| Industries served | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail, Travel, Manufacturing | Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare |
EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks: overview
EPAM Systems
EPAM Systems is a NYSE-listed software engineering services company founded in 1993 in Princeton, New Jersey, and now headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with roughly 62,000 employees in more than 55 countries. It runs large Salesforce and SAP Commerce practices and bought Netherlands-based Just-BI to deepen its SAP consulting. In May 2026 it announced a multi-year partnership with Anthropic and a plan to certify more than 10,000 architects on Claude. Its AI/RUN platform is used to package enterprise deployments.
Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks is a software engineering consultancy founded in 1993 and headquartered in Chicago, with about 10,000 people across 18 countries. Apax Partners took it private in a deal of about $1.75 billion that completed in November 2024, after a restructuring that cut 6–7% of staff. It now markets AI-first software delivery, and in March 2026 it formed an AI-focused joint venture with consulting firm Teneo. Its reputation rests on engineering practice more than on packaged integrations.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Capability | EPAM Systems | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| CRM / ERP integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| LLM API gateway & cost control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document processing | ✗ | ✗ |
| Agentic workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price pilot | ✗ | ✗ |
| Managed services after launch | ✗ | ✗ |
| PII masking & access control | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Framework / platform | EPAM Systems | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce | ✓ | N/A |
| SAP | ✓ | N/A |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 | N/A | N/A |
| HubSpot | N/A | N/A |
| Snowflake | N/A | N/A |
| Databricks | N/A | ✓ |
| Azure OpenAI | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS Bedrock | ✓ | ✓ |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| ServiceNow | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Criterion | EPAM Systems | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time & materials, Dedicated team | Time & materials, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Dimension | EPAM Systems | Thoughtworks |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Enterprise |
| Best industries | Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail | Financial services, Retail, Public sector |
| Best use cases | Agentforce and service-agent features across a large Salesforce estate., AI features in SAP Commerce storefronts and order flows. | Modernizing a legacy application and adding AI features in the same programme., Setting up evaluation and release practices for LLM features. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Time & materials |
EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks: pros and cons
| EPAM Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Thousands of certified Salesforce staff and a dedicated SAP Commerce bench |
| + | Formal model-provider partnership gives early access and support for Claude-based builds |
| + | Engineering rigor suited to complex, multi-system integrations |
| + | Large nearshore delivery in Central Europe and Latin America |
| - | Scale and account structure favour large, multi-year engagements |
| - | Delivery staff numbers for specific platforms come partly from older announcements |
| - | Advice tends to lead toward EPAM-delivered builds |
| Thoughtworks | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong testing and continuous-delivery culture carries over to model and prompt changes |
| + | Publishes its Technology Radar, which offers a transparent view of its technical opinions |
| + | Comfortable modernizing legacy systems alongside the AI work |
| - | Taken private by Apax Partners in 2024 after cost-cutting, so the account team may change |
| - | Few packaged integrations for CRM or ERP suites |
| - | Senior-heavy teams carry higher blended rates |
Who should choose EPAM Systems?
A typical fit: agentforce and service-agent features across a large Salesforce estate.
Engineering depth across Salesforce, SAP and major model providers, including a formal partnership with Anthropic. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences, Retail, Travel, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Thoughtworks?
A typical fit: modernizing a legacy application and adding AI features in the same programme.
Long-standing engineering discipline, testing and continuous delivery applied to AI features. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Financial services, Retail, Public sector, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You want a fixed-price audit or pilot before committing | Neither advertises one; ask for a scoped pilot |
| AI has to work inside your existing CRM or ERP | EPAM Systems |
| Personal data must be masked and answers limited by user permissions | Ask both for their PII and access-control design |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: EPAM Systems (Not disclosed) vs Thoughtworks (Not disclosed) |
| You want the vendor to run the AI service after launch | Neither offers managed services; plan in-house operations |
| You are building multi-step agents across systems | EPAM Systems |
Use case fit: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
| Use case | EPAM Systems fit | Thoughtworks fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agentforce and service-agent features across a large Salesforce estate. | Strong | Limited | EPAM Systems |
| AI features in SAP Commerce storefronts and order flows. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Modernizing a legacy application and adding AI features in the same programme. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
| Setting up evaluation and release practices for LLM features. | Limited | Strong | Thoughtworks |
Verdict: EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks
EPAM Systems (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Integration projects. Engineering depth across Salesforce, SAP and major model providers, including a formal partnership with Anthropic.
Thoughtworks (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need setting up evaluation and release practices for LLM features. If your situation matches that, Thoughtworks is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
EPAM Systems vs Thoughtworks FAQ
Is EPAM Systems better than Thoughtworks?
EPAM Systems (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Systems's strongest advantage: thousands of certified Salesforce staff and a dedicated SAP Commerce bench. Thoughtworks's strongest advantage: strong testing and continuous-delivery culture carries over to model and prompt changes.
How do EPAM Systems and Thoughtworks differ in pricing?
EPAM Systems pricing: T&M, dedicated teams and fixed-scope programmes; rates on request. Thoughtworks pricing: T&M with senior-weighted teams; rates on request. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: EPAM Systems or Thoughtworks?
EPAM Systems 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 EPAM Systems and Thoughtworks?
EPAM Systems's primary differentiator is: engineering depth across Salesforce, SAP and major model providers, including a formal partnership with Anthropic. Thoughtworks's primary differentiator is: long-standing engineering discipline, testing and continuous delivery applied to AI features. They also differ in team size (60,000+ vs 10,000+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Financial services, Healthcare & life sciences vs Financial services, Retail).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.