Honest comparison
Alian AI vs a US/EU AI agency
Same caliber of engineering. Very different invoice. The math is the math.
When you've shortlisted a US or EU AI agency, you're paying $150–$250/hour for senior engineers. We charge $25–$35/hour for the same caliber of work. Here's how the engagement actually feels different.
| Dimension | Alian AI | Working with a US/EU AI agency |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (senior engineer) | $25–$35/hour | $150–$250/hour |
| Engineer seniority | Senior — backed by Alian Software's 15+ yr bench | Senior — usually |
| Time zone overlap with US | 3–4 hours daily overlap (we set it up) | Full overlap |
| Discovery quality | 1–2 weeks upfront, fixed cost | Often bundled into the sprint cost |
| Fixed-fee discipline | Yes — overruns are our problem | Sometimes — depends on the firm |
| Code ownership | 100% transferred to you on day one | Varies — read the MSA carefully |
| First-class client communication | Yes — engineers talk to you directly | Often through an account manager |
Pick us/eu agency when
- You need 8+ hours of daily overlap with a single team
- Regulatory or contractual reasons require local presence
- You've worked with the specific firm before and trust them
Pick Alian AI when
- Budget matters and the value-per-dollar gap is too wide to ignore
- You want senior engineers, not a senior account manager
- Engagement clarity and fixed-fee discipline are priorities
- You want all IP transferred cleanly on close
Our honest take
We don't try to beat US/EU agencies on time-zone proximity — that's a draw they win. We beat them on engineering output per dollar and on engagement clarity. If your buyer cares about the second one, that's our pitch.
Talk it through with a human.
20 min. We'll tell you which of these is actually the right answer for your situation — even if it's not us.
