What pushes teams to consider an alternative to Netguru
Honest reasons teams shopping in this category move on. None of these mean Netguru does bad work, just that the fit is wrong for the project.
You want AI at every step, not as one capability among many
Netguru is a broad digital product partner: design, engineering, data, cloud, mobile, web. AI is one practice inside a wide menu. If your product's differentiator is the AI itself, you want a team where AI shapes architecture, evaluation, and delivery cadence from day one.
You need transparent scope before you start
Generalist consultancies typically anchor on bespoke scoping calls. That is fine for enterprise procurement, but it slows mid-market product teams who want a clear discovery sprint with named deliverables and a timeline they can show their board.
You want production-grade AI proof, not portfolio breadth
Strong portfolios show range. They do not always show what AI looks like in production: evaluation harnesses, fallback behaviour, monitoring, the human-in-the-loop patterns that keep features reliable. Teams shipping AI to real users want to see the operating system, not the highlight reel.
You want a bounded AI product scope, not a transformation programme
A focused AI product and a broad digital transformation have different governance, team, and change requirements. Compare the proposed milestones, evidence, and responsibilities for your actual scope instead of relying on generic delivery-speed claims.
How Clarvia approaches AI product delivery
Not presented as universally better than Netguru. The comparison focuses on delivery shape, named artifacts, operating controls, and the evidence a buyer should verify.
AI-first at every step
Discovery is AI-first: we map data and PII upfront, define evaluation criteria, and choose the model and architecture together. Build is AI-first: an evaluation harness exists from week one, not after launch. Deployment is AI-first: monitoring, fallbacks, and human review are part of the release, not a follow-on project.
Productized delivery with named artifacts
Discovery Sprint, Build Sprint, Automation Rollout, and Audit & Hardening, each with clear deliverables, week-by-week cadence, and exit ramps. You see exactly what you get and when. Starting figures are published on the pricing page and scope drives the final cost, so neither the numbers nor the shape of the work are opaque.
Built by developers, with you
A dedicated team that designs, builds, and ships with you, not a layered consultancy stack of strategists, designers, and engineers handing off between phases. Smaller teams, deeper context, faster decisions.
UK and US focus
We work with mid-market product teams and forward-thinking businesses across the UK and US. Time zones, contract law, and regulatory realities (UK GDPR, EU AI Act, US sector rules) are part of how we deliver, not a cross-cultural friction point.
Clarvia vs Netguru, category by category
Each row states both positions and then what it implies, including the cases where Netguru is the better answer.
AI consultancy with the factory already built. Every project, every team member, every technical decision is grounded in AI product thinking. We do one thing and we do it well.
Poland-based full-service digital consultancy with 750+ employees and 1,000+ completed projects. Netguru offers web development, mobile apps, product design, machine learning, and AI services. They have a strong design capability and a reputation for quality delivery across many technology domains.
Core Offering
AI product development only. Every engagement starts with the question: "What AI product are we building?" We do not do generic web development, mobile apps, or branding. If it is not an AI product, it is not for us.
Full-service digital consultancy. Netguru builds web applications, mobile apps, provides product design, offers machine learning services, and does enterprise software development. AI/ML is one of 8+ service lines they offer.
AI Expertise Depth
Clarvia scopes work around AI product architecture, evaluation, retrieval, agents, and production controls.
Netguru offers AI and machine-learning work alongside web, mobile, DevOps, and design services.
Design Capability
We design AI product interfaces: dashboards, conversational UIs, data visualisations, and AI-assisted workflows. Our design work is focused on making AI understandable and usable. We do not offer standalone branding or general UX design.
Netguru offers product design as a dedicated service alongside engineering. Review the proposed design team and relevant portfolio if broad product or brand design is central to the scope.
Delivery Speed
The schedule is set after scope, data, integrations, evaluation, and review gates are understood. The client works directly with the delivery team against named artifacts.
Netguru describes a structured discovery, design, and development process. The schedule depends on the selected service, scope, team, and client review requirements.
Scale and Track Record
Boutique agency with focused AI portfolio. Fewer total projects, but every one is an AI product. We go deep rather than wide.
Netguru publishes a broad portfolio across industries and technology work. Buyers should verify the relevance of cited case studies and the experience of the proposed delivery team.
When Netguru is still the right choice
You need a single partner across design, engineering, data, mobile, and web, with AI as one component of a broader build
You are running a multi-quarter digital transformation programme that requires a large, multi-discipline consultancy
You want enterprise-scale delivery with established global offices and a long client roster
Your project is not primarily AI-driven and you want a generalist digital product partner
Common questions
Are you cheaper than Netguru?
Starting figures for all three engagements are on our pricing page, along with what moves the number. Compare both proposals against the same accepted outcome, team responsibilities, evaluation, rework, and operating requirements rather than assuming either model is cheaper. The line items worth comparing are listed in the AI product cost guide.
Do you work with companies outside the UK and US?
Our core focus is UK and US mid-market product teams. We occasionally work with teams elsewhere when the project fits, but our delivery rhythm, contract templates, and time zone coverage are built around UK and US working hours.
Can you migrate a project we started with another agency?
Yes, subject to a technical and access review. Our AI Audit & Hardening package is designed to assess inherited architecture, evaluation coverage, security, deployment, and operational gaps before proposing a recovery scope.
How do I know if AI-first delivery is right for our project?
Book a free 15-minute feasibility call. We will tell you honestly whether your project benefits from an AI-first delivery model or whether a generalist partner is the better fit. We run the same comparison against enterprise consulting on our Slalom alternative. We turn down projects that are not AI-led, because it is not what we are built for.
Why choose a focused agency over a broader consultancy?
Breadth is useful for general digital products and multi-discipline programmes. Focus can be useful when AI behaviour, evaluation, and operational controls are central to the product. Verify the proposed team and evidence for your scope rather than assuming either model is better.
Can Netguru build AI products as well as Clarvia?
Both providers offer AI delivery, but the service models differ. Ask who will be assigned, what relevant evidence they can verify, how the system will be evaluated, and which party owns production acceptance and operation.
What if I need AI plus regular web development?
If your project is primarily a web application with some AI features (like recommendations or search), Netguru is a strong choice; they can handle everything under one roof. If the AI is the product and the web layer is just the interface, Clarvia will give you deeper AI expertise where it matters most.
Is Netguru cheaper than Clarvia?
Pricing depends on scope, team seniority, location, delivery ownership, and evidence requirements. Ask both providers to quote the same accepted outcome and include internal management and operating costs before comparing value.
Compare us properly. Then decide.
Book a free 15-minute call. We will discuss your project, show you exactly how we would deliver it, and tell you honestly if we are the wrong fit.