7 Reasons to Hire an Eastern European Developer

Are you considering hiring an experienced Eastern European developer but are still undecided? Let’s look at seven reasons this can be your best decision. 

Eastern European developers seem to be everywhere these days. Have you heard of Grammarly? It was founded and developed by Ukrainians. Do you know about Kiwi.com? Its developers are from the Czech Republic. Have you heard of Prezi? It was created in Hungary. Best IT developers in the world and for a lower cost? Sign me up! 

Let’s see what benefits of hiring an Eastern European developer you will receive and why it is the best option for you right now.

High quality

Eastern European programmers have been ranking top 10 in the world’s best developers list for quite some time now. As they provide the highest quality service to many companies in the States and Western Europe, it has often been called an offshore software development paradise. Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland proudly reside in the top 10 of the European countries’ IT ranking.

Source: Pentalog.com

Ukraine and Moldova rank globally among the top three countries with the best JavaScript and C/C++ developers. 

Source: Pentalog.com

With such a high quality of service, you would think everyone would be hiring developers from eastern Europe, but wait, there is more. 


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Rich talent pool

There are over 1 million developers in Eastern Europe, with Ukraine, Poland, and Moldova accounting for 600k of those IT professionals. These are not just any developers but very skilled ones. You can find developers with more popular languages like Python and JavaScript here. But then, if you are looking for more rare expertise like C++, Eastern Europe is a great place to find those. 

Did you know Ukraine has the second-largest global JavaScript, Java, and C# communities? There is a large number of C++ and Python developers as well.

Source: Ukrainiansoftwaredevelopers.com

Now, let’s look at Poland. In addition to popular languages like JavaScript and Java, Polish mobile programmers use Elixir, Kotlin, and React Native.

If you are still unsure if you can find a developer for your needs in Eastern Europe, give us a call, and we will find you a perfect developer that will be matched precisely to your task.

Cutting the costs

Due to the lower local cost of living, hiring a senior software developer in Eastern Europe is also cheaper. 

According to Glassdoor, a Senior Ukrainian developer makes USD 3,5K (UAH 108K).

Compare that to the salary of a senior software developer in the U.S. with USD 138k/yr. 

The difference is obvious. In the beginning, we discussed that you do not lose on quality when hiring Eastern European developers. You get even better quality. Still not convinced? We have a few more reasons to share with you.

Eastern European coders have a high level of English.

According to the EF language proficiency index Eastern European countries rank in the top 30 high language proficiency, with Romania ranking #14, Poland #15, and Hungary #16. 

Source: ef.nl 

Developers know that excellent English will provide more career opportunities for them, so they invest a lot of time in studying the language and improving their skills.

All this is to say that you do not need to worry about using a translator or explaining twice. You can count on seamless communication and an efficient workflow with Eastern European developers.

Cultural similarities

Though it may seem like Eastern Europe still looks like those Soviet movies (the stereotype is strong!), it is far from the truth. The business culture among developers is very similar to Western Europe and the U.S.

Quite a lot of IT companies have been founded by people from Eastern and Central Europe. Some of them appeared thanks to Ukrainians with a global mindset and the desire to sell their services to Western clients. Since the IT industry is fast-growing and innovative at its core, it has been leading the way in all countries with non-hierarchical and competitive cultures.

All of this has created a thriving environment for tech companies. This region has been dubbed the Silicon Valley of Europe and has attracted numerous multinational companies to set up their research and development here.

High-quality technical education 

Eastern European countries boast stellar higher education, with a literacy rate of  98,99%. Many software engineers have technical degrees. For example, in Poland, over 22k students graduated in engineering, according to Statista

Source: Statista.com

Convenient location and time zone 

An important factor for successful cooperation is synchronizing work schedules with your developers. Eastern European countries are only 1- 2 hours ahead of London and only 6 – 7 hours ahead of New York, making it possible for you to have a convenient workflow for your team and work in sync with outsourced developers. 

The time difference between the client and developer can cause inconveniences. But unlike countries in Asia, you will have several hours of overlap with your Eastern European developers. Even if you want to meet your team in person, there will be no problem, as there is always a direct flight from the U.S., which takes about 7 hours. 

After reading all the points above, we are sure your question is no longer if you should hire Eastern European developers but how. This is where Lemon.io can help you. Our superpower is connecting you with a perfect, highly skilled developer from Eastern Europe and ensuring you and our IT professionals are satisfied with the result. 

We have a 4-step vetting process, ensuring you have the best quality developer for the best price. Want to learn more on how to hire an Eastern European developer? Here is how we can help.

Here's a FAQ for you!

  • Why hire Eastern European developers?

    Cost-effectiveness: Eastern European developers may offer lower rates than developers in other regions, making them a cost-effective option for companies looking to hire developers.
    Strong technical skills: Eastern European developers are known for their strong technical skills and ability to deliver high-quality work.
    Cultural fit: Eastern European developers may also be good for certain companies due to cultural similarities and a shared work ethic.
    Time zone advantage: For companies based in different time zones, hiring developers in Eastern Europe may allow for overlapping work hours and better communication.

  • Where are the best developers in Eastern Europe? 

    Many countries in Eastern Europe have a strong pool of talented developers, including:
    Ukraine: Ukraine has a large and growing tech sector and is home to many highly skilled developers.
    Poland: Poland is home to several tech hubs and has a thriving developer community.
    Romania: Romania is home to many tech companies and has a strong tradition of technical education.
    Bulgaria: Bulgaria is home to several tech companies and has a growing developer community.
    Czech Republic: The Czech Republic has a strong tradition of technical education and a thriving tech sector.

  • How many developers are in Eastern Europe? 

    It is difficult to accurately estimate the number of developers in Eastern Europe, as the region is vast, and the number of developers can vary greatly from country to country. According to data from the European Union, there are over 2.4 million ICT (information and communication technology) professionals in the European Union, which includes many countries in Eastern Europe. However, this number includes all ICT professionals, not just developers, and does not include countries outside the European Union.
    Many countries in Eastern Europe have thriving tech sectors and large developer communities, including Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. These countries and others in the region contribute to the large pool of talented developers in Eastern Europe.

  • Why offshore IT services to Eastern Europe? 

    There are several reasons why companies may choose to offshore IT services to Eastern Europe:
    Cost-effectiveness: Eastern European countries may offer lower rates for IT services compared to other regions, making them a cost-effective option for companies looking to outsource IT work.
    Strong technical skills: Eastern European countries have a strong tradition of technical education and are home to many highly skilled IT professionals.
    Cultural fit: Eastern European countries may also be a good fit for certain companies due to cultural similarities and a shared work ethic.
    Time zone advantage: For companies based in different time zones, outsourcing IT work to Eastern Europe may allow for overlapping work hours and better communication.

  • What is the average developer salary in Eastern Europe? 

    The average developer salary in Eastern Europe can vary greatly depending on the specific country and the developer’s level of experience and expertise. According to data from Numbeo, a website that provides the cost of living and salary data, the average developer salary in some Eastern European countries is as follows:
    Ukraine: $18,000 – $40,000 per year
    Poland: $20,000 – $40,000 per year
    Romania: $15,000 – $35,000 per year
    Bulgaria: $15,000 – $30,000 per year
    Czech Republic: $20,000 – $40,000 per year