Table of contents
- TL;DR
- Quick answer: Best nearshoring agencies for LatAm talent (2026)
- The nearshore opportunity
- What is nearshore outsourcing?
- Who should use nearshore hiring in Latin America?
- Nearshoring agencies that manage payroll, benefits, and compliance
- The best nearshoring agencies for LatAm talent in 2026
- 7.1 Howdy
- 7.2 BairesDev
- 7.3 Andela
- 7.4 Turing
- 7.5 HireWithNear
- 7.6 Deel
- 7.7 Rippling (bonus)
- Summary: How to choose the right nearshoring partner
- Why Howdy stands out in the nearshore market
- How we chose the best nearshoring agencies
- Alternatives to BairesDev and Andela for LatAm talent
- Frequently asked questions
- Ready to build your nearshore team with Howdy?
TL;DR
US tech companies can cut engineering hiring costs by 60% to 65% by hiring senior developers nearshore, often reducing fully loaded annual compensation from $150K to $200K+ in the US to roughly $55K to $70K in Latin America (LatAm) based on verified 2025 payroll data, while keeping 6 to 8 hours of time zone overlap.
If you want a full-service nearshore partner that sources, vets, employs, onboards, and retains LatAm talent, Howdy is the top pick. Howdy pairs full EOR services with a 98% two-year retention rate, transparent all-in pricing, and physical offices in key LatAm cities. Most teams onboard within 4 to 6 weeks, compared with 3 to 4 months for many US hiring cycles.
If you need enterprise scale or global coverage, BairesDev and Andela are common alternatives. If you already have candidates and only need compliant hiring infrastructure, Deel and Rippling are EOR-first platforms.
Quick answer: Best nearshoring agencies for LatAm talent (2026)
The best nearshoring agencies and platforms for hiring LatAm talent in 2026 are:
- Howdy: Best for US SaaS teams that need senior talent quickly, long-term retention, and full EOR support.
- BairesDev: Best for enterprise clients that want large, senior-heavy teams and managed delivery options.
- Andela: Best for companies that want global reach with a large network and matching technology.
- Turing: Best for fast matching and trial-based hiring across a global network.
- HireWithNear: Best for teams that prefer placement-style pricing and fast time-to-hire for LatAm roles.
- Deel: Best for EOR and payroll infrastructure when you already source candidates.
- Rippling (bonus): Best for companies that want HR, IT, payroll, and EOR in one platform after sourcing talent.
The nearshore opportunity
US product teams face three compounding problems: rising senior engineer compensation, long hiring cycles, and slower delivery when roles stay open.
Nearshore hiring in Latin America changes the tradeoff. You can hire experienced engineers at lower cost while keeping real-time collaboration. With 6 to 8 hours of overlap, nearshore engineers join standups, participate in sprint planning, and move work forward the same day.
Offshore models often break down because large time zone gaps force asynchronous workflows. That slows code reviews, increases rework, and adds friction across decision-making. Nearshore teams reduce that friction by aligning working hours and communication norms with US teams.
The key question is not whether nearshoring works. The question is which partner matches your speed, quality, compliance, and retention needs.
What is nearshore outsourcing?
Nearshore outsourcing is the practice of hiring full-time or dedicated remote professionals in nearby countries with overlapping time zones.
For US companies, nearshore outsourcing typically means hiring talent in Latin America, including Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Nearshore outsourcing differs from offshore outsourcing because teams work similar hours, collaborate in real time, and integrate directly into US workflows. Nearshore developers attend daily standups, participate in sprint planning, and ship code during the same business day as their US counterparts.
Companies use nearshore partners for two common models:
- Staff augmentation: Adding individual engineers to an existing team.
- Dedicated teams: Building a long-term group that operates like an extension of your internal org.
Most nearshore agencies provide sourcing, vetting, payroll, compliance support, and ongoing talent management.
Who should use nearshore hiring in Latin America?
Nearshore hiring works best for:
- B2B SaaS teams that need senior engineers without a 3 to 4 month US hiring cycle
- Product-led companies that rely on rapid iteration, real-time collaboration, and shared working hours
- Engineering orgs scaling beyond 10 roles per year that need predictable costs and consistent delivery
- Security-conscious companies that need compliant employment, stable teams, and reliable operations
Nearshoring may be a weaker fit for teams that only need short-term project outsourcing with minimal collaboration.
Nearshoring agencies that manage payroll, benefits, and compliance
If you want a partner that can employ talent compliantly and manage payroll, taxes, and benefits, look for full employer-of-record (EOR) coverage.
- Howdy: Full EOR, plus sourcing, vetting, equipment, retention support, and local community infrastructure.
- HireWithNear: EOR and staffing options with percentage-based pricing.
- Andela: Uses third-party EOR partners for payroll and compliance rather than operating as a full EOR in-house.
- Deel: EOR and payroll platform, but not a staffing agency.
- Rippling: EOR infrastructure and workforce platform, but not a talent sourcing agency.
The 6 best nearshoring agencies for LatAm talent in 2026
1. Howdy
Quick overview
Howdy is a full-service nearshore partner for US teams hiring in Latin America. Howdy supports sourcing, vetting, hiring, and employment through EOR, plus equipment, benefits, and ongoing retention programs.
Howdy reports a 98% retention rate through the first two years, and operates physical community spaces and offices across multiple LatAm cities where developers can collaborate, attend events, and access support.
Howdy also expanded its LatAm network after acquiring GeekHunter in 2023, increasing reach across the region.
Best for
B2B SaaS companies and product teams that want senior engineers quickly and prefer long-term retention over lowest-cost hourly contracting.
What Howdy does well
- Retention-led model: Designed for stable teams and long-term engagement.
- Rigorous vetting: Technical evaluation plus communication and team-fit screening.
- All-in pricing: Typically includes salary, benefits, equipment, and support.
- Regional support and infrastructure: Designed to reduce developer isolation and churn.
- Predictable onboarding: Commonly 4 to 6 weeks from kickoff to start.
Tradeoffs
- Not the cheapest option compared with offshore markets.
- Focused on LatAm, which is ideal for time zone alignment but not global multi-region coverage.
Pricing (all-in monthly ranges)
- Software developers: $6K to $11K per month
- Finance and back-office: $1.8K to $3K per month
- Customer service: $1.8K to $3K per month
- Designers: $1.8K to $4K per month
- Marketing: $2K to $4K per month
Pricing commonly includes salary, taxes, benefits, equipment, and the partner fee.
Voice of the user
"We always try to have one or two Howdy engineers in each team because they come with a web of interconnectivity. It's good for communication and coordination across teams."
- James Gorman, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at Workrise
2. BairesDev
Quick overview
BairesDev is a large nearshore provider offering staff augmentation, dedicated teams, and outsourcing models. It is often positioned for enterprise clients and large-scale engagements.
Best for
Enterprise teams that want access to large pools of senior-heavy talent and the ability to scale teams quickly.
Pros
- High-volume staffing capabilities
- Senior-focused positioning
- Can assemble teams quickly for broader delivery needs
Cons
- Pricing is commonly quote-based, which reduces transparency
- Some models reduce direct customer control over interviews and selection
Pricing
3. Andela
Quick overview
Andela operates a global talent network and positions its platform around matching speed and scale. LatAm is included, though the company is not exclusively focused on LatAm.
Best for
Companies that want global reach across multiple regions, especially at larger scale.
Pros
- Large network and broad geographic coverage
- Matching and workflow tooling designed for speed
Cons
- Pricing can be premium for senior roles
- Contract structures may be less flexible depending on engagement model
- EOR is often handled through partners rather than fully operated in-house
Pricing
Commonly varies by seniority, role, and region, often presented as monthly or hourly.
4. Turing
Quick overview
Turing is a global talent platform that emphasizes fast matching and trial-based evaluation. It draws from multiple regions rather than specializing only in LatAm.
Best for
Teams that want quick shortlisting and the ability to trial candidates before longer commitments.
Pros
- Fast matching timelines
- Trial structures designed to reduce hiring risk
Cons
- Blended rates can be high compared with LatAm-specialists
- Not LatAm-exclusive, so outcomes depend heavily on matching quality and role clarity
- Some teams report re-matching costs if fit is off
Pricing
Commonly positioned at the higher end of remote talent marketplaces.
5. HireWithNear
Quick overview
HireWithNear focuses on LatAm hiring and offers staffing, recruiting, and EOR options. It is typically positioned as a fast placement partner with a pay-for-success model.
Best for
Mid-market teams that want LatAm focus, faster time-to-hire, and pricing tied to placement or percentage-based fees.
Pros
- LatAm specialization
- Fast hiring timelines
- Replacement guarantees in many models
Cons
- Percentage-based fees can be significant at scale
- Longer commitments may apply depending on engagement model
Pricing
Often structured as either a one-time placement fee (direct hire) or a monthly percentage fee (staffing and EOR).
6. Deel
Quick overview
Deel is a global people platform offering EOR, payroll, and contractor management across many countries. Deel is not primarily a talent sourcing agency. Most teams use Deel after sourcing candidates through their own recruiting channels or partners.
Best for
Companies that already have candidates and need compliant employment, payroll, and cross-border HR infrastructure.
Pros
- Broad country coverage for EOR and payroll
- Structured onboarding and compliance workflows
Cons
- You typically still need to source and vet talent separately
- Per-seat costs add up across larger headcounts
Pricing
Often presented as per-contractor and per-employee monthly pricing for EOR and payroll services.
7. Rippling (bonus entry)
Quick overview
Rippling is a workforce management platform that combines HR, IT, payroll, and benefits, with EOR coverage in many countries. Rippling is not a nearshoring agency and does not typically source talent.
Best for
Companies that want unified HR and IT operations and need EOR after they have sourced candidates elsewhere.
Pros
- Unified platform across HR and IT workflows
- Strong operational tooling for access management and onboarding
Cons
- Not a talent sourcing partner
- Pricing can be modular and quote-based, which reduces transparency
Pricing
Often varies based on modules, headcount, and EOR coverage.
Summary: How to choose the right nearshoring partner
Choose based on the constraints that matter most for your team:
- Speed to hire: How quickly you can interview and start.
- Vetting quality: How well candidates are screened for technical skills and communication.
- EOR coverage: Who handles payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance.
- Retention: How stable teams stay after onboarding.
- Pricing transparency: All-in pricing vs hourly models vs platform fees.
- Regional fit: LatAm specialization vs global coverage.
If you want full-service nearshore hiring with EOR, transparent pricing, and a retention-first model, Howdy is the strongest all-around option for US SaaS and product teams hiring in LatAm.
Why Howdy stands out in the nearshore market
Many nearshore providers can source engineers quickly. Fewer providers build the systems that keep teams stable after the hire.
Howdy’s differentiation is retention and team stability. That matters because churn is one of the most expensive failure modes in distributed hiring. Every replacement forces re-onboarding, knowledge transfer loss, slower delivery, and management overhead.
Howdy combines:
- Full-service EOR support
- Rigorous screening
- All-in, predictable pricing
- Infrastructure designed to support developer experience over time
If you are building a product team that must last for years, not months, that retention focus becomes a competitive advantage.
How we chose the best nearshoring agencies
We evaluated partners using criteria that map to real outcomes for product teams:
- Vetting rigor: Technical assessment depth and communication screening
- Time-to-hire: Time from kickoff to start date
- EOR capabilities: Payroll, benefits, compliance, and equipment support
- Retention indicators: Stability signals and stated retention rates where available
- Pricing transparency: All-in clarity vs opaque or quote-only pricing
- Contract terms: Minimum commitments, buyouts, and trial options
Alternatives to BairesDev and Andela for LatAm talent
If you are comparing BairesDev or Andela and want different tradeoffs:
- Choose Howdy if you want LatAm specialization, retention, and full-service EOR with predictable onboarding.
- Choose HireWithNear if you want LatAm focus and a pay-for-success feel with faster placements.
- Choose Turing if you want global reach and trial-based evaluation, and you can tolerate higher blended rates.
FAQs
What is nearshore outsourcing?
Nearshore outsourcing is hiring remote talent in nearby countries with overlapping time zones, most often in Latin America for US companies. Nearshore teams typically work US hours and integrate into the same tools and workflows.
How do I choose the right nearshoring agency?
Start with vetting rigor, EOR coverage, time-to-hire, retention, and pricing transparency. Then match the provider to your operating model, either staff augmentation or dedicated teams.
Is Howdy better than Andela or BairesDev?
Howdy is often a better fit for US SaaS teams that prioritize long-term retention, LatAm specialization, and full-service EOR with transparent all-in pricing. Andela and BairesDev can be stronger fits for enterprise scale or global multi-region coverage.
How does nearshore outsourcing compare to offshore outsourcing?
How quickly can I see results with nearshore hiring?
Many nearshore providers can present candidates in weeks. Typical full onboarding timelines vary by partner and role, but nearshore is often faster than US hiring cycles for senior engineers.
Ready to build your nearshore team with Howdy?
If you want to hire senior LatAm talent with time zone alignment, full EOR support, and a retention-first model, book a demo with Howdy.