File #5 of 5 · Dedicated dev teams
Howdy review: pricing, minimums and alternatives
Howdy is an Austin-based firm that hires full-time Latin American engineers for US companies and handles their payroll, benefits, equipment and offices. It discloses its 15% fee but not the rates themselves.
- Our score
- 6.7/10
- Type
- Managed nearshore staffing
- Price
- No rate card; all-in price shown on each candidate profile, of which 15% is Howdy's fee
- Headquarters
- Austin, TX, United States
- Staff in
- Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru
- Founded
- 2018
Our verdict
Howdy is strongest on talent & screening (8/10): Under 5% of candidates placed; background checks, skills assessments and English tests. Its weakest area is pricing transparency (5/10): Fee share (15%) disclosed and price shown per profile, but no rates published.
Mainly software engineers, though it also places product, design and other remote roles.
What we like
- Discloses its fee: 15% of the all-in price, with 85% going to the professional
- No startup, recruiting or cancellation fees, and no long-term contracts
- Fewer than 5% of candidates are placed; 98% retention across 12,500+ placements
What to watch
- Full-time placements only; no part-time or short projects
- Hiring cycle typically takes 4-6 weeks
- No client reviews on G2; replacement and notice terms not published
Pricing
No rate card; all-in price shown on each candidate profile, of which 15% is Howdy's fee.
Contract terms
- Smallest start
- No minimum commitments; full-time placements only, not short-term or project work
- Trial or guarantee
- Not published
- Replacement
- Not published
- Notice period
- No long-term contracts and no cancellation fees; notice period not published
- One-off fees
- No startup, recruiting or sourcing fees; nothing to pay until the first hire starts
Score breakdown
8/10
5/10
6/10
6/10
5/10
7/10
Howdy vs VA MASTERS
Published by Outsourcing Insider, a VA MASTERS company. VA MASTERS is ranked here using the same rubric as every other company. About us
| Term | Howdy | VA MASTERS Parent company |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No rate card; all-in price shown on each candidate profile, of which 15% is Howdy's fee | $12–$25/hr |
| Type | Managed nearshore staffing | Managed remote staffing |
| Smallest start | No minimum commitments; full-time placements only, not short-term or project… | One person; 80 hours/month recommended, fewer hours possible |
| Trial | Not published | 30-day trial: end anytime, no notice |
| Replacement | Not published | Free; new candidates usually in about 2 business days |
| Notice | No long-term contracts and no cancellation fees; notice period not published | None during the trial; notice period after |
| Fees | No startup, recruiting or sourcing fees; nothing to pay until the first hire… | No recruitment or setup fees; a refundable deposit is part of the first invoice |
| Score (dedicated dev teams) | 6.7/10 | 7.6/10 |
Alternatives to Howdy
Other companies in our dedicated dev teams drawer:
FAQ
How much does Howdy cost?
Howdy lists No rate card; all-in price shown on each candidate profile, of which 15% is Howdy's fee. In its own words: No rate card; all-in price shown on each candidate profile, of which 15% is Howdy's fee. Prices checked October 2026.
Can a small business start small with Howdy?
No minimum commitments; full-time placements only, not short-term or project work
Does Howdy offer a trial or a free replacement?
Howdy doesn't publish trial terms. It doesn't publish a replacement policy.
Is Howdy a good choice for dedicated dev teams?
Mainly software engineers, though it also places product, design and other remote roles. It's file #5 of 5 in our dedicated dev teams drawer, with a score of 6.7/10.
What are the best alternatives to Howdy?
In the same drawer: Full Scale (8.0/10), Cloud Employee (7.6/10), VA MASTERS (7.6/10), Mobilunity (6.8/10).