Jobsity vs BairesDev,
which fits your startup?
Both source LatAm engineers, both charge blended hourly rates. But they're built for different team sizes and budgets. Here's the honest breakdown — and the direct-hire alternative most startups end up preferring.
Quick verdict: Jobsity works for 1-5 engineer teams that want flexibility. BairesDev is better for 10+ engineer engagements or complex enterprise projects. But if you're a startup planning to keep the engineer long-term (12+ months), a direct-hire model saves you $80,000-$150,000 per hire over 24 months.
The 6 dimensions that actually matter
| Dimension | Jobsity | BairesDev |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement model | Staff augmentation / project-based | Dedicated teams / enterprise |
| Team size sweet spot | 1-5 engineers | 10+ engineers |
| Pricing transparency | No public rates (~$40-70/hr referenced) | No public rates (~$50-90+/hr referenced) |
| Time to first candidate | ~1-2 weeks | ~2-4 weeks |
| Timezone | LatAm (Ecuador HQ) | LatAm (Argentina HQ) |
| Best for | Small teams, flexible scope | Enterprise, structured projects |
Jobsity: what it does well
Jobsity is Ecuador-headquartered and known for a lighter-weight process. Startups pick Jobsity when they want:
- Small team, flexible scope — 1 to 5 engineers on a project-basis
- Faster onboarding — typically 1-2 weeks from kickoff to first candidate
- Managed relationship — Jobsity handles the employment, you get an interface
- Easier scope changes — Their smaller ops team is more responsive to mid-project pivots
Downside: like all outsourcing models, you're paying a blended rate that includes Jobsity's margin forever. Over 24 months, that markup adds up to more than the direct-hire alternative.
BairesDev: what it does well
BairesDev is one of LatAm's largest engineering firms. Their advantage is scale and process discipline. Startups pick BairesDev when they need:
- Larger teams — 10 to 50+ engineers on complex engagements
- Enterprise process — Structured SLAs, dedicated PM support, formal contracts
- Multi-role coverage — Backend, frontend, DevOps, QA all under one contract
- Long-term engagement — Their model is built for 12-24+ month engagements
Downside: BairesDev is built for mid-market and enterprise. Small startups often feel over-processed and overcharged. Pricing is opaque and typically higher than Jobsity.
Where both models break down
Both Jobsity and BairesDev use the same fundamental model: they employ the engineer, you rent them at a blended hourly rate. That's fine for short-term or specialized capacity, but it has three structural problems for startups:
1. The math gets bad after month 6. An engineer costs Jobsity/BairesDev roughly $40-70K/year to employ in LatAm. They charge you $120-180K/year (at $60-90/hr blended). Over 24 months, that's $160,000-$220,000 you're paying to the agency, not to the engineer.
2. You don't own the relationship. The engineer works for Jobsity or BairesDev. If they leave the agency, you lose the person. If you want to convert them to your team, there's usually a conversion fee.
3. Vendor-mode kills ownership. Engineers in outsourced models tend to think like contractors, not owners. That's fine for well-scoped work. It's a problem when your startup needs someone to move without being managed line-by-line.
Skip the outsourcing markup entirely.
Direct-hire a senior LatAm engineer with a one-time placement fee, no monthly markup, and a 3-month replacement guarantee.
See how direct hire works →The direct-hire alternative
A direct-hire recruiter like Awana works differently: we find, vet, and hand off the engineer to you. You pay a one-time placement fee (15-25% of first-year comp), then hire them directly at their LatAm-market salary. No monthly markup, no ongoing agency margin.
Over 24 months, the math looks like this:
- Jobsity/BairesDev (24 months): $150K-$220K to the agency + $0 to the engineer directly
- Direct hire (24 months): $15K-$25K one-time fee + $80K-$140K to the engineer (their LatAm-market comp)
- Difference: Roughly $80K-$150K in your favor over 24 months
Add in ownership dynamics (direct hires think like teammates, not vendors) and retention benefits (no risk of the agency reassigning your engineer), and direct hire is usually the right call for startups building product teams.
When each model wins
Pick Jobsity if:
- You need 1-5 engineers on a well-scoped project of 3-6 months
- You want managed employment (no CoR/EOR setup on your side)
- You prioritize fast start over long-term cost
Pick BairesDev if:
- You're staffing an enterprise engagement of 10+ engineers
- You need multiple roles (backend, frontend, DevOps, QA) under one contract
- You have budget for structured process and dedicated PM support
Pick direct hire if:
- You're a startup planning to keep the engineer 12+ months
- You want ownership dynamics (engineers who think like teammates)
- You want the transparent, cheaper long-term math
- You want a 3-month replacement guarantee at no extra cost