Ukraine vs. Poland: Differences in IT & Software Development Outsourcing

Central/Eastern European countries (CEE) are known for great communication, high quality work, and fair pricing, and therefore it’s no surprise that they are gaining popularity in the IT offshoring industry, especially in the US.

Two great examples that are often compared are Ukraine and Poland. Both countries have established reputations for providing excellent talent with an unmatched cost-to-quality ratio, and are top locations for outsourcing your IT and software development projects.

If you are seeking to outsource your software development, you’ve probably started your search by comparing countries and their individual traits. Fair enough, since the area you’re outsourcing your work to is one of the most impactful factors.

If you’ve already narrowed it down to Ukraine and Poland, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together this guide to help you get a better understanding of what each country has to offer, what the differences are, and how they can affect your business.

After reading this guide, you should be ready to decide where you want to outsource your
software development to – Ukraine or Poland. Let’s go!

Ukraine vs. Poland: Differences Uncovered

Please note that we’re speaking from our own experience. At Euvic, Inc., we not only provide software development services from Poland, but also partly from Ukraine.

As a result, we’ve got a great understanding of the differences between both countries and can assist you in the decision-making process.

We’ve divided the comparison in 6 different categories:

• Global rankings and talent recognition
• IT demographics in comparison
• English proficiency and cultural values
• Standard of security and data protection
• Hourly rates, salaries, and value for money
• And lastly, their individual approach to software development.

When it comes to IT outsourcing, we believe these areas will have the greatest impact on your success.

1. Global Rankings and Talent Recognition

Let’s take a closer look at each country’s global rankings and talent recognition first. Where do they stand in a worldwide comparison?

Both Poland and Ukraine are globally recognized for the outstanding quality of their IT and software development services, and they are known for their excellent communication and collaboration with US companies.

One frequently cited ranking comparing the overall quality of developer skills is HackerRank.

In a comparison of 50 different countries, Poland and Ukraine achieved outstanding rankings:

• Poland – Ranked 3rd.
• Ukraine – Ranked 11th.

The United States placed 28th, for reference. This shows that both Poland and Ukraine are exceptional locations for outsourcing your software development.

Both countries are able to adapt to recent market trends with ease, and the industry in both countries is expected to continue their growth rapidly.

2. IT Demographics in Poland vs. Ukraine

When it comes to global rankings, Ukraine and Poland are almost on the same level. But how about IT demographics – which country has the bigger tech hub and future-proof environment?

Once again, both countries share many similarities. They each have a population of around 40 million.

Poland and Ukraine alike are home to numerous experienced coders and engineers. In fact, Poland features the greatest number of software developers in Central and Eastern Europe with around 400k developers, Ukraine on the other hand has around 280k developers.

While these numbers may vary depending on the source, it is clear that both countries have quite a number of skilled professionals.

This is also supported by the fact that more and more software giants are establishing research and development centers in both countries.

In Poland, there are more than 400 development centers operating in the country, some of them established by big companies like Google, IBM, and Fujitsu. Being part of the European Union, Poland benefits from their great infrastructure. Their close ties to the EU and the US supports their educational system, making it a future-proof location for the generations to come.

Ukraine on the other hand remains a vibrant hub for software development in Eastern Europe, even in the face of challenges like the Russian invasion. They are offering a compelling and resilient environment for innovation and growth. Despite the political instability, they are hosting over 100 research and development centers of world-known international tech companies such as Samsung, Microsoft, and Google.

This financial commitment can be taken as a strong indicator of Ukraine’s potential and firmly establishes it as one of the top choices for outsourced IT services.

To see how Poland and Ukraine compare to other countries, check out our guide about the top 10 countries for IT outsourcing.

3. English Proficiency and Shared Cultural Values

A successful collaboration is only possible if there is good communication and understanding between everybody involved. Not only language speaking skills, but also cultural values play an important role in this context. Having a partner who shares the same work ethic and standards as you is truly essential.

Ukraine and Poland share cultural values with the US and other Western countries. However, there are some differences in “work mentality”: People from Eastern Europe generally focus more on doing the work, not on selling it. They have a very honest, straightforward approach with little to no small talk and are not afraid to challenge new approaches as social hierarchy is not as prevalent in the culture as it might be in other cultures.

Overall, these differences don’t stand in the way of a fruitful collaboration, as they are very compatible with Western values and needs for outsourcing.

In the English Proficiency Index 2022 (EF EPI), the world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills, Poland ranks 13th (very high proficiency) and Ukraine 35th (moderate proficiency).

Very high proficiency means they can use nuanced and appropriate language in social situations, read advanced texts and negotiate a contract with a native English speaker.

Moderate proficiency means that they can participate in meetings in their area of expertise and can write professional emails on familiar subjects. So on average, both people from both Poland and Ukraine speak English well enough that language shouldn’t be a barrier when working with an international software development company. In both countries, you should be able to find a partner who is able to communicate properly.

4. Standard of Security and Data Protection

Another topic that plays a big role in deciding where you want to outsource your
software development is the standard of security and data protection. A strong focus on these topics avoids considerable problems that may harm your company.

Poland’s economy exhibits greater stability when compared to Ukraine. As a member of the EU, Poland is thriving on economic expansion, which positively influences the quality of life in the country. With Poland being part of the EU, there are strict legal frameworks they have to follow, such as the GDPR or other compliance laws that companies from Ukraine usually aren’t accountable to.

Intellectual property protection, copyright laws and data protection are at a comparable level to the US, which guarantees a high standard of security.

Poland was even ranked 6th ahead of countries like the United Kingdom and Switzerland in the Cyber Defence Index 2022/23, a ranking of 20 of the world’s major economies according to their collective cybersecurity assets, organizational capabilities, and policy stances.

This underlines the overall safety measurements that were adapted to prevent cyberattacks and proves how well secure digital transactions are promoted by the government.

Furthermore, Poland’s International IP Index by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s is 70.74 out of 100, recognizing it as one of the safest among popular outsourcing destinations.

5. Salaries and Value for Money

While the demand for well-trained professionals around the world is increasing, the price for labor is also on the rise.

IT outsourcing offers a good opportunity to escape this upward price spiral. While it is important to focus on the numbers, the hourly rate is definitely not the most important factor! It is our mission to educate our clients and partners on this critical factor of a successful outsourcing strategy.

Companies that optimize for quality, experience, and trustworthiness of their software development partner rather than their hourly rates, will always have an edge.

Both Poland and Ukraine can give you just that. They provide the perfect balance of high quality work and competitive rates.

With average software developer salaries of $22,740 per year in Poland and $22,348 per year in Ukraine, their average salary is similar and generally higher, compared to other low-cost countries like the India for example. Learn more about the yearly software engineering salaries in Poland and Ukraine.

Compared to the US and Western Europe, Poland or Ukraine still have lower rates. At the same time, you are presented with high expertise and specialization.

Poland and Ukraine are not the cheapest places to outsource work but the ones with the best value for money. Learn more about hourly rates in popular IT outsourcing countries.

Thanks to a big pool of highly skilled professionals, you can access a comprehensive range of services, covering everything from fundamental tasks to intricate, sophisticated assignments.

6. Individual Approach to Software Development

Lastly, both Poland and Ukraine both provide magnificent talent, but their overall approach and expertise vary.

In general, Polish developers tend to specialize in the creation of enterprise software solutions. Poland is well known to have high proficiency in the Agile methodology for effective project management, timely delivery, and efficient project execution.

They’re the host of the Agile event: ACE! Conference.

IT services contribute nearly 10% of the Polish GDP, with further growth projected.

Polish developers have extensive experience in working on Fintech projects, ensuring secure, certified solutions. The significance of Poland’s expertise in the Fintech domain can be supported by its status as the largest FinTech market in Central and Eastern Europe.

Ukraine, on the other hand, isn’t behind at all. The Ukrainian IT industry is primarily known to focus on individual, user-centric software development.

The local IT market is full of tech talent. And Ukraine’s software developers not only have a lot of expertise, they are also very innovative. Many tech-events and conferences such as the iForum take place there on a regular basis.

Conclusion: Ukraine vs. Poland Does It Really Matter?

You’ve come here to figure out what the major differences between Poland and Ukraine are.

And we’ve shown you the rundown of the data to prove that there probably is not much difference at first sight.

Software developers from both countries are overall highly skilled, speak English well enough to provide a solid foundation for a fruitful collaboration, and offer great value for money.

Since Poland is part of the EU, workers from Poland are generally very aware of the strict data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Intellectual Property laws they are obliged to follow. These rules provide a slight advantage over Ukraine in regard to the security and safety that comes with it.

Overall, outsourcing your IT and software development projects to either Poland or Ukraine is a great opportunity to bring your business to the next level.

What matters is to pick a great service provider, no matter which country you choose.

Successful IT outsourcing relies on collaboration, communication, and careful planning. We are here to help you! It’s on you to pick the right partner and set yourself up for success.

At Euvic, Inc., we can take you by the hand and walk you through all steps necessary to be perfectly prepared for your one-off or ongoing software development projects and needs.

Check out our service portfolio and client work  to learn more.