Cloud Employee vs. CloudDevs
📌 TL;DR
CloudDevs is a LATAM-focused freelance and contract hiring platform that connects businesses with developers, and technical talent. Its model offers flexibility through freelance, full-time, and outsourced engagements with transparent hourly pricing.
Cloud Employee, by contrast, delivers a fully managed, embedded staff augmentation model - providing vetted engineers from LATAM and the Philippines who become part of your in-house team. Each developer works exclusively for one client, under a transparent all-inclusive monthly rate, backed by 97%+ retention of more than 2 years and full HR, compliance, and L&D support.
Freelance Flexibility vs. Embedded Continuity
The freelance talent model has made it easier than ever to find developers fast. Platforms like CloudDevs have capitalised on this, helping US and European companies tap into top LATAM talent with timezone alignment and transparent pricing.
However, as products mature and engineering complexity increases, CTOs are increasingly prioritising retention, governance, and delivery continuity over one-off engagements.
That’s where Cloud Employee stands apart: specialising in an embedded, fully managed staff augmentation model, where engineers work as part of your team, not across multiple clients.
CloudDevs in Context
Founded to simplify nearshore hiring, CloudDevs operates as a freelance and contract-based platform connecting global businesses with LATAM developers and designers (CloudDevs Pricing).
CloudDevs’ Core Services
- Contract Full-Time Developers – For longer-term projects or roles requiring consistent availability.
- Contract Freelance Developers – On-demand contractors for short-term tasks or sprints.
- Contract Individual Developers or Teams – Flexible composition for scaling up or down.
- LATAM Outsourcing / Nearshoring – Regionally focused outsourcing with timezone convenience.
- LLM Training and Payroll Services – Ancillary offerings for AI and compliance.
Pricing Model
CloudDevs offers transparent hourly rates between $45–$75/hour, depending on seniority and skill set, providing clarity for smaller-scale or short-term engagements.
Strengths
- Access to vetted LATAM freelancers and contractors.
- Transparent pricing for hourly or project-based work.
- Timezone alignment with North America and Europe.
CloudDevs’ marketplace model is good for businesses needing speed and flexibility, though it remains project and contract-oriented by design.
Cloud Employee’s Approach: Embedded, Transparent & Retention-Focused
Cloud Employee takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than connecting clients to freelancers, it provides dedicated, full-time engineers who are exclusively embedded into your team, following your tools, processes, and sprint cycles.
The company handles sourcing, HR, L&D, compliance, payroll, benefits, and retention, so engineering leaders can scale quickly while retaining full delivery control.
Key Features of Cloud Employee’s Model
- CTO-led technical vetting with pair programming and cultural assessments to ensure fit. .
- 1–2 week time-to-hire from request to onboarding.
- Transparent all-inclusive pricing:
- LATAM engineers ≈ US $6,000/month
- Philippines engineers ≈ US $4,500/month
Covers salary, HR, benefits, compliance, and infrastructure - no markups or placement fees.
- 97%+ retention beyond two years, sustained by structured HR and L&D programs.
- Dual-region model (LATAM + Philippines) with European operations for timezone flexibility.
- Dedicated focus on software engineering and AI talent.
Cloud Employee helps CTOs replace contractor churn with long-term engineering continuity, building high-performing teams that scale predictably.
Shared Principles, Distinct Delivery
Both CloudDevs and Cloud Employee simplify access to skilled LATAM developers. The key distinction lies in how talent is engaged, managed, and retained.
CloudDevs focuses on speed and flexibility through its freelance network. Cloud Employee focuses on stability, transparency, and embedded continuity for long-term growth.
For CTOs, Cloud Employee provides predictable monthly costs and continuity of expertise, reducing the risk of turnover and fragmented delivery that can come with freelance setups.
Cloud Employee Case Studies
Travel Tech Client – 35 person team hired, onboarded & managed in a few months. Dedicated UK-Based Client Services Manager to support and manage project and relationship outcomes.
Read the case study →
Salmon Software – 11 developers hired & onboarded in 6 weeks. Fully augmented team to meet internal product demands, fast.
Read the case study →
Executive Insight
Freelance models can solve short-term delivery gaps - but scaling teams sustainably requires more than that. You need all your team members to feel in house, to fit culturally, and to stay for the long run so you're not onboarding new devs every two weeks. That’s where we stand apart.
Seb Hall, CEO, Cloud Employee
Conclusion
CloudDevs provides transparent, flexible access to LATAM-based freelancers, contractors, and teams. Its marketplace model delivers speed and convenience for startups and teams managing variable workloads.
Cloud Employee, on the other hand, offers a dedicated staff augmentation model built for sustained delivery. With vetted engineers, transparent pricing, and 97%+ retention of more than 2 years, it enables global teams to scale confidently, combining nearshore alignment with offshore efficiency.
For CTOs and CPOs seeking long-term engineering capability, Cloud Employee offers a more structured and embedded alternative to the freelance marketplace model.
Information is based on publicly available sources as of October 2025 and reflects Cloud Employee’s interpretation of each company’s publicly stated service model.
FAQs
Yes - CloudDevs offers a LATAM-focused staff augmentation model, alongside freelance and outsourcing options. Clients can hire full-time or contract developers through its transparent pricing platform.
However, Cloud Employee takes a more embedded and fully managed approach. Engineers are CTO-vetted, employed full-time, and work exclusively with one client, supported by dedicated HR, compliance, and retention programs that ensure long-term team stability.
Yes. Like CloudDevs, Cloud Employee offers nearshore engineers from LATAM for timezone-aligned collaboration. In addition, Cloud Employee operates in the Philippines and Europe, enabling hybrid nearshore and offshore coverage for around-the-clock delivery.
This dual-region model allows companies to combine cost efficiency with continuity, giving them flexibility beyond a single regional market.
Both CloudDevs and Cloud Employee prioritise transparent pricing.
- CloudDevs typically charges $45–$75 per hour, depending on seniority and skill set.
- Cloud Employee provides all-inclusive monthly pricing, averaging $4,500/month (Philippines) and $6,000/month (LATAM), covering salary, HR, compliance, and benefits.
Cloud Employee’s monthly model offers predictable, fixed budgeting for long-term engagement, while CloudDevs’ hourly approach suits shorter or project-based work.
While both companies connect clients with vetted LATAM engineers and offer transparent pricing, Cloud Employee distinguishes itself through a fully managed, embedded model that prioritises retention and long-term collaboration.
Key Differentiators:
- CTO-led vetting with pair programming.
- 97%+ retention through structured HR and career development.
- All-inclusive monthly pricing - no hidden costs.
- Multi-region access (LATAM + Philippines + Europe) for flexible scaling.
- Dedicated engineers working exclusively with your team.
Know your options:
