Near vs. Howdy: Which Nearshore Hiring Partner Fits Your Needs?

You're here because you're weighing Near vs. Howdy for a Latin American hire.

That's exactly what you should be doing: comparing providers, weighing the trade-offs, and figuring out who's the right fit for your team.

Both companies help US businesses hire skilled LatAm talent, but we take different approaches.

Howdy has a tech focus and maintains physical offices and community spaces across six LatAm cities. Near operates as a white-glove full-service recruiting partner across all business functions.

We favor our own approach, of course, but our goal here is to give you clear, straightforward information so you can make your decision with confidence. Your choice comes down to what you need and how you prefer to work.

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Near: The Full-Service Staffing & Recruiting Partner

G2 Rating: 4.9 (87 reviews)

Near (Hire With Near) is a full-service staffing and recruiting agency that helps US companies hire top-performing remote talent in Latin America across finance, accounting, sales, software engineering, AI, data, marketing, operations, and virtual assistance.

We’re not a platform. We don’t supply temps. We’re a white-glove recruiting partner for companies that want A-players who raise the bar for everyone around them. We handle everything—sourcing, vetting, candidate presentation, payroll, and compliance—so hiring feels simple on your side. Our process is built to surface the people who don’t just fit the role, but make your whole team better.

We take the time to understand your culture, goals, and how your team works together, so every shortlist is tailored to what success looks like in your business.

[fs-toc-omit]Key strengths:

1. Quality-first approach: Our 97% placement rate and 9.1+ client satisfaction come from obsessing over fit—not just skills, but the drive, readiness, and cultural match to contribute from day one and help your company grow over the long term.
2. Elite talent for tech positions: We place senior backend, frontend, mobile, QA, and data/ML engineers every week, with specialist tech hunters and recruiters screening beyond keywords for real-world impact. Whether you need someone with experience in Python, JavaScript, Go, or Rust, or someone who's worked with specific frameworks, our recruiters know the difference and why it matters for your project.
3. One partner, one process: Scale across functions, not just engineering, with one dedicated team and a repeatable hiring cadence. First candidates in 3–5 days with video introductions, most hires in under 3 weeks. We remember what worked last time, and we adapt based on your feedback so hiring gets easier and more effective over time.
4. Proven retention: 80% of hires stay 2+ years, so knowledge compounds and teams get stronger over time.
5. Equipment & workspace support: Part of our white-glove approach is helping with the extras that matter. From laptops to office space, if your team needs it, we’ll make it happen.
6. Talent pool depth + reach: While we maintain a pre-vetted network of 45,000+ candidates, we don't stop there. Every search includes fresh sourcing until we find the right match.
7. 180-day replacement guarantee: Double the industry standard. If it doesn't work, we find a replacement at no additional cost to you.
8. Two engagement models: Direct hire (one-time recruiting fee) or staffing model (monthly fee with payroll/compliance included).
9. Transparent pricing: We show you benchmarks and fees up front. You set salaries for your hires. No hidden markups. No fee until you hire.

Howdy: The LatAm Tech Talent Provider with Physical Infrastructure

G2 Rating: No reviews available

Howdy operates as a full-service talent provider connecting US companies with Latin American tech professionals. They also offer an employer of record (EOR) service.

Their model combines recruitment with extensive on-the-ground infrastructure. Howdy maintains physical offices and "Howdy Houses" in major LatAm cities, including Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Medellín, Santiago, and Florianópolis. These spaces provide equipment, mentorship, and community support for the talent you hire.

Key features:

1. Tech talent specialization: Primary focus on software engineering roles, including AI/ML engineers, backend, frontend, mobile, full-stack, DevOps, and QA engineers. Also covers limited finance and HR roles, but engineering is their core strength and focus.
2. Fast hiring timeline: Interview candidates within 48 hours of engagement, with the ability to start hired talent within 24 hours after selection.
3. Physical presence: Six offices across Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil provide local HR teams, equipment, and workspace infrastructure for your hires.‍
4. Team management dashboard + EOR services: Track your team through the Howdy app, while Howdy handles payroll, benefits, compliance, and local procurement as your employer of record.

Where Near and Howdy Align

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Where Near Stands Out

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What Clients Say About Near

G2 and client feedback consistently highlight what sets Near apart across these key areas:

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Example Salary Ranges When You Hire Through Near

With Near, you stay in control of compensation.

We provide the benchmarks and breakdown; you set the final compensation offer and timing for raises.

Below are a few examples of salary ranges by role. Our comprehensive LatAm vs. US Salary Guide has figures for many more.

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On average, our clients save $35,000 to $55,000 annually per role compared to hiring in the US.

During your no-commitment discovery call, we’ll share recommended ranges to attract the best talent and explain our fees clearly, which are separate and depend on the support you need (recruiting only or payroll and compliance too).

With Near, there are never upfront costs.

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What To Do Next

This isn't about which company is "better." Both Near and Howdy deliver results for our target clients. The decision comes down to matching our approaches with your actual needs.

Most likely, you’ll speak with a few providers before you decide. We’d like to be one of them.

Comparisons help, but a call answers the real questions related to your role, timeline, and budget.

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We'll provide role-specific salary benchmarks and walk you through exactly how we'd approach building your team. You’ll be able to interview candidates for free and see the calibre of talent we can find you.