Top 5 Countries to Hire Remote Developers (and Why)

Hiring remote developers isn’t just a trend anymore  it’s how fast-growing companies are scaling their teams without the usual hiring headaches. Instead of spending months trying to fill roles locally, businesses are tapping into global talent pools to find the right skills at the right price.

Among the top choices? Countries like India, Ukraine, Poland, the Philippines, and Brazil. These regions stand out for their deep developer talent, solid tech education, and affordable rates — making them smart picks for any startup or tech team.

According to Statista, there will be nearly 28.7 million software developers worldwide by 2024. With so much talent available globally, knowing where to look (and why) can make all the difference.

In this article, we break down five of the best countries to hire remote developers and what makes each one worth considering.

1. India – Vast Talent and Cost Efficiency

When companies talk about hiring remote developers, India almost always comes up — and for good reason. It has one of the largest engineering workforces in the world, and it’s been part of the global tech outsourcing conversation for more than two decades.

There are around 5.8 million developers working in India today, and every year, another 1.5 million or so engineering graduates enter the job market. That means companies don’t just get access to experienced professionals — they also tap into a fresh, constantly growing pool of talent. And that talent isn’t limited to backend or frontend roles. Developers here work across stacks, from Java and .NET to AI, cloud infrastructure, and machine learning.

The cost advantage is obvious, but it’s not just about saving money. Hiring in India typically means paying somewhere between $15 and $40 per hour, which opens doors for startups and smaller companies to scale faster. But beyond price, many Indian developers bring strong communication skills, solid project experience, and a high comfort level with remote collaboration.

English is widely spoken in the tech industry here, especially among developers working with overseas clients. And with India’s time zone (UTC+5:30), there’s a decent overlap with Europe and even some shared working hours with the U.S. — which helps keep teams in sync, even across continents.

For companies looking to grow smartly and sustainably, India offers more than just affordability — it brings experience, scale, and reliability to the table. It’s one of the best countries to hire remote developers for teams needing high availability and a broad talent pool.

2. Ukraine – Skilled Engineers and Western Alignment

You don’t hear about Ukraine as much as you used to, but it’s still one of those countries where remote hiring just works. A lot of companies have relied on Ukrainian developers for years — and most of them stick around.

There are over 300,000 people working in IT here. Not a small number. Every year, new grads come out of university with good training, especially in areas like backend development, QA, and infrastructure. A lot of them are strong with the basics — algorithms, system design — and know their way around modern stacks too.

One thing that stands out? They get remote work. Many have worked with teams in the U.S., Canada, or the EU. Their English might not be perfect, but it’s usually good enough to handle calls, standups, and async chats without issues.

The cost is decent. Developers usually charge between $25 and $50 an hour. Not the cheapest option in the world, but definitely more affordable than hiring in Western Europe or the U.S.

Ukraine’s time zone is another plus. If your team’s in London, Berlin, or even New York, you’ll get a good chunk of the workday to sync up. And despite everything the country’s been through recently, the tech sector hasn’t collapsed. A lot of teams kept delivering — which says a lot.

So, if you’re looking for smart developers who understand remote workflows and don’t need hand-holding, Ukraine should be on your list. It remains one of the best countries to hire remote developers in Eastern Europe.

3. Philippines – English Proficiency and Service Mindset

Working with developers in the Philippines tends to feel simple. Not because the work itself is always easy, but because the communication rarely gets in the way. Most people in tech here speak English fluently — and I don’t mean just textbook fluency, but actual, conversational English that holds up in async chats and video calls.

A lot of teams who’ve hired in the region mention how quickly devs here can jump into ongoing projects. There’s a familiarity with remote tools like Slack, Trello, Notion — and you don’t have to explain everything from scratch. The country’s history with global outsourcing means that most developers are already used to working with international teams, following sprint-based workflows, and meeting deadlines with minimal friction.

In terms of what roles work best: front-end, mobile development, and design-heavy projects are where Filipino talent often shines. That’s not to say you can’t find strong back-end or full-stack devs — you can — but the front-facing layers of products are where they often stand out.

As for cost, it’s affordable without being “cheap.” You’re usually looking at $15 to $35 per hour. That fits nicely for startups or mid-sized teams that need consistent delivery without paying premium U.S. or EU rates.

Timezone-wise, the Philippines runs on UTC+8. For Asia-Pacific teams, that’s perfect. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll get a few hours of crossover if you plan morning or evening syncs — not ideal for every team, but it works if you’re flexible.

Because of its affordability and ease of collaboration, the Philippines continues to be one of the best countries to hire remote developers for English-speaking teams.

4. Poland – Reliable Tech Skills and Strong Work Culture

Poland doesn’t always get hyped the way some other European tech markets do, but it consistently delivers. Developers here are technically sharp, deadline-oriented, and generally easy to work with. Many come from solid academic backgrounds, and coding competitions are pretty common, so there’s often a strong foundation even before formal training begins.

English fluency is high, especially among tech professionals. Developers are usually comfortable communicating clearly over calls or in writing, which keeps project momentum strong. You don’t have to repeat instructions or over-explain — they tend to just get it.

Rates fall somewhere between $30 and $60 per hour. It’s not the cheapest market, but for the level of engineering quality and predictability you get, it’s a worthwhile investment for teams looking for stable long-term contributors.

The timezone is Central European, which works perfectly for teams based in Europe. U.S. companies can still collaborate easily enough — there’s typically a few hours of overlap, especially with East Coast teams. That mix of reliability, communication, and tech talent makes Poland one of the best countries to hire remote developers in the EU region.

5. Brazil – Latin America’s Tech Hub

Brazil has become a go-to for U.S. companies that want overlap in working hours without compromising on skill. Most cities are just a couple of hours ahead of U.S. time zones, so real-time collaboration is totally doable without late nights or weird shifts.

There’s a surprising amount of depth in the tech community here. You’ll find developers who’ve worked in fintech, SaaS, mobile, even gaming. JavaScript, Python, React — the usual suspects are well covered, and newer stacks aren’t uncommon either. The talent pipeline is strong too, with a steady flow of grads coming out of universities every year.

English levels vary, but in major cities like São Paulo and Rio, most devs in tech have at least working proficiency. Many have already worked with North American clients, so they get the expectations around communication, delivery, and code reviews.

Cost-wise, Brazil sits in a good middle zone. Not ultra-cheap, but not high either — around $18,000 per year on average for a mid-level dev. That’s a win for startups looking to scale smartly.

If you’re based in the U.S. and want skilled engineers without the timezone pain, Brazil hits that sweet spot — and stands out as one of the best countries to hire remote developers in Latin America.

Key Considerations When Hiring Remotely

When you’re hiring remote developers, it’s easy to focus just on hourly rates or how many people are available. But those aren’t the only things that make a remote setup actually work. A few other pieces — ones that don’t show up on resumes or profiles — can make or break your project.

• Time zones come up fast. If your team’s scattered across continents, you’ll quickly see the impact of misaligned hours. Some overlap is important — even just 2–3 hours can help unblock things faster and avoid 24-hour delays. For example, teams in the U.S. tend to work well with Brazil, while European companies often pair naturally with Poland.
• Language matters, too. Even if a developer technically speaks English, that doesn’t always mean conversations are easy. Clear communication saves time, especially when projects move fast or when things need to change mid-sprint. Places like the Philippines, Poland, and India often get picked for this reason — their developers are used to working in English-first environments.
• Then there’s security and compliance, which is a different kind of concern. If your product involves user data, financial details, or anything sensitive, you’ll want to be sure your devs work in countries where data privacy laws are taken seriously. Things like ISO certifications or familiarity with GDPR help teams avoid major headaches later.
• Internet and power stability aren’t exciting to talk about, but they matter. You can hire the best person in the world — if their connection drops three times a week, you’re stuck. It’s worth asking about basic infrastructure early on, especially if the developers are working from a region where power cuts still happen.
• Work style compatibility is another thing people forget. Some teams prefer constant check-ins, others expect quiet focus. Different regions approach this differently. Finding someone who fits how your team works makes life a lot easier long-term.
• And finally, how stable is the country overall? Political or economic uncertainty doesn’t always stop work — but it can cause delays, disruptions, or unexpected risks. If you’re planning to work with someone for the next 12–18 months, it’s smart to have at least a basic read on the environment they’re working in.

Finding the Right Fit, Not Just the Right Rate

Hiring remote developers isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. What works well for one company might not make sense for another. Some teams need speed. Others care more about long-term collaboration. And then there’s timezone overlap, communication, and infrastructure — the little things that end up mattering more than expected.

If you’re just starting out, it helps to think less about where everyone else is hiring from, and more about what kind of setup will actually help your team work better. Some of that comes from trial and error. Some of it comes from knowing what you’re willing to compromise on.

In the end, the best countries to hire remote developers aren’t always the cheapest or most popular. They’re the ones that give your team the clarity, consistency, and skill to move fast — without slowing down where it matters.