Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Imaginary Cloud (4.0/5) edges ahead of DEPT (4.0/5) overall. Imaginary Cloud is the better choice for companies wanting ML capabilities delivered alongside strong product design and UX engineering. DEPT is the stronger option for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Imaginary Cloud | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 2015 |
| HQ | Lisbon, Portugal | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 51–200 | 1000+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | Companies wanting ML capabilities delivered alongside strong product design and UX engineering | Large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Retainer, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | $20K | $75K |
| Primary tech stack | Python, React, Node.js | Python, GCP, AWS |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce | Retail, Media, Enterprise, E-commerce |
Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT: overview
Imaginary Cloud
Imaginary Cloud, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, is an AI-first software development company with roughly 77 employees. The firm combines design, engineering, and AI to deliver custom software and machine learning-enabled products, positioning itself around what it calls seamless digital acceleration, per company website.
DEPT
DEPT, founded in Amsterdam in 2015, has grown into a global digital agency with over 4,000 digital specialists across more than 30 offices on five continents, backed by the Carlyle Group. DEPT's AI-enabled marketing technology platform, Ada, and its Engineering practice deliver machine learning-driven personalization, growth, and data engineering work for major brands including Google, TikTok, and eBay. As a large, private-equity-backed marketing and engineering agency, ML and AI here sits within a much broader full-service offering rather than being the firm's sole focus.
Services and capabilities: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Capability | Imaginary Cloud | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| ML model development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer vision | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✗ | ✗ |
| Generative AI / LLM integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI strategy consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Framework / platform | Imaginary Cloud | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PyTorch | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Criterion | Imaginary Cloud | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $20K | $75K |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Retainer, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Dimension | Imaginary Cloud | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare | Retail, Media, Enterprise |
| Best use cases | AI-enabled consumer product design and development, Custom software with embedded ML recommendation features | ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale, Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Retainer |
Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT: pros and cons
| Imaginary Cloud | |
|---|---|
| + | 15 years of operating history since founding in 2010 as a Lisbon-based software studio |
| + | Strong design and UX engineering complements ML and AI delivery for consumer-facing products |
| + | EU-headquartered in Portugal, useful for European data-residency requirements |
| + | Positions AI as a first-class design consideration, not a bolted-on backend feature |
| - | Broader software and design studio heritage means ML depth is narrower than pure-play ML specialists |
| - | Smaller team of around 77 relative to larger regional generalists on this list |
| DEPT | |
|---|---|
| + | Global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list |
| + | Proprietary AI-enabled marketing technology platform, Ada, with proven enterprise brand clients |
| + | Carlyle Group backing provides financial stability for very large, long-term programmes |
| + | Named clients include Google, TikTok, KFC, and eBay, indicating enterprise-grade delivery capacity |
| - | ML and AI sits within a much broader marketing and full-service digital agency offering, not a dedicated ML practice |
| - | High minimum engagement size, inaccessible for startups or small businesses |
| - | Enterprise agency structure means less specialized, boutique-style ML research depth |
Who should choose Imaginary Cloud?
Imaginary Cloud is the right choice for companies wanting ML capabilities delivered alongside strong product design and UX engineering.
Design-led software development studio with AI positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought. Minimum engagement starts at $20K. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce.
Who should choose DEPT?
DEPT is the right choice for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale.
Proprietary AI marketing platform, Ada, and global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list. Minimum engagement starts at $75K. Works best with clients in Retail, Media, Enterprise, E-commerce.
Decision matrix: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Imaginary Cloud |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Imaginary Cloud |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Imaginary Cloud |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Imaginary Cloud |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Imaginary Cloud |
Use case fit: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
| Use case | Imaginary Cloud fit | DEPT fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-enabled consumer product design and development | Strong | Limited | Imaginary Cloud |
| Custom software with embedded ML recommendation features | Strong | Limited | Imaginary Cloud |
| ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale | Limited | Strong | DEPT |
| Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform | Limited | Strong | DEPT |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT
Imaginary Cloud (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Design-led software development studio with AI positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought. It is best for companies wanting ML capabilities delivered alongside strong product design and UX engineering.
DEPT (4.0/5) is the better choice when large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale. If your situation matches those criteria, DEPT is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Imaginary Cloud vs DEPT FAQ
Is Imaginary Cloud better than DEPT?
Imaginary Cloud (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Imaginary Cloud is better for companies wanting ML capabilities delivered alongside strong product design and UX engineering. DEPT is better for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale.
How do Imaginary Cloud and DEPT differ in pricing?
Imaginary Cloud uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K. DEPT uses retainer, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $75K. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Imaginary Cloud or DEPT?
Imaginary Cloud is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Imaginary Cloud and DEPT?
Imaginary Cloud's primary differentiator is: design-led software development studio with ai positioned as a first-class capability, not an afterthought. DEPT's primary differentiator is: proprietary ai marketing platform, ada, and global scale of over 4,000 specialists across 30-plus offices, unmatched by any other firm on this list. They also differ in team size (51–200 vs 1000+), minimum engagement ($20K vs $75K), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs Retail, Media).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.