Preste vs DEPT: full comparison for 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Quick verdict
Preste (4.4/5) edges ahead of DEPT (4.0/5) overall. Preste is the better choice for european companies needing custom computer vision or NLP algorithms with a French client-facing presence. 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.
Preste vs DEPT: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Preste | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2015 |
| HQ | Paris, France | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 11–50 | 1000+ |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Best for | European companies needing custom computer vision or NLP algorithms with a French client-facing presence | 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, PyTorch, OpenCV | Python, GCP, AWS |
| Industries served | Retail, Manufacturing, Media, Financial Services | Retail, Media, Enterprise, E-commerce |
Preste vs DEPT: overview
Preste
Preste is a European AI development company founded in 2019, with operations spanning Paris, France and Kyiv, Ukraine. The team focuses on computer vision, natural language processing, and custom machine learning algorithms, and was recognized by industry peers as a Top European AI Startup in 2024 and 2025 (per company website; independently unverifiable). Its dual-location structure combines French client-facing presence with Ukrainian engineering delivery.
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: Preste vs DEPT
| Capability | Preste | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| ML model development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Computer vision | ✓ | ✗ |
| NLP | ✓ | ✗ |
| Generative AI / LLM integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| MLOps | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI strategy consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Preste vs DEPT
| Framework / platform | Preste | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | N/A | ✓ |
| PyTorch | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | N/A | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Preste vs DEPT
| Criterion | Preste | 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: Preste vs DEPT
| Dimension | Preste | DEPT |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Retail, Manufacturing, Media | Retail, Media, Enterprise |
| Best use cases | Computer vision for retail or manufacturing quality inspection, NLP for French and multilingual document processing | ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale, Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Retainer |
Preste vs DEPT: pros and cons
| Preste | |
|---|---|
| + | Legally headquartered in Paris with recognized Top European AI Startup mentions from industry peers |
| + | Focused specialization in computer vision and NLP rather than broad generalist AI scope |
| + | Founded in 2019 with steady growth in a competitive Paris AI market |
| - | Delivery team based partly in Kyiv, Ukraine carries the same operational-continuity considerations as other Ukraine-linked firms |
| - | Smaller, newer firm with a shorter track record than established French AI consultancies |
| - | Industry-award mentions are self-reported and not independently verifiable |
| 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 Preste?
Preste is the right choice for european companies needing custom computer vision or NLP algorithms with a French client-facing presence.
Dual Paris and Kyiv structure pairing French market presence with dedicated computer vision and NLP engineering delivery. Minimum engagement starts at $20K. Works best with clients in Retail, Manufacturing, Media, Financial Services.
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: Preste vs DEPT
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Preste |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Preste |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Preste |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Preste |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Preste |
Use case fit: Preste vs DEPT
| Use case | Preste fit | DEPT fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer vision for retail or manufacturing quality inspection | Strong | Limited | Preste |
| NLP for French and multilingual document processing | Strong | Limited | Preste |
| ML-driven marketing personalization at global brand scale | Limited | Strong | DEPT |
| Enterprise data engineering supporting a large media or retail platform | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Preste vs DEPT
Preste (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Machine Learning Development projects. Dual Paris and Kyiv structure pairing French market presence with dedicated computer vision and NLP engineering delivery. It is best for european companies needing custom computer vision or NLP algorithms with a French client-facing presence.
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
Preste vs DEPT FAQ
Is Preste better than DEPT?
Preste (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Preste is better for european companies needing custom computer vision or NLP algorithms with a French client-facing presence. DEPT is better for large enterprise brands needing ML-driven marketing personalization at global scale.
How do Preste and DEPT differ in pricing?
Preste 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: Preste or DEPT?
Preste 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 Preste and DEPT?
Preste's primary differentiator is: dual paris and kyiv structure pairing french market presence with dedicated computer vision and nlp engineering delivery. 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 (11–50 vs 1000+), minimum engagement ($20K vs $75K), and primary industries served (Retail, Manufacturing vs Retail, Media).
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.