Chicago is no longer known just for its catchy architecture, jazz music, and savory food like deep-dish pizzas and Chicago-style hot dogs. Today, the city is globally recognized as the leading tech hub in the USA and beyond.
According to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago’s tech industry experienced an 18% growth in the last decade – depicting the rising tech culture in the city. With 106,000 people, Chicago’s tech market constitutes about 8% of the local working population and contributes significantly to its economy.
The tech community in Chicago is also on top, with incubators like 1871 boasting a collection of over 850+ ventures and helping them raise over $3.5 billion in venture capital. Moreover, the city hosts a remarkable annual conference, TechChicago, a week-long event full of networking and career opportunities for IT professionals.
So, if you’re keen on hiring the best IT talents in the city, stay here. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top software development companies in Chicago offering cutting-edge custom software development services to businesses of all types and sizes.
Chicago Software Development Companies At A Glance
A quick comparison of the Chicago software development companies in this list, their main services and the industries they serve.
1. Company
Services
Industries
1. Velvetech LLC
Custom software, mobile and web apps, SaaS development
Healthcare, logistics, finance
2. Atomic Object
Custom software, web and mobile apps, UI/UX design, AI/ML
Finance, agriculture, automotive
3. WEZOM
Enterprise app modernization, custom software, data science consulting
eCommerce, healthcare, finance
4. Saritasa
Web and mobile apps, custom software, AR/VR, IoT
Healthcare, manufacturing, education
5. TXI
Custom software, mobile and web development, UI/UX design
Education, retail, nonprofit
6. Zazz
Custom software, mobile and web apps, IoT development
Finance and banking, eCommerce, healthcare
7. Launchpad Lab
Product strategy, web and mobile apps, UI/UX design, CRM consulting
Financial services, healthcare, legal
8. Simform
Custom software, quality engineering and testing, data science and engineering
Finance, retail and eCommerce, healthcare
9. TekRevol
Mobile apps, custom software, web design and development, IT staff augmentation
Healthcare, fintech, retail
10. Plego Technologies
Custom product development, web and mobile apps, cloud consulting
If you’re planning to work with the best software development company in Chicago, Velvetech LLC is the right choice. Established in 2004, Velvetech is an award-winning IT firm providing custom software development services across the US and the world.
Over the past years, their top-notch team of 150+ software developers, project managers, and domain experts has successfully executed more than 1000 projects across different categories, such as web applications, mobile applications, process automation, IoT, artificial intelligence, and much more. Some major industries the company specializes in are finance, healthcare, education, and manufacturing.
With its rich expertise and customer-centric approach, Velvetech LLC continues to drive innovation and growth for mid and large-sized businesses.
Services and expertise: custom software development, mobile & web app development, SaaS development, UX/UI, blockchain development, IoT development, AI/ML, data engineering
Established in 2001, Atomic Object is a Chicago software development company with over 23 years of experience. Having offices in Chicago, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Raleigh, Atomic Object has deep roots in the US software development market. The firm boasts various renowned brands under its clientele, ranging from seed-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies like Bosch and Ford.
Covering web design and development, mobile development, cloud-based software development, and IoT development, the engineers at Atomic Object can turn every project into reality thanks to their extensive expertise and strategic implementation.
So, with a 4.9-star rating based on 30+ positive reviews on Clutch, Atomic Object is deservedly among the best IT outsourcing companies in Chicago.
Services and expertise: custom software development, web & mobile app development, UI/UX design, AI/ML, cloud-powered software development, IoT development
Among the top software developers in Chicago, WEZOM takes a solid place. It’s a highly-rated custom software development company with an impactful market presence of over 24 years. The firm helps global organizations, primarily in the healthcare, oil & gas, supply chain, and real estate industries, drive significant growth with the help of technology and innovation.
WEZOM houses a team of over 250 first-class experts working across ten international locations in the US, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine. So far, they’ve implemented 3,500+ successful IT projects. Thanks to their high-quality design and development services, WEZOM has won over 20 international awards from organizations like Clutch, TechBehemoths, G2, and Crunchbase.
So, don’t think twice and hire top experts from one of the best IT companies in Chicago.
Services and expertise: enterprise app modernization, custom software development, data science consulting, UI/UX design, MVP development, AR/VR development, web and mobile app development
Team size: 250+ experts
Industries: eCommerce, Healthcare, Finance, Logistics, Education, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities
With a 4.8-star rating and 90+ positive reviews on Clutch, Saritasa is a top-rated custom software development company in Chicago. Starting from analysis and strategy, the company offers a broad array of services, including design, development, maintenance, and scale—empowering businesses to grow and create meaningful user experiences.
Founded in 2005 by Nik Froehlich, Saritasa has grown to over 200 talents who’ve already produced 1700+ successful projects. Partnerships with organizations like Microsoft, Amazon, AT&T, and Microchip have enabled the team to serve clients across various industries, such as manufacturing, energy, logistics, and automotive.
Services and expertise: web and mobile app development, custom software development, AR/VR, IoT app development, cloud infrastructure management, CI/CD, DevOps, 3D designs
Founded in 2002, TXI is a Chicago-based digital product agency that helps global organizations build and design powerful data-driven products by integrating technology with innovation and trust with impact. Over the years, TXI has worked with renowned startups, Fortune 100s, and industry-leading companies like Dickson, Motorcity Systems, and the American Medical Association (AMA).
Following the 6-step roadmap ‘Strategize, Realize, Modernize, Optimize, Analyze, and Catalyze,’ the team at TXI delivers experience-rich digital products for mobile, web, and IoT. Thus, whatever the complexity of your project, these best developers in Chicago have all the business acumen and technical expertise required to make it a success!
Services and expertise: custom software development, mobile app development, web development, UI/UX design, big data & BI, DevOps
Team size: 75+ experts
Industries: Education, Retail, Nonprofit, Industry 4.0, Biopharma, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Media & Communication
Clients: Dickson, Keiser, ISACA, American Medical Association, AccuWeather, Theragen
Boasting notable brands like Intel, Roku, KPMG, Walmart, and Amazon under its portfolio, Zazz is one of the best software development companies in Chicago. With offices in the USA and Canada, Zazz has helped hundreds of VC-backed startups, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies build and maintain their digital architecture.
In addition to custom software development services, Zazz also offers IT staff augmentation to help IT companies bridge the talent gaps in their projects. Over the last 15 years, this skillful team of experts has developed 760+ software projects, generating a revenue of over $770 Million.
As a result, the company boasts a solid 5-star rating on Clutch, proving it’s one of the best IT companies in Chicago.
Services and expertise: custom software development, mobile and web app development, IoT development, mobile backend engineering, blockchain development, AR/VR development, IT staff augmentation
Team size: 275+ experts
Industries: Finance & Banking, eCommerce, Healthcare, Logistics, Real Estate, Media & Entertainment, EdTech, SaaS
If you’re looking for a Chicago-based agency that offers best-in-class custom software development services, Launchpad Lab is the perfect fit. Established in 2012, they’ve helped over 200 global companies develop and design 575+ digital projects that facilitate business growth and revenue.
The team’s proficiency in software development, UI/UX design, and Salesforce development helped Launchpad Lab bag numerous awards and recognitions, including Top Software Developers US 2023 and Top Salesforce Developers 2023 by Clutch. Moreover, in 2022, BuiltIn recognized Launchpad Lab as the best place to work in Chicago.
Services and expertise: product strategy, web app development, mobile app development, UI/UX design, CRM consulting, Salesforce development
An AWS Premier Tier Partner, Simform is a leading IT company that offers a rich pool of talented developers in Chicago for hire. Leveraging the capability of generative AI and cloud infrastructure, Simform provides top-class custom software development and product engineering services for continuous scale and growth.
Their team of 1000+ experts comprises software developers, product engineers, QA specialists, and product managers who can identify and solve the core problems of businesses across various industries, including finance, eCommerce, healthcare, and marketing. Notably, many Fortune 500 companies like Pepsico, Cisco, HSBC, JPMorgan, and Fidelity have already trusted Simform for their IT needs.
Thus, partner with Simform today and enjoy working with the best software development company in Chicago!
Among the best IT companies in Chicago, TekRevol is a leading custom software development and mobile app development company with offices across the USA, UK, UAE, and Qatar. Established in 2018, TekRevol has made quick progress by onboarding more than 300 top-level engineers and successfully delivering 100+ projects in more than 20 industries in just 6 years.
Therefore, for its notable services and achievements, TekRevol has earned various reputable awards and recognitions, including the Inc. 5000, America’s Fastest Growing Company, Clutch Top 1000 Companies, and Right Firms Top Mobile App Development Company 2023.
Services and expertise: mobile app development, custom software development, web design and development, IT staff augmentation, blockchain development, AR/VR development, game development
Team size: 300+ experts
Industries: Healthcare, Fintech, Retail, Real Estate, Education, Logistics, Automotive, Entertainment
Clients: Soundly, AMJ Wellness, University of San Francisco, Al Hussaini
Recognized as the best software developers in Chicago by Clutch, Plego Technologies is a full-service custom software development company. Established in 2002, the firm offers product development, web design and development, eCommerce, and SEO services to businesses of all sizes and types.
The experts at Plego are well-versed in different technologies and frameworks, such as Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, Flutter, Magento, and much more. In the past 20 years, these experts have delivered over 1000 web and mobile applications equipped with top features and security compliances.
So, if you’re planning to collaborate with a top software development company in Chicago that puts your needs first and delivers exceptional solutions every time, contact Plego Technologies right away!
Services and expertise: custom product development, web design and development, mobile app development, cloud consulting, DevOps, AI/ML, data analytics, IT staff augmentation, SEO
Team size: up to 50 experts
Industries: IT, Finance, Real Estate, Retail, Media, Manufacturing
Chicago software development companies use the same core pricing models you will find in other large US tech markets:
Fixed price: a set fee for a defined scope, common for discovery phases, prototypes and small, stable projects.
Time and materials: billing by the hour or sprint for the roles on your project. This is the usual model for custom products whose requirements evolve.
Dedicated team or retainer: a monthly fee for a team that keeps building and maintaining your product after launch.
What drives the budget most is scope and complexity, the number of platforms (web, iOS, Android), integrations with existing systems, compliance needs in industries like healthcare and finance, and team seniority. Some Chicago firms keep the whole team local, while others pair a local lead with nearshore or offshore developers, which changes the blended rate.
The cost of custom software in Chicago depends on scope, complexity, the number of platforms and integrations, and the pricing model. A small MVP and a large enterprise system can differ by an order of magnitude, so ranges without a defined scope are not very useful. Ask two or three firms for estimates based on the same written brief, broken down by phase and role.
How do you choose a software development company in Chicago?
Start with firms that have built similar products in your industry, then review case studies, references and reviews. Meet the people who would actually work on your project, and ask about their process, testing, security practices and post-launch support. Finally, compare proposals on scope, timeline, team structure and contract terms, not just the headline price.
Conclusion
Chicago has transformed significantly into a tech-savvy destination with more than 18 unicorns in the past years and hosting offices of large tech giants like Google, Salesforce, Groupon, and LinkedIn. Moreover, the city is witnessing the rise of computer science graduates each year, making the future of Chicago’s tech sector even brighter.
Thus, don’tn waste a minute and hire the best software developers in Chicago listed above to take your new project to ultimate success!
If you want to feature your Chicago software development company on this list, email us or submit a form in the Top Choices section. After a thorough assessment, we’ll decide whether it’s a valuable addition.
