Texas has a deep AI services market: Clutch lists 662 artificial intelligence companies in the state (ratings updated August 21, 2026). Most “best of” lists give names without evidence. This guide ranks ten Texas AI development companies, shows the score behind each rank, and gives a fact sheet for each one, including what we could not verify.
Our Verdict
ISHIR leads because it combines a confirmed Dallas headquarters, a 1999 founding date, a named AI agent project (Fireside Dental) and a solid Clutch record. Liquid Technologies follows with the highest AI service share on the list, proprietary AI products and a confirmed Houston base. Frogslayer is third as the most AI-focused established Texas firm with a documented AI project, held back only by missing public review data.
Ranking and Comparison
| Rank | Company | HQ | Score /100 | Clutch rating (reviews) | AI share | Hourly | Min. project | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ISHIR | Dallas | 84.0 | 4.9 (19) | 40% | $50–$99 | $10,000+ | 1999 |
| 2 | Liquid Technologies | Houston | 79.3 | 4.9 (19) | 70% | $25–$49 | $10,000+ | 2016 |
| 3 | Frogslayer | College Station | 72.0 | Not publicly verified | 60% | Undisclosed | $5,000+ | 2005 |
| 4 | Plego | Houston (conflicting listing) | 63.3 | 5.0 (32) | 55% | $100–$149 | $25,000+ | Not verified |
| 5 | AppVerticals | Dallas | 63.1 | 4.8 (29) | 20% | $25–$49 | $25,000+ | 2016 |
| 6 | Arbisoft | Plano | 58.8 | 4.9 (35) | 20% | $50–$99 | $50,000+ | 2007 |
| 7 | App Maisters | Houston | 55.9 | 4.9 (25) | 25% | $50–$99 | $5,000+ | 2014 |
| 8 | Inventive Works | Manor / Austin | 52.4 | 4.9 (28) | 15% | $100–$149 | $5,000+ | 2016 |
| 9 | ZAPTA Technologies | Austin (Pakistani legal entity) | 49.4 | 4.9 (33) | 15% | $25–$49 | $10,000+ | 2020 |
| 10 | KitelyTech | Austin | 48.0 | Not publicly verified | 60% | $200–$300 | $25,000+ | 2009 |
Score Breakdown
How We Scored (Published Formula)
| Criterion | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Texas HQ | 15 | 15 if two or more independent sources place HQ in Texas with an address; 8 for one source; 4 if sources conflict or the delivery entity is based elsewhere. Firms with only a small Texas office were excluded (STX Next, HQ Poland). |
| AI focus | 25 | AI development + agents + generative AI + AI consulting share on Clutch, scaled so 60% or more earns 25. |
| Client reviews | 25 | 15 × (rating − 4.0) plus 10 × (review count, capped at 50, ÷ 50). Only independent Clutch reviews count; missing data earns 0. |
| AI proof | 20 | 20 for a specific, named AI client project; 10 for a partial signal (a named AI product or project title, or a client citing AI results); 0 otherwise. |
| Longevity | 10 | Verified founding year: 15+ years earns 10, 10–14 earns 7, under 10 earns 4; unverified earns 0. |
| Pricing transparency | 5 | 5 if both hourly band and minimum project are public; 2 if one. |
How to read the scores: the score reflects what is publicly verifiable. Scores within about 3 points (ranks 4 and 5) are effectively ties, and company claims are labeled as claims.
Company Fact Sheets
Each fact sheet separates what a source confirmed from what the company says about itself. “Third-party” means a directory or aggregator we could not cross-check.
1. ISHIR Score 84.0
📍 Dallas, TX · Since 1999 · Clutch 4.9 (19 reviews)
| Headquarters | Dallas, TX. Offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio (The Manifest), plus Fort Worth and Plano (Built In). Address listed by a third-party directory: 2001 Ross Ave, Suite 700-140, Dallas, TX 75201. |
| Size | Clutch band 50–249; about 200 employees per Built In (undated). |
| Website | ishir.com (DesignRush profile) |
| Type and markets | Custom software and AI-native engineering firm serving Texas, LATAM, India and the UAE. |
| AI services | AI-powered custom software, AI product innovation, data and AI strategy, data engineering, AI agent automation, AI-first engineering talent. |
| Industries and clients | Dental, restaurant groups, franchising, lending. Named clients on third-party profiles: Fireside Dental, Sandless; DesignRush portfolio lists Lendified, Floss Dental, ENO8 and Sugar Bacon. |
| AI project | Fireside Dental hired ISHIR to build an AI clinical supply purchasing agent that integrates with suppliers and recommends optimized orders with AI chat. A team of 6–10 ISHIR staff delivered it. Measured results were not published (The Manifest, Clutch). |
| Other work | Custom CRM for franchisor Sandless (inventory, help desk, training portal); web application redesign and central portal for a global restaurant group. |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 4.9/5, 19 reviews. Themes: project management, responsiveness, on-time delivery, cost-effective pricing, same team across years, Node.js, Angular and .NET skills. |
| Reported concerns | Several review summaries cite language and time-zone friction with offshore teams. |
| Pricing | $50–$99/hr, $10,000+ minimum. Clutch profile |
2. Liquid Technologies Score 79.3
📍 Houston, TX · Since 2016 · Clutch 4.9 (19 reviews)
| Headquarters | Houston, TX. 10190 Katy Fwy, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77043 (Sortlist, Krowdbase). GoodFirms lists 1155 Dairy Ashford Rd, Suite 700, Houston 77079, so confirm which office serves you. Dubai office listed on Business of Apps. |
| Size | Clutch band 50–249; Sortlist shows 84 team members. |
| Website | liqteq.com (listed by a third-party forum profile; verify before use). |
| Type | AI-native software development and consulting company headquartered in Houston. |
| AI services | AI applications, AI strategy workshops, data engineering, AI integration, custom software, web and mobile. Clutch mix: AI dev 22%, consulting 18%, agents 15%, GenAI 15%. |
| Proprietary AI | Vidan AI (video analytics) and Sally (AI voice agent), described by the company. Subsidiary Liquid Health AI builds agentic AI for healthcare (TechBehemoths). |
| Clients | Mainly small businesses and startups, with some 51–500 employee firms (TechReviewer). |
| Reviews | Clutch 4.9/19. GoodFirms shows client reviews praising creativity and a cloud migration with no downtime (count not verified). Business of Apps: 1 review. UpCity: none. |
| Pricing | Clutch: $25–$49/hr, $10,000+. UpCity profile: $5,000+ per project and $1,500+ monthly retainers (UpCity). |
3. Frogslayer Score 72.0
📍 College Station, TX · Since 2005 · Clutch rating not verified
| Headquarters | College Station, TX. Legal entity: Frogslayer, LLC (Clutch). |
| Size | Clutch band 50–249. A third-party aggregator says 40+ staff, so treat the exact count as unverified. |
| Leadership | CEO and Managing Partner since 2012 (Business of Apps; surname not stated there). |
| Type and model | Custom software, AI and automation partner for mid-market businesses, working as a senior team on retainer. |
| AI services | AI consulting, strategy, automation, development and implementation. Clutch lists GPT-3 and DALL-E 2 under AI technologies and 60% of focus as AI development. |
| Industries and clients | Financial services (banking and insurance brokerage), transportation, networking, legal technology, education, wholesale logistics, a camera manufacturer. |
| AI project | Built custom AI software for Q Investments: an email interface for home-automation actions, reported at a 95% success rate in identifying the requested action (The Manifest). |
| Reviews | Rating and review count not verified in our sources. Themes: strategic advice on growth, hiring and positioning; flexible; competitive pricing. |
| Pricing | $5,000+ minimum, hourly undisclosed. A third-party aggregator reports an “AI Office” retainer from $2,500 per month launched July 2026 (Simplify); we could not confirm it on the company site. |
| Links | Clutch reviews · The Manifest |
4. Plego Score 63.3
📍 Houston, TX (listing conflict) · Clutch 5.0 (32 reviews)
| Headquarters | Clutch’s Texas and Houston directories list Houston, while another Clutch list shows Chicago, IL (Clutch). Plego’s own profile lists offices in Chicago, Houston, Milwaukee, Dubai, Riyadh and Karachi. We could not confirm a Texas headquarters, so it earns partial credit. |
| Size and founding | Clutch band 50–249. Founding year not verified. |
| Website | plego.com (AI Superior listing) |
| AI services | Clutch (Oct 3, 2026): AI development 40%, custom software 25%, GenAI 10%, AI consulting 5%. Profile lists GPT-3 and DALL-E 2. An older Clutch list showed 45% AI, 30% custom software, 25% web. |
| Industries | 11 industries on Clutch, including medical, financial services, electric, manufacturing, real estate and advertising. |
| AI project | “Website Revamp & AI Integration for LED Lighting Co” (Clutch project title). Details were not read. |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 5.0/5, 32 reviews. Themes: strong project management, responsive by text, phone and email. Recent reviews mostly describe website and SEO work. |
| Pricing | $100–$149/hr, $25,000+. Clutch reviews |
5. AppVerticals Score 63.1
📍 Dallas, TX · Since 2016 · Clutch 4.8 (29 reviews)
| Headquarters | Dallas, TX. 1341 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 600W, Dallas, TX 75247 (Kando); Dallas HQ also on Stanford Tech Index and Stork. |
| Size and leadership | About 250+ per Stork (third-party); CEO Kazim Qazi. Clutch band 50–249. |
| AI services | Specialist AI group “AIVerticals” covering generative AI, agents and RAG pipelines (company profile on Feedbax). Clutch: AI development 20% beside mobile and custom software. |
| Industries | HealthTech, EdTech, Fintech. |
| Company claim | 96% first-submission app-store approval rate (unverified). |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 4.8/5, 29 reviews. One recent review cites AI-driven personalization. |
| Pricing | $25–$49/hr, $25,000+. Clutch Houston directory |
6. Arbisoft Score 58.8
📍 Plano, TX · Since 2007 · Clutch 4.9 (35 reviews)
| Headquarters | Plano, TX. 1700 Alma Dr, Suite 102, Plano, TX 75075 (Datanyze, Prospeo, MobileAppDaily). |
| Other offices | Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi (Pakistan), Berlin, Doha and Riyadh, per Arbisoft’s own blog. |
| Size | Clutch band 250–999. The company claims 750+ specialists; Bitscale lists 900+. |
| Website | arbisoft.com |
| AI services | Data and AI solutions inside a larger software practice. Clutch: AI development 20%. |
| Industries and clients | EdTech, travel, healthcare, finance, e-commerce. Company-stated platforms include Open edX, edX, KAYAK and Insurify. A Clutch client built production systems with Arbisoft for an AI software company. |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 4.9/5, 35 reviews. Themes: handles time-zone gaps well, long-term partnerships, continuous improvement. (G2 shows 5.0 from 2 reviews for its Edly product; not counted.) |
| Pricing | $50–$99/hr, $50,000+. Clutch Texas directory |
7. App Maisters Score 55.9
📍 Houston, TX · Since 2014 · Clutch 4.9 (25 reviews)
| Headquarters | Houston, TX (Clutch, Bizcommunity). |
| Size | Clutch band 10–49. |
| AI services | AI development 15%, GenAI 5%, AI consulting 5%. Mobile apps are its largest line. No AI project found. |
| Credentials | Clutch profile claims a 2024 BBB Pinnacle Award (company claim). |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 4.9/5, 25 reviews. Praised for affordability and communication; a minority cite timing issues and unexpected charges. |
| Pricing | $50–$99/hr, $5,000+. Clutch profile |
8. Inventive Works Score 52.4
📍 Manor / Austin, TX · Since 2016 · Clutch 4.9 (28 reviews)
| Headquarters | Manor, TX on Clutch; described as an Austin-based product team on Adamfard. |
| Size | Clutch band 10–49. |
| Credentials | HUB-certified, SDVOSB-verified and a preferred web developer for Texas A&M University (company claims on Clutch). |
| AI services | Self-described: AI search, workflow automation, summaries, recommendations and assistants. Clutch (Jul 16, 2026): custom software 25%, web development 20%, enterprise app modernization 20%, AI development 15%, CRM 10%, product design 10%. |
| Reviews (Clutch) | 4.9/5, 28 reviews. Themes: structured, transparent project management; responsive; strong user-experience focus; many clients hire it to fix work others mishandled. |
| Pricing | $100–$149/hr, $5,000+. Clutch profile |
9. ZAPTA Technologies Score 49.4
📍 Austin, TX address · Since 2020 · Clutch 4.9 (33 reviews)
| Headquarters | Austin address on Clutch: 316 W 12th St, 4th floor, Austin, TX 78701. The legal entity is ZAPTA Technologies (Private) Limited, and one directory lists Dallas (Clutch). Awards cited by the company are Pakistan-based (Digital Pakistan). |
| Size | Clutch band 50–249; MobileAppDaily lists 201–300. |
| Credentials | Says it follows ISO 9001-2015 standards (company claim). |
| AI services | AI development 15% beside web, mobile and UX design. A recent client reported cost and time savings on AI development (Clutch summary). |
| Reviews | Clutch 4.9/33. MobileAppDaily 5.0 from 2 reviews. Themes: web and mobile proficiency, competitive pricing. |
| Independence note | ZAPTA publishes its own “Top 10 in Texas” guide that includes itself. We rank it by the same formula as everyone else. |
| Pricing | $25–$49/hr, $10,000+. Clutch Texas directory |
10. KitelyTech Score 48.0
📍 Austin, TX · Since 2009 · Clutch rating not verified
| Headquarters | Austin, TX (Clutch, single source). |
| Size | Clutch band 50–249. |
| AI services | Describes itself as an AI product engineering firm (machine learning, generative AI). Clutch lists 60% AI focus. |
| Projects | Visible client projects are mostly web and mobile, so AI proof is unconfirmed. |
| Reviews | Rating and count not verified in our sources. Clutch reviews |
| Pricing | $200–$300/hr, $25,000+. |
Pricing Comparison
| Company | Hourly (Clutch) | Minimum project (Clutch) | Other published signals |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISHIR | $50–$99 | $10,000+ | — |
| Liquid Technologies | $25–$49 | $10,000+ | UpCity: $5,000+ project, $1,500+/mo retainer |
| Frogslayer | Undisclosed | $5,000+ | Third party: AI Office from $2,500/mo (unverified) |
| Plego | $100–$149 | $25,000+ | — |
| AppVerticals | $25–$49 | $25,000+ | — |
| Arbisoft | $50–$99 | $50,000+ | — |
| App Maisters | $50–$99 | $5,000+ | — |
| Inventive Works | $100–$149 | $5,000+ | — |
| ZAPTA Technologies | $25–$49 | $10,000+ | — |
| KitelyTech | $200–$300 | $25,000+ | — |
These are company-reported marketplace bands, not quotes. For anything not listed, contact the company for a custom quote.
Review Analysis
| Company | Reviews analyzed | Common positives | Reported concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISHIR | Clutch: 19 (7 review pages and profile summaries read) | PM, responsiveness, timeliness, cost, team continuity | Language and time-zone friction |
| Liquid Technologies | Clutch: 19; GoodFirms and others not counted | Responsive, creative, smooth cloud migration | Generic wording; mostly small clients |
| Frogslayer | Count not verified (8 review pages read) | Strategic advice, flexible, competitive pricing | None found; thin sample |
| Plego | Clutch: 32 | Project management, communication | Mostly web and SEO projects |
| AppVerticals | Clutch: 29 | Support, clear communication | Mostly app projects |
| Arbisoft | Clutch: 35 | Time-zone handling, long partnerships | Offshore delivery |
| App Maisters | Clutch: 25 | Affordable, responsive | Some timeline and billing complaints |
| Inventive Works | Clutch: 28 (8 review pages read) | Transparent PM, responsive, UX | None found |
| ZAPTA Technologies | Clutch: 33; MobileAppDaily: 2 | Web and mobile skills, price | Thin AI evidence |
| KitelyTech | Not verified | — | Not verified |
Analysis date: October 3, 2026. We read Clutch profile summaries for all companies and individual review pages where noted. Review summaries on Clutch are platform-generated; we paraphrase them rather than quote them.
Texas Presence Check
| Company | Texas location | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISHIR | Dallas | Clutch, The Manifest, Built In, DesignRush | Confirmed. Dallas vs Houston on Clutch resolved: HQ Dallas, Houston is an office. |
| Liquid Technologies | Houston | Sortlist, Business of Apps, Krowdbase, TechReviewer | Confirmed. Two Houston addresses; confirm office. |
| Frogslayer | College Station | Clutch, The Manifest, Business of Apps | Confirmed. |
| Plego | Houston | Clutch Texas pages; Clutch minority-owned list says Chicago | Conflict. Partial credit. |
| AppVerticals | Dallas | Kando, Stanford Tech Index, Stork | Confirmed. |
| Arbisoft | Plano | Datanyze, Prospeo, MobileAppDaily, Sortlist, Clutch | Confirmed. Delivery mostly in Pakistan. |
| App Maisters | Houston | Clutch, Bizcommunity | Confirmed. |
| Inventive Works | Manor / Austin | Clutch, Adamfard | Confirmed. |
| ZAPTA Technologies | Austin | Clutch; other directory says Dallas | Weak. Pakistani legal entity. |
| KitelyTech | Austin | Clutch | Single source. |
Which Company Fits Which Need?
ISHIR (named agent project), Frogslayer (named AI software project), Liquid Technologies (own AI voice agent).
Liquid Technologies and ZAPTA ($25–$49/hr), App Maisters and Inventive Works ($5,000+ minimums).
Arbisoft (250–999 staff) and AppVerticals (250+ per third party), with the offshore caveats above.
Inventive Works lists HUB and SDVOSB status and Texas A&M work (company claims; verify).
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- Can you share a named AI project like mine, with a client I can call?
- Where are the engineers who will work on my project, and how much Central Time overlap will we have?
- Who owns the code, prompts, models and data, and where is data processed?
- How do you test accuracy, hallucinations and security before launch?
- What will AI usage and hosting cost after launch?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top AI development companies in Texas?
Our October 2026 ranking puts ISHIR first, Liquid Technologies second and Frogslayer third, followed by Plego, AppVerticals, Arbisoft, App Maisters, Inventive Works, ZAPTA Technologies and KitelyTech.
Are these companies really based in Texas?
Six have a Texas headquarters confirmed by multiple sources. Plego and ZAPTA have conflicting or weak evidence, and Arbisoft’s Plano headquarters is confirmed but most of its engineers are in Pakistan. The table above shows each case.
How much does AI development cost in Texas?
For these ten, Clutch shows minimum projects from $5,000+ to $50,000+ and hourly bands from $25–$49 to $200–$300. These are company-reported bands, not quotes.
How do I choose an AI development company?
Confirm a Texas address, ask for a named AI project with a client contact, check review volume and dates, confirm where engineers sit, and start with a small paid pilot.
Which companies work with startups?
Low minimums: App Maisters, Frogslayer and Inventive Works ($5,000+), then ISHIR, Liquid Technologies and ZAPTA ($10,000+).
What services do AI development companies provide?
Custom AI software, generative AI and LLM apps, AI agents, machine learning, chatbots, computer vision, predictive analytics, integration, workflow automation and consulting.
How can I verify an AI company’s client reviews?
Read full reviews rather than summaries, check dates and project types, compare a second platform, and ask for a reference call.
Why did the ranking change from your first version?
We verified headquarters and founding years for every company. Liquid Technologies rose after we found its named AI products and a confirmed Houston HQ; Plego and ZAPTA fell after we found conflicting location evidence.
Why You Can Trust This Guide
We reviewed each company’s public profiles, project descriptions and review pages, and recorded the date of every check. Scores rely on public evidence, not paid access or sponsored placement.
Written by the AICOPSE Research Team, which covers AI services and vendor selection for US buyers.
Every fact links to a source: Clutch, The Manifest, Built In, Sortlist, Kando, Stanford Tech Index and company pages.
Placement cannot be bought. The formula, dates, conflicts and limits are public. Send corrections to AICOPSE and we will update within a week.
Conclusion
Texas offers real choice, from low-cost generalists to AI-focused specialists. The clearest lesson from this research is that location and AI proof must be checked, not assumed: several “Texas” firms are delivered from elsewhere, and most review pages say little about AI. Shortlist two or three companies, ask the questions above and run a small paid pilot before you commit.
Key takeaways
- ISHIR, Liquid Technologies and Frogslayer lead on public evidence.
- Only ISHIR and Frogslayer have a named client AI project in our sources.
- Confirm where engineers sit: Arbisoft and ZAPTA deliver largely from Pakistan.
- Clutch shows minimums from $5,000+ to $50,000+ and hourly bands from $25 to $300.
Keep learning: explore the types of AI, AI terms explained and daily analysis on AICopse.
Sources, Methodology and Disclaimer
- Clutch: Texas (updated Aug 21, 2026), Houston (Oct 3, 2026), Dallas, Austin, minority-owned list, veteran-owned list (Jul 16, 2026)
- ISHIR: Clutch, The Manifest, DesignRush, Built In, directory
- Liquid Technologies: Sortlist, Krowdbase, GoodFirms, TechReviewer, UpCity, Business of Apps
- Frogslayer: The Manifest, Clutch, Business of Apps, Simplify
- Plego: Clutch, AI Superior · AppVerticals: Kando, Stanford Tech Index, Stork, Feedbax
- Arbisoft: company blog, Prospeo, Datanyze, MobileAppDaily, G2
- ZAPTA: Clutch, MobileAppDaily, Digital Pakistan · Inventive Works: Clutch, Adamfard · App Maisters: Clutch · KitelyTech: Clutch
- Excluded: STX Next on Clutch (headquartered in Poznan, Poland)


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