Tech Products from Ukraine You May Not Know You Use

When you think of global tech giants or breakthrough innovations, you probably think of countries like the United States, Japan, or China. Yet, many of the tools and platforms you use daily — from software to mobile apps — have Ukrainian roots. Ukraine has quietly but confidently built a reputation as a global tech hub, delivering products and engineering talent that power businesses and digital experiences across the world.

Over the years, IT Arena has showcased many rising startups — proving just how much global impact Ukraine’s tech can have. Let’s take a quick look at some tech products and innovations from Ukraine that you might be using without even realizing it.

Grammarly — your favorite writing assistant 

Whether you’re writing an email, revising a report, or updating your resume, chances are Grammarly has stepped in with a useful suggestion. Founded in 2009 by Max Lytvyn, Alex Shevchenko, and Dmytro Lider, Grammarly started as a tool to help students with grammar and spelling. But it quickly became clear that its potential went far beyond that. Today, Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant used by over 40 million people around the world to communicate more clearly and effectively.

Grammarly operates across offices in San Francisco, Kyiv, Berlin, Vancouver, New York City, and Seattle, with a team of over 1,000 members making a meaningful global impact. Its technology is a leading example of how Ukrainian startups are competing — and winning — on the international stage.

Reface — when AI meets entertainment

Reface quickly gained global attention by enabling users to seamlessly place their faces onto popular movie scenes, music videos, and internet memes.

The story began in Kyiv, Ukraine, where three friends were working on machine learning models and experimenting with AI technologies. Their work led to the development of a fast and highly accurate face-swapping technology — something entirely new at the time. What started as a single viral app evolved into a suite of products powered by advanced AI tools. Reface expanded its capabilities from face-swapping in images and videos to generating hyperrealistic AI portraits, shaping a new approach to digital content creation.

With over 250 million downloads worldwide, more than 20 proprietary technologies, and 7 billion pieces of synthetic content created, Reface highlights the powerful intersection of Ukrainian tech expertise and global entertainment innovation.

Petcube — smart devices for your pets

If you use a smart camera to keep an eye on your dog or cat while you’re away, there’s a good chance you’re using Petcube — a product designed in Ukraine that blends hardware, software, and innovation in pet care.

Petcube develops interactive HD cameras that allow pet owners to see, speak to, and engage with their pets directly from their smartphones.

Petcube was founded in September 2012 by Yaroslav Azhniuk, Oleksandr Neskin, and Andrii Klen. Since then, the company has raised over $25 million in investment and sold more than 1 million products worldwide. Petcube’s cameras have earned multiple Red Dot Awards for excellence in product design.

CleanMyMac — quiet power behind your Mac

For many Mac users, CleanMyMac is a well-known utility — an application designed to keep systems optimized, secure, and free of unnecessary files. It helps users clear digital clutter, recover valuable storage space, and maintain a clean, efficient, and malware-free Mac experience.

What is less widely known is that CleanMyMac was developed by MacPaw, a software company headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine. Trusted by Mac users worldwide, CleanMyMac has over 29 million downloads and removes 35 million GB of junk every month.

MacPaw was founded in 2008 by Oleksandr Kosovan, then a student, who self-funded the company through the early development of CleanMyMac. Over the years, the company has grown significantly. By 2023, its team had expanded to over 500 employees, and to support its international growth, MacPaw opened a new office in Boston. 

Today, MacPaw is a strong example of Ukraine’s capabilities in software engineering, user-centered design, and sustainable product development.

Ajax Systems — redefining security tech

Another notable Ukrainian innovation on the global stage is Ajax Systems — a company that develops smart, wireless security solutions for homes and businesses. Known for their sleek design and reliable hardware, Ajax products are now shipped to over 180 countries.

Founded in 2011 by Aleksandr Konotopskyi, Ajax Systems initially aimed to offer mid-priced security devices — positioned between low-cost Chinese products and more expensive Western brands. Though early models found local success, international interest was limited.

Realizing the need for true innovation, the team decided to build an entirely new system from the ground up. This included their own communication protocol, control panel, detectors, cloud infrastructure, and mobile app.

Today, Ajax protects over 4 million users worldwide, with a product range of 180 devices across 187 markets and a team of more than 4,100 employees.

Speakers representing each of these companies, in different years and with various presentations, have shared their achievements with the IT Arena audience. Attending Ukraine’s leading tech event means being among the first to discover startups that may one day become unicorns and conquer the world.

In the world of tech, impact speaks louder than origin. But knowing the stories behind the tools we use reminds us how powerful and purposeful innovation can be — and Ukraine is full of those stories. Keep an eye on Ukraine and the IT Arena in particular. There’s more to come.