Bluefruit Software vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bluefruit Software (4.3/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Bluefruit Software is the better choice for regulated devices where test evidence matters. Very is the stronger option for US companies building a first connected product. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Bluefruit Software vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2011 |
| HQ | Redruth, Cornwall, UK | USA (fully distributed) |
| Team size | 70–90 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Test-driven embedded development with documented quality practices for medical and industrial products | Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience |
| Pricing model | Time & materials, dedicated team | Time & materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, FreeRTOS | C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Industrial IoT, Scientific instruments | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
Bluefruit Software vs Very: overview
Bluefruit Software
Testing is the main reason buyers pick Bluefruit Software. The Redruth, Cornwall company has worked on embedded software since 2000, became employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust in 2019, and applies a Lean-Agile process with unit tests and test automation built in from the first sprint. It reports work on more than 100 products (per company website; independently unverifiable), with medical devices, scientific instruments and industrial equipment making up much of the portfolio. In 2023 it had about 75 staff and was hiring.
Very
Very is a US IoT engineering firm that grew out of a design and development agency founded in 2011 and now works as a distributed team, with its earlier base in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Directory listings put its size at 51 to 200 people. It builds IoT products across hardware engineering, firmware, mobile apps and data, and it hired a co-author of the Nerves project, which runs Elixir on embedded Linux. Reviews mention hardware, firmware, React Native and AI feature work, so firmware is one part of a broader product offer.
Services and capabilities: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Capability | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-metal & RTOS firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux & BSP | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wireless & IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure boot & OTA | ✗ | ✗ |
| FPGA development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware testing & HIL | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Framework / platform | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Criterion | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Dimension | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Industrial IoT, Scientific instruments | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
| Best use cases | Writing IEC 62304 class B firmware for an infusion or diagnostic device, Adding automated tests to an untested legacy firmware codebase | Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Bluefruit Software vs Very: pros and cons
| Bluefruit Software | |
|---|---|
| + | Test-first culture produces the unit-test and verification records auditors ask for in IEC 62304 work |
| + | Employee ownership tends to mean lower staff turnover on long projects |
| + | Comfortable taking over and stabilizing legacy C code written by someone else |
| + | UK base and working hours suit British and Western European clients |
| - | No electronics or PCB design, so hardware must already exist or come from elsewhere |
| - | UK rates are higher than Eastern European or Indian alternatives |
| - | Agile time-and-materials contracts may not suit buyers who want a fixed price |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware |
| + | Nerves experience is rare and useful for Elixir-based device software |
| + | Delivers the device, app and data platform together |
| - | Firmware is one part of a product agency offer |
| - | US rates without a lower-cost offshore option |
| - | Office location and headcount details vary between sources |
Who should choose Bluefruit Software?
A typical fit: writing IEC 62304 class B firmware for an infusion or diagnostic device.
Test-driven embedded development with documented quality practices for medical and industrial products. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Industrial IoT, Scientific instruments.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot.
Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging.
Decision matrix: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Very |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bluefruit Software |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Bluefruit Software (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Bluefruit Software |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Bluefruit Software |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Bluefruit Software |
Use case fit: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Use case | Bluefruit Software fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing IEC 62304 class B firmware for an infusion or diagnostic device | Strong | Limited | Bluefruit Software |
| Adding automated tests to an untested legacy firmware codebase | Strong | Limited | Bluefruit Software |
| Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Bluefruit Software vs Very
Bluefruit Software (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Test-driven embedded development with documented quality practices for medical and industrial products.
Very (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux. If your situation matches that, Very is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Bluefruit Software vs Very FAQ
Is Bluefruit Software better than Very?
Bluefruit Software (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Bluefruit Software's strongest advantage: test-first culture produces the unit-test and verification records auditors ask for in IEC 62304 work. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.
How do Bluefruit Software and Very differ in pricing?
Bluefruit Software uses time & materials, dedicated team pricing. Very uses time & materials, fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Bluefruit Software or Very?
Very is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Bluefruit Software and Very?
Bluefruit Software's primary differentiator is: test-driven embedded development with documented quality practices for medical and industrial products. Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (70–90 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Industrial IoT vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.