Best Firmware Development Service Providers

Integra Sources vs Very: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

Integra Sources (4.2/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Integra Sources is the better choice for budget-conscious startups needing low-level drivers. 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.

Integra Sources vs Very: head-to-head summary

Criterion Integra Sources Very
Founded 2014 2011
HQ Astana, Kazakhstan USA (fully distributed)
Team size 11–50 51–200
Rating 4.2 / 5 3.8 / 5
Primary differentiator Kernel, driver and MCU firmware work from a small team with low hourly rates Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience
Pricing model Time & materials, fixed project Time & materials, fixed project
Min. engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Primary tech stack C, C++, Embedded Linux C, Elixir, Nerves
Industries served Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Robotics Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging

Integra Sources vs Very: overview

Integra Sources

Two hardware and software engineers set up Integra Sources in 2014, and it now operates from Astana, Kazakhstan with a team in the low dozens. Its service list covers electronics design, embedded firmware, Linux kernel and driver development, computer vision and robotics, and it has collected a long run of Clutch reviews for IoT and device projects. Rates are below those of the European and US firms on this list. Buyers get engineers comfortable at the register level, though with less of the process documentation that regulated industries expect.

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: Integra Sources vs Very

Capability Integra Sources 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: Integra Sources vs Very

Framework / platform Integra Sources Very
FreeRTOS ✓ N/A
Zephyr N/A 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: Integra Sources vs Very

Criterion Integra Sources Very
Minimum engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Engagement models Fixed project, Time & materials Fixed project, Time & materials
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: Integra Sources vs Very

Dimension Integra Sources Very
Best company size Startup to mid-market Startup to mid-market
Best industries Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Robotics Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging
Best use cases Writing a Linux driver for a custom sensor on an embedded board, Developing ESP32 firmware for a low-cost consumer IoT product Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux
Typical project type Fixed project Fixed project

Integra Sources vs Very: pros and cons

Integra Sources
+ Kernel module and device driver work is a stated speciality
+ Rates make it one of the more affordable options for low-level engineering
+ Can take a product from schematic through firmware for small hardware startups
- Small team with limited capacity for parallel projects
- Little public evidence of IEC 62304, ISO 26262 or similar regulated development
- Time-zone gap with North American clients
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 Integra Sources?

A typical fit: writing a Linux driver for a custom sensor on an embedded board.

Kernel, driver and MCU firmware work from a small team with low hourly rates. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Robotics.

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: Integra Sources vs Very

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope Integra Sources
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme Check each company's engagement model
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: Integra Sources (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical Integra Sources
You need engineers to extend your own firmware team Neither lists a dedicated-team model
You need consulting before committing to a build Both may offer discovery engagements

Use case fit: Integra Sources vs Very

Use case Integra Sources fit Very fit Winner
Writing a Linux driver for a custom sensor on an embedded board Strong Limited Integra Sources
Developing ESP32 firmware for a low-cost consumer IoT product Strong Limited Integra Sources
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 Strong Strong Both
Extending an in-house firmware team Strong Strong Both

Verdict: Integra Sources vs Very

Integra Sources (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Kernel, driver and MCU firmware work from a small team with low hourly rates.

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

Integra Sources vs Very FAQ

Is Integra Sources better than Very?

Integra Sources (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Integra Sources's strongest advantage: kernel module and device driver work is a stated speciality. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.

How do Integra Sources and Very differ in pricing?

Integra Sources uses time & materials, fixed project 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: Integra Sources 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 Integra Sources and Very?

Integra Sources's primary differentiator is: Kernel, driver and MCU firmware work from a small team with low hourly rates. Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).

Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.