Intellias vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Intellias (3.9/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Intellias is the better choice for automotive OEMs needing in-vehicle software teams. 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.
Intellias vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | USA (fully distributed) |
| Team size | 3,000+ | 51–200 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Large automotive and navigation software practice with HERE and TomTom experience | 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++, Embedded Linux, Android Automotive | C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Automotive, Logistics & transportation, Energy & EV charging | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
Intellias vs Very: overview
Intellias
Intellias was started in Lviv in 2002 and has grown into one of Ukraine's largest software engineering employers, with several thousand staff. Its strongest embedded-adjacent work is in automotive: in-vehicle software, navigation and maps (it has a long partnership with HERE Technologies), and software-defined vehicle projects for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Client names cited include HERE, TomTom, Elmos and JOYNEXT. It is a reasonable choice for automotive application and middleware layers, and a less obvious one for bare-metal MCU firmware.
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: Intellias vs Very
| Capability | Intellias | 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: Intellias vs Very
| Framework / platform | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | ✓ | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Intellias vs Very
| Criterion | Intellias | 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: Intellias vs Very
| Dimension | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Logistics & transportation, Energy & EV charging | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
| Best use cases | Building infotainment software on Android Automotive, Extending an OEM's software-defined vehicle team | Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Intellias vs Very: pros and cons
| Intellias | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep automotive navigation and infotainment experience |
| + | Can scale teams to dozens of engineers |
| + | Strong engineering hiring base in western Ukraine |
| - | Generalist software company whose embedded work centres on automotive middleware |
| - | Less suited to small MCU firmware projects |
| - | Ukrainian delivery may need continuity planning for risk-averse buyers |
| 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 Intellias?
A typical fit: building infotainment software on Android Automotive.
Large automotive and navigation software practice with HERE and TomTom experience. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Logistics & transportation, Energy & EV charging.
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: Intellias 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 | Intellias |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Intellias (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Intellias |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Intellias |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Intellias vs Very
| Use case | Intellias fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building infotainment software on Android Automotive | Strong | Limited | Intellias |
| Extending an OEM's software-defined vehicle team | Strong | Limited | Intellias |
| 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: Intellias vs Very
Intellias (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Large automotive and navigation software practice with HERE and TomTom experience.
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
Intellias vs Very FAQ
Is Intellias better than Very?
Intellias (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Intellias's strongest advantage: deep automotive navigation and infotainment experience. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.
How do Intellias and Very differ in pricing?
Intellias 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: Intellias 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 Intellias and Very?
Intellias's primary differentiator is: large automotive and navigation software practice with HERE and TomTom experience. Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (3,000+ vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Logistics & transportation vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.