Promwad vs Timesys: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Promwad (4.4/5) edges ahead of Timesys (4.1/5) overall. Promwad is the better choice for hardware startups heading for volume production. Timesys is the stronger option for linux devices facing SBOM and security compliance. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Promwad vs Timesys: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Promwad | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 1996 |
| HQ | Essen, Germany | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Team size | 101–250 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities | Embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team | Fixed project, time & materials, software subscription |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Embedded Linux | Embedded Linux, Yocto, Buildroot |
| Industries served | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics | Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence |
Promwad vs Timesys: overview
Promwad
Roman Pakholkov started Promwad in Minsk in 2004 to design mass-produced electronics on system-on-chip platforms, and the company has since moved its business into the EU, with headquarters in Essen, Germany and a client delivery office in Lithuania. It reports more than 100 employees across 15 countries (per company website; independently unverifiable) and over 500 completed projects. Work spans schematic and PCB design, FPGA logic, embedded Linux, RTOS firmware and preparing designs for factory production. Broadcast video, telecom, automotive and industrial automation are its most frequently cited sectors.
Timesys
Timesys came out of Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, with founders tied to Carnegie Mellon University, and shipped one of the first real-time embedded Linux distributions. Its business now combines engineering services for open-source embedded software with Vigiles, a tool that tracks vulnerabilities in device software bills of materials. Lynx Software Technologies acquired Timesys in December 2023 and said all Timesys products would remain supported. The firm suits Linux-based devices that have to meet the security and SBOM rules arriving in the US and EU.
Services and capabilities: Promwad vs Timesys
| Capability | Promwad | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Promwad vs Timesys
| Framework / platform | Promwad | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yocto | ✓ | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | N/A |
| NXP | ✓ | ✓ |
| FPGA | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Promwad vs Timesys
| Criterion | Promwad | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Promwad vs Timesys
| Dimension | Promwad | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence |
| Best use cases | Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux, Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM, Setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Consulting |
Promwad vs Timesys: pros and cons
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products |
| + | Design-for-manufacturing experience reduces surprises when a prototype moves to a contract manufacturer |
| + | Twenty years of shipped products gives it a long reference list across telecom and broadcast |
| + | Contracting through EU entities simplifies procurement for European buyers |
| - | Founded in Belarus and relocated to the EU; some buyers will want to confirm where their engineers are actually based |
| - | Headcount figures vary by source, so ask who will be assigned before signing |
| - | Pure firmware jobs without a hardware component are a smaller share of its portfolio |
| Timesys | |
|---|---|
| + | Vigiles gives continuous CVE monitoring for the Linux image after launch |
| + | Long history with Yocto, Buildroot and secure boot on common application processors |
| + | Practical help with SBOM requirements under US and EU cybersecurity rules |
| - | Acquired by Lynx Software in 2023; product focus may shift toward Lynx's hypervisor and RTOS line |
| - | Little bare-metal MCU firmware work |
| - | No hardware design services |
Who should choose Promwad?
A typical fit: designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux.
Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics.
Who should choose Timesys?
A typical fit: hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM.
Embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence.
Decision matrix: Promwad vs Timesys
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Promwad |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Promwad |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Promwad (Not disclosed) vs Timesys (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Promwad |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Promwad |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Timesys |
Use case fit: Promwad vs Timesys
| Use case | Promwad fit | Timesys fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM | Limited | Strong | Timesys |
| Setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways | Limited | Strong | Timesys |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Promwad vs Timesys
Promwad (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities.
Timesys (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways. If your situation matches that, Timesys is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Promwad vs Timesys FAQ
Is Promwad better than Timesys?
Promwad (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Promwad's strongest advantage: FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products. Timesys's strongest advantage: vigiles gives continuous CVE monitoring for the Linux image after launch.
How do Promwad and Timesys differ in pricing?
Promwad uses fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team pricing. Timesys uses fixed project, time & materials, software subscription pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Promwad or Timesys?
Promwad 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 Promwad and Timesys?
Promwad's primary differentiator is: combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. Timesys's primary differentiator is: embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking. They also differ in team size (101–250 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Telecom & broadcast, Automotive vs Industrial IoT, Medical devices).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.