Bluefruit Software vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bluefruit Software (4.3/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. Bluefruit Software is the better choice for embedded software for medical and scientific devices. Very is the stronger option for funded US product teams, platform-heavy IoT. 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, United Kingdom | Bozeman, Montana, United States (distributed) |
| Team size | 70–90 | 150–250 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Employee-owned embedded software team with a strong testing culture | US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price | Time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $250,000 |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, BLE | Embedded C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Scientific instruments, Energy | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture |
Bluefruit Software vs Very: overview
Bluefruit Software
Paul Massey started Bluefruit Software in 2000, and it has been employee-owned since 2019. Based in Redruth, Cornwall, it employs 70+ developers, testers and user experience specialists. It works on embedded and device software, often for medical, industrial and scientific products, with a strong emphasis on testing. Hardware design is left to the client or a partner.
Very
Very was founded in 2011 by Ben Wald and started out building software and websites before settling on IoT. Its staff work remotely across the US, with Bozeman, Montana listed as its base, and Built In counts 193 employees. The company covers hardware prototyping, firmware, IoT platforms and apps. Its Clutch profile lists a $250,000 minimum project size and $200 to $300 hourly rates.
Services and capabilities: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Capability | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless connectivity | ✓ | ✗ |
| IoT cloud platforms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile & web apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edge AI & data | ✗ | ✓ |
| Prototyping & manufacturing support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Framework / platform | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | ✓ |
| Azure IoT | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Criterion | Bluefruit Software | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $250,000 |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Team extension, Time and materials | Time and materials, Team extension |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Minimum disclosed |
| 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 | Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Scientific instruments | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics |
| Best use cases | A medical device company needs firmware with documented test coverage., A scientific instrument maker wants device software rewritten. | A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team., An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Time and materials |
Bluefruit Software vs Very: pros and cons
| Bluefruit Software | |
|---|---|
| + | Employee ownership tends to mean stable teams and low turnover |
| + | Testing and quality are central to how it works |
| + | UK-based team at regional rather than London rates |
| - | No in-house electronics design |
| - | Small team for large or parallel programmes |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | US-based engineers and product managers |
| + | Strong on cloud platforms and data, not just devices |
| + | Experience taking products from prototype to launch |
| - | $250,000 minimum and $200 to $300 hourly rates rule out most small projects |
| - | Less electronics design depth than dedicated hardware houses |
Who should choose Bluefruit Software?
A typical fit: a medical device company needs firmware with documented test coverage.
Employee-owned embedded software team with a strong testing culture. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Scientific instruments, Energy.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: a funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team.
US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. Minimum engagement starts at $250,000. Works best with clients in Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture.
Decision matrix: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Bluefruit Software |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Bluefruit Software (Not published) vs Very ($250,000) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Bluefruit Software |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Bluefruit Software |
| You need the circuit board designed as well as the firmware | Very |
Use case fit: Bluefruit Software vs Very
| Use case | Bluefruit Software fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A medical device company needs firmware with documented test coverage. | Strong | Limited | Bluefruit Software |
| A scientific instrument maker wants device software rewritten. | Strong | Limited | Bluefruit Software |
| A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team. | Limited | Strong | Very |
| An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. | Limited | Strong | Very |
| You need custom electronics designed, not only firmware | Limited | Strong | Very |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Limited | Bluefruit Software |
Verdict: Bluefruit Software vs Very
Bluefruit Software (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IoT Development projects. Employee-owned embedded software team with a strong testing culture.
Very (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. 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: employee ownership tends to mean stable teams and low turnover. Very's strongest advantage: US-based engineers and product managers.
How do Bluefruit Software and Very differ in pricing?
Bluefruit Software uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Very uses time and materials pricing with a minimum engagement of $250,000. 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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Bluefruit Software and Very?
Bluefruit Software's primary differentiator is: employee-owned embedded software team with a strong testing culture. Very's primary differentiator is: US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. They also differ in team size (70–90 vs 150–250), minimum engagement (Not published vs $250,000), and primary industries served (Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment vs Industrial equipment, Energy).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.