Very vs SoftServe: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Very (4.2/5) edges ahead of SoftServe (4.0/5) overall. Very is the better choice for funded US product teams, platform-heavy IoT. SoftServe is the stronger option for cloud IoT platforms and digital twins. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Very vs SoftServe: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Very | SoftServe |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 1993 |
| HQ | Bozeman, Montana, United States (distributed) | Austin, United States and Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 150–250 | 10,000+ |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering | Cloud partner depth and large teams for IoT data platforms |
| Pricing model | Time and materials | Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service |
| Min. engagement | $250,000 | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C, Elixir, Nerves | AWS IoT, Azure IoT, Google Cloud |
| Industries served | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture | Industrial equipment, Healthcare, Energy, Retail |
Very vs SoftServe: overview
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.
SoftServe
SoftServe began in Lviv in 1993 and is co-headquartered in Austin, Texas, with about 13,100 employees in 2025 by Revelio Labs' estimate. Its IoT work is mostly on the cloud and data side: device management, analytics and digital twins on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Embedded engineers are available, but they are a small part of the business. Delivery comes mainly from Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria and Latin America.
Services and capabilities: Very vs SoftServe
| Capability | Very | SoftServe |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Very vs SoftServe
| Framework / platform | Very | SoftServe |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure IoT | N/A | ✓ |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Very vs SoftServe
| Criterion | Very | SoftServe |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $250,000 | Not published |
| Engagement models | Time and materials, Team extension | Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Very vs SoftServe
| Dimension | Very | SoftServe |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Enterprise |
| Best industries | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics | Industrial equipment, Healthcare, Energy |
| Best use cases | A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team., An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. | A manufacturer needs a digital twin of a production line., An energy firm wants analytics on smart meter data. |
| Typical project type | Time and materials | Dedicated team |
Very vs SoftServe: pros and cons
| 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 |
| SoftServe | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong cloud and data engineering |
| + | Very large talent pool |
| + | Experience with digital twins |
| - | Device and hardware work is a small part of the business |
| - | Headcount slipped about 3% in 2025 |
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.
Who should choose SoftServe?
A typical fit: a manufacturer needs a digital twin of a production line.
Cloud partner depth and large teams for IoT data platforms. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial equipment, Healthcare, Energy, Retail.
Decision matrix: Very vs SoftServe
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | SoftServe |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Very ($250,000) vs SoftServe (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Very |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Very |
| You need the circuit board designed as well as the firmware | Very |
Use case fit: Very vs SoftServe
| Use case | Very fit | SoftServe fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team. | Strong | Limited | Very |
| An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. | Strong | Limited | Very |
| A manufacturer needs a digital twin of a production line. | Limited | Strong | SoftServe |
| An energy firm wants analytics on smart meter data. | Limited | Strong | SoftServe |
| You need custom electronics designed, not only firmware | Strong | Limited | Very |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Very vs SoftServe
Very (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IoT Development projects. US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering.
SoftServe (4.0/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an energy firm wants analytics on smart meter data. If your situation matches that, SoftServe is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Very vs SoftServe FAQ
Is Very better than SoftServe?
Very (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Very's strongest advantage: US-based engineers and product managers. SoftServe's strongest advantage: strong cloud and data engineering.
How do Very and SoftServe differ in pricing?
Very uses time and materials pricing with a minimum engagement of $250,000. SoftServe uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Very or SoftServe?
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 Very and SoftServe?
Very's primary differentiator is: US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. SoftServe's primary differentiator is: cloud partner depth and large teams for IoT data platforms. They also differ in team size (150–250 vs 10,000+), minimum engagement ($250,000 vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial equipment, Energy vs Industrial equipment, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.