Zühlke vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Zühlke (4.3/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. Zühlke is the better choice for regulated connected devices, medtech. 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.
Zühlke vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Zühlke | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 | 2011 |
| HQ | Schlieren, Switzerland | Bozeman, Montana, United States (distributed) |
| Team size | 1,500–2,000 | 150–250 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Swiss quality processes applied to connected medical and industrial products | 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++, Azure IoT, AWS IoT | Embedded C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Financial services, Energy | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture |
Zühlke vs Very: overview
Zühlke
Zühlke has engineered products in Switzerland since 1968 and now employs close to 2,000 people across Europe and Asia. Its IoT work concentrates on regulated products, especially medical devices, and on connected industrial equipment. The group combines embedded software and some electronics with cloud and app development. Nearshore centres in Serbia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Vietnam take part of the delivery.
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: Zühlke vs Very
| Capability | Zühlke | 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: Zühlke vs Very
| Framework / platform | Zühlke | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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: Zühlke vs Very
| Criterion | Zühlke | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $250,000 |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time and materials | Time and materials, Team extension |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Zühlke vs Very
| Dimension | Zühlke | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Financial services | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics |
| Best use cases | A medtech company needs a connected inhaler or injector developed under IEC 62304., An equipment maker wants a predictive maintenance platform. | 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 |
Zühlke vs Very: pros and cons
| Zühlke | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong experience with software regulated under medical device standards |
| + | Mix of Swiss and nearshore delivery |
| + | Covers the device, the cloud and the apps |
| - | Rates sit at the top of the European range |
| - | Electronics design is less central than at dedicated hardware houses |
| 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 Zühlke?
A typical fit: a medtech company needs a connected inhaler or injector developed under IEC 62304.
Swiss quality processes applied to connected medical and industrial products. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare and medical devices, Industrial equipment, Financial services, 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: Zühlke vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Zühlke |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Zühlke (Not published) vs Very ($250,000) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Zühlke |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Very |
| You need the circuit board designed as well as the firmware | Zühlke |
Use case fit: Zühlke vs Very
| Use case | Zühlke fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A medtech company needs a connected inhaler or injector developed under IEC 62304. | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
| An equipment maker wants a predictive maintenance platform. | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
| 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 | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Limited | Zühlke |
Verdict: Zühlke vs Very
Zühlke (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IoT Development projects. Swiss quality processes applied to connected medical and industrial products.
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
Zühlke vs Very FAQ
Is Zühlke better than Very?
Zühlke (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Zühlke's strongest advantage: strong experience with software regulated under medical device standards. Very's strongest advantage: US-based engineers and product managers.
How do Zühlke and Very differ in pricing?
Zühlke 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: Zühlke or Very?
Zühlke 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 Zühlke and Very?
Zühlke's primary differentiator is: swiss quality processes applied to connected medical and industrial products. Very's primary differentiator is: US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. They also differ in team size (1,500–2,000 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.