ARi vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Very (4.2/5) edges ahead of ARi (4.0/5) overall. Very is the better choice for distributed-delivery IoT programs needing firmware plus data and ML. ARi is the stronger option for large industrial programs needing firmware inside a broader engineering scope. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
ARi vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | ARi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2011 |
| HQ | East Peoria, Illinois, USA | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 1,100+ | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Industrial engineering scale spanning mechanical design, manufacturing, and embedded firmware in one organization | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Integrated engineering and manufacturing services engagements | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Industrial automation platforms, Manufacturing engineering tooling | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Industrial automation, Robotics, Manufacturing | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
ARi vs Very: overview
ARi
ARi traces its engineering roots to 2001 and began operating under the ARi brand in 2006, headquartered in East Peoria, Illinois, with seven additional locations across North America and Asia Pacific; the company reports more than 1,100 employees. Embedded software and firmware sit inside a much broader industrial engineering business that also covers mechanical product design, manufacturing engineering, industrial automation, and robotics, so ARi suits a client whose project spans hardware, firmware, and manufacturing rather than firmware in isolation. Its scale supports large industrial programs that a boutique firmware firm could not staff alone.
Very
Very, formerly known by a different name, was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, operating as a fully distributed team of 51 to 200 people working from numerous countries rather than from central offices. The firm builds connected ecosystems spanning IoT hardware, firmware, and software infrastructure, plus interface design and machine-learning-driven data solutions built on top of device data. Very has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private US companies multiple times, a verifiable third-party growth signal distinct from marketing claims.
Services and capabilities: ARi vs Very
| Capability | ARi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / MISRA compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✓ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: ARi vs Very
| Framework / platform | ARi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| Secure OTA | N/A | N/A |
| PCB | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: ARi vs Very
| Criterion | ARi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: ARi vs Very
| Dimension | ARi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial automation, Robotics, Manufacturing | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Industrial equipment program needing mechanical design, manufacturing, and firmware together, Robotics platform requiring embedded firmware integrated with automation hardware | IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis, Smart infrastructure product requiring both device firmware and interface design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
ARi vs Very: pros and cons
| ARi | |
|---|---|
| + | More than 1,100 employees and eight total locations support very large industrial programs |
| + | Embedded firmware sits alongside mechanical design and manufacturing engineering for hardware-heavy products |
| + | Long engineering history predating the current brand, formalized under the ARi name in 2006 |
| - | Firmware is a smaller specialty inside a much larger industrial automation and manufacturing business |
| - | Scale and process overhead can be more than a small firmware-only project actually needs |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal |
| + | Fully distributed team structure can draw specialist talent regardless of location |
| + | Combines firmware delivery with data solutions and machine learning on top of device telemetry |
| - | Fully distributed structure means no central office for in-person collaboration during an engagement |
| - | Montana headquarters is a smaller regional base than most firms' US locations on this list |
Who should choose ARi?
A typical fit: industrial equipment program needing mechanical design, manufacturing, and firmware together.
Industrial engineering scale spanning mechanical design, manufacturing, and embedded firmware in one organization. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial automation, Robotics, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis.
Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure.
Decision matrix: ARi vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | ARi |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | ARi |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: ARi (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | ARi |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: ARi vs Very
| Use case | ARi fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial equipment program needing mechanical design, manufacturing, and firmware together | Strong | Limited | ARi |
| Robotics platform requiring embedded firmware integrated with automation hardware | Strong | Limited | ARi |
| IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Smart infrastructure product requiring both device firmware and interface design | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: ARi vs Very
Very (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions.
ARi (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need robotics platform requiring embedded firmware integrated with automation hardware. If your situation matches that, ARi is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
ARi vs Very FAQ
Is ARi better than Very?
Very (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. ARi's strongest advantage: more than 1,100 employees and eight total locations support very large industrial programs. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do ARi and Very differ in pricing?
ARi uses integrated engineering and manufacturing services engagements pricing. Very uses iot product development engagements from concept through deployment pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: ARi 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 ARi and Very?
ARi's primary differentiator is: industrial engineering scale spanning mechanical design, manufacturing, and embedded firmware in one organization. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (1,100+ vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial automation, Robotics vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.