Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) edges ahead of EmLogic AS (4.0/5) overall. Emcraft Systems is the better choice for system-on-module hardware paired with a maintained Linux or RTOS board support package. EmLogic AS is the stronger option for zephyr RTOS firmware development and migration. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2021 |
| HQ | Carlsbad, CA, USA | Norway |
| Team size | Not published | Not published |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them | Founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS |
| Pricing model | Hardware module sales plus BSP support and custom engineering | Project-based embedded design engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, RTOS Board Support Packages, ARM Cortex-M | Zephyr RTOS, FPGA, C |
| Industries served | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Industrial, IoT hardware |
Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS: overview
Emcraft Systems
Emcraft Systems is headquartered in Carlsbad, California and builds production-ready system-on-modules around ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers and Cortex-A microprocessors, alongside the Linux and RTOS board support packages that run on them. The company maintains its own BSPs rather than relying solely on a chip vendor's reference package, which gives it long-term update responsibility for the firmware layer under a client's application code. It holds STMicroelectronics partner status, and its board-plus-BSP model suits companies that want a hardware module and a maintained firmware base together instead of sourcing them separately.
EmLogic AS
EmLogic AS was founded on January 1, 2021 by Michal Koziel, Snorre Meland, Sven Ivar Mørch, and Espen Tallaksen, each with prior experience founding similar embedded companies, and operates as part of the TechSeed group in Norway. The firm specializes in embedded software, FPGA, and hardware design, with particular depth in Zephyr RTOS, the Linux Foundation-hosted real-time operating system that has become a de facto industry standard for secure, low-power connected devices. Its recency as a company means a shorter public track record than most competitors, offset by founders who each carry prior embedded-industry company-building experience.
Services and capabilities: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| Capability | Emcraft Systems | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✗ | ✗ |
| Functional safety / compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design / board bring-up | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| Framework / platform | Emcraft Systems | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | ✓ |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA | N/A | N/A |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Module sales with BSP support, Custom BSP engineering | Project-based embedded design |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| Dimension | Emcraft Systems | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Industrial, IoT hardware |
| Best use cases | Industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP, RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware | Migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr, New product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS |
| Typical project type | Module sales with BSP support | Project-based embedded design |
Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS: pros and cons
| Emcraft Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Self-maintained BSPs give long-term update ownership rather than depending on a chip vendor's reference package alone |
| + | STMicroelectronics partner status backs its ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-A module line with direct chip-vendor support |
| + | Combining hardware modules with firmware support removes a sourcing step for companies that would otherwise need two vendors |
| + | Focus on both Linux and RTOS BSPs covers a wider range of real-time requirements than a Linux-only board vendor |
| - | Public founding year and team size figures are thin, and the company's own materials don't publish a founding date directly |
| - | Its business model centers on selling its own hardware modules, which is a narrower fit for a client who has already committed to different silicon |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| EmLogic AS | |
|---|---|
| + | Zephyr RTOS specialization targets the real-time operating system the Linux Foundation and much of the industry now treat as the de facto standard |
| + | All four founders bring prior experience founding similar embedded companies, not first-time entrepreneurship |
| + | FPGA and hardware design capability alongside firmware covers projects that need custom logic as well as MCU code |
| + | Part of the TechSeed group in Norway, giving it access to a broader company-building network |
| - | Founded in 2021, giving it the shortest public operating history of any company on this list |
| - | Public team size and detailed case study history are not yet published |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Emcraft Systems?
A typical fit: industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP.
Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement.
Who should choose EmLogic AS?
A typical fit: migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr.
Founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, IoT hardware.
Decision matrix: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Emcraft Systems (Not published) vs EmLogic AS (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Emcraft Systems |
| 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: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
| Use case | Emcraft Systems fit | EmLogic AS fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP | Strong | Limited | Emcraft Systems |
| RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr | Limited | Strong | EmLogic AS |
| New product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS | Limited | Strong | EmLogic AS |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them.
EmLogic AS (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need new product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS. If your situation matches that, EmLogic AS is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Emcraft Systems vs EmLogic AS FAQ
Is Emcraft Systems better than EmLogic AS?
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Emcraft Systems's strongest advantage: self-maintained BSPs give long-term update ownership rather than depending on a chip vendor's reference package alone. EmLogic AS's strongest advantage: zephyr RTOS specialization targets the real-time operating system the Linux Foundation and much of the industry now treat as the de facto standard.
How do Emcraft Systems and EmLogic AS differ in pricing?
Emcraft Systems uses hardware module sales plus bsp support and custom engineering pricing. EmLogic AS uses project-based embedded design engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Emcraft Systems or EmLogic AS?
Emcraft Systems 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 Emcraft Systems and EmLogic AS?
Emcraft Systems's primary differentiator is: self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. EmLogic AS's primary differentiator is: founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS. They also differ in team size (Not published vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial, Networking vs Industrial, IoT hardware).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.