Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) edges ahead of Sigma Software Group (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. Sigma Software Group is the stronger option for mid-to-large programs needing firmware alongside a broader multi-industry engineering group. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2002 |
| HQ | Carlsbad, CA, USA | Kharkiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Not published | 1,100+ |
| 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 | Majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint |
| Pricing model | Hardware module sales plus BSP support and custom engineering | Project-based and staff augmentation engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, RTOS Board Support Packages, ARM Cortex-M | C, C++, Embedded Middleware |
| Industries served | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Aviation, Gaming, Telecom, Industrial IoT |
Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group: 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.
Sigma Software Group
Sigma Software Group was founded in Kharkiv, Ukraine in 2002 by five friends and now employs more than 1,100 people across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the United States. In 2006 the Swedish IT conglomerate Sigma Group acquired a 60% stake in the company, an ownership structure that has held since; the remaining 40% stays with the original Ukrainian founders. Its embedded and IoT services cover application development, firmware, middleware, device drivers, and human-machine interfaces, delivered as one practice within a much larger portfolio spanning gaming, aviation, and telecom software.
Services and capabilities: Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group
| Capability | Emcraft Systems | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sigma Software Group
| Framework / platform | Emcraft Systems | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | 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 Sigma Software Group
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Module sales with BSP support, Custom BSP engineering | Project-based engineering, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group
| Dimension | Emcraft Systems | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Aviation, Gaming, Telecom |
| 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 | Device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program, HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product |
| Typical project type | Module sales with BSP support | Project-based engineering |
Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group: 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 |
| Sigma Software Group | |
|---|---|
| + | 1,100-plus employees across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the US give substantial delivery capacity and timezone coverage |
| + | 60% Swedish ownership since 2006 brings the governance and stability of an established Scandinavian IT conglomerate |
| + | 23 years of operating history under continuous leadership from its original founding team |
| + | Multi-industry portfolio spanning aviation, gaming, and telecom means firmware engineers work alongside teams solving comparable real-time and reliability problems in other domains |
| - | Firmware and embedded work is one practice within a much broader multi-industry engineering group, not the company's sole focus |
| - | 60% ownership by Sweden's Sigma Group means the company is not independently controlled by its original Ukrainian founders |
| - | 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 Sigma Software Group?
A typical fit: device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program.
Majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Aviation, Gaming, Telecom, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group
| 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 Sigma Software Group (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Sigma Software Group |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Sigma Software Group |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group
| Use case | Emcraft Systems fit | Sigma Software Group fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware | Strong | Limited | Emcraft Systems |
| Device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program | Limited | Strong | Sigma Software Group |
| HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product | Limited | Strong | Sigma Software Group |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Strong | Sigma Software Group |
Verdict: Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group
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.
Sigma Software Group (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product. If your situation matches that, Sigma Software Group is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Emcraft Systems vs Sigma Software Group FAQ
Is Emcraft Systems better than Sigma Software Group?
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. Sigma Software Group's strongest advantage: 1,100-plus employees across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the US give substantial delivery capacity and timezone coverage.
How do Emcraft Systems and Sigma Software Group differ in pricing?
Emcraft Systems uses hardware module sales plus bsp support and custom engineering pricing. Sigma Software Group uses project-based and staff augmentation 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 Sigma Software Group?
Sigma Software Group 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 Sigma Software Group?
Emcraft Systems's primary differentiator is: self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. Sigma Software Group's primary differentiator is: majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 1,100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial, Networking vs Aviation, Gaming).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.