Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) edges ahead of Klika Tech (4.1/5) overall. Emcraft Systems is the better choice for system-on-module hardware paired with a maintained Linux or RTOS board support package. Klika Tech is the stronger option for IoT firmware designed around an AWS-based cloud backend from the start. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | Klika Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2013 |
| HQ | Carlsbad, CA, USA | North Miami Beach, FL, USA |
| Team size | Not published | Not published |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them | AWS IoT and DevOps competency partner status combined with STMicroelectronics hardware partnership |
| Pricing model | Hardware module sales plus BSP support and custom engineering | Project-based IoT and cloud-embedded engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, RTOS Board Support Packages, ARM Cortex-M | AWS IoT, C, C++ |
| Industries served | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Cloud-connected devices |
Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech: 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.
Klika Tech
Klika Tech was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in North Miami Beach, Florida, with delivery centers across North America, Europe, and Asia, including a Wrocław, Poland office opened in 2021. The company builds IoT, cloud, and embedded product solutions together, holding AWS IoT and DevOps competencies alongside STMicroelectronics partner status on the hardware side, positioning itself for clients whose firmware needs to talk directly to an AWS-based backend from day one. That cloud-first framing distinguishes it from firmware vendors that treat cloud integration as an afterthought handled by a separate team.
Services and capabilities: Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech
| Capability | Emcraft Systems | Klika Tech |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Klika Tech
| Framework / platform | Emcraft Systems | Klika Tech |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech
| Criterion | Emcraft Systems | Klika Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Module sales with BSP support, Custom BSP engineering | Project-based IoT and cloud-embedded engineering |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech
| Dimension | Emcraft Systems | Klika Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Cloud-connected devices |
| 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 | IoT device firmware designed to integrate directly with an AWS IoT backend, Combined cloud and embedded firmware development for a new connected product |
| Typical project type | Module sales with BSP support | Project-based IoT and cloud-embedded engineering |
Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech: 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 |
| Klika Tech | |
|---|---|
| + | AWS IoT and DevOps competency status backs its cloud-first firmware positioning with a verifiable AWS partner credential |
| + | STMicroelectronics partner status on the hardware side pairs cloud integration with direct chip-vendor support |
| + | 12 years of operating history with delivery centers spanning North America, Europe, and Asia |
| + | Cloud-and-firmware co-design suits products where the backend and the device firmware are built by the same team from the outset |
| - | Its AWS-centric framing is a narrower fit for firmware projects that need to stay cloud-agnostic or target Azure or GCP instead |
| - | Public team size is not published, making capacity harder to gauge against other mid-size firms |
| - | 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 Klika Tech?
A typical fit: IoT device firmware designed to integrate directly with an AWS IoT backend.
AWS IoT and DevOps competency partner status combined with STMicroelectronics hardware partnership. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Cloud-connected devices.
Decision matrix: Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech
| 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 Klika Tech (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 Klika Tech
| Use case | Emcraft Systems fit | Klika Tech 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 | Limited | Emcraft Systems |
| IoT device firmware designed to integrate directly with an AWS IoT backend | Limited | Strong | Klika Tech |
| Combined cloud and embedded firmware development for a new connected product | Limited | Strong | Klika Tech |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech
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.
Klika Tech (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need combined cloud and embedded firmware development for a new connected product. If your situation matches that, Klika Tech is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Emcraft Systems vs Klika Tech FAQ
Is Emcraft Systems better than Klika Tech?
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. Klika Tech's strongest advantage: AWS IoT and DevOps competency status backs its cloud-first firmware positioning with a verifiable AWS partner credential.
How do Emcraft Systems and Klika Tech differ in pricing?
Emcraft Systems uses hardware module sales plus bsp support and custom engineering pricing. Klika Tech uses project-based iot and cloud-embedded 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 Klika Tech?
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 Klika Tech?
Emcraft Systems's primary differentiator is: self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. Klika Tech's primary differentiator is: AWS IoT and DevOps competency partner status combined with STMicroelectronics hardware partnership. 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, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.