Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) edges ahead of ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) overall. Oxalis Design is the better choice for small connected-device programs needing direct access to senior engineers. ARCH-Embedded is the stronger option for cellular and positioning-technology firmware for connected and micro-mobility devices. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2022 |
| HQ | Bristol, UK | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 2–10 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached | Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products |
| Pricing model | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements | Project-based embedded consultancy engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, RF Design | Nordic nRF, Cellular Connectivity, RTOS |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: overview
Oxalis Design
Oxalis Design is a Bristol, UK electronics and embedded systems consultancy founded by Alex Turner and Alex Thornicroft, both experienced electronics and software engineers. The firm's stated scope covers electronics hardware and RF design, embedded software development, and connected-device development for medical, consumer, and industrial clients, from early concept through pilot builds and the transfer to production. As a small, cohesive team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware rather than a broader product-design or general IT practice, it suits clients who want senior engineers directly on their project rather than layers of account management.
ARCH-Embedded
ARCH-Embedded was founded in Amsterdam in 2022 by CEO and co-founder Mark Riemersma and operates with a team of 2 to 10 people. As a Nordic Semiconductor partner, the firm's stated background is specifically in positioning technology and micro-mobility, with prior team experience at companies like TomTom, and it covers the full stack from hardware through embedded software, RTOS, Linux, security, and connected-device architecture and project management. That positioning-technology specialty is narrow but genuinely differentiated, useful specifically for clients building location-aware or cellular-connected hardware rather than general-purpose embedded products.
Services and capabilities: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Capability | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Framework / platform | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | 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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based consultancy, Architecture and project management |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Dimension | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
| Best use cases | RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device, Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device, Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development |
| Typical project type | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based consultancy |
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: pros and cons
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT or general software practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist vendor |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build and transfer to production |
| - | A team of 2 to 10 people limits capacity to a small number of concurrent client programs at any time |
| - | Publicly verifiable founding date and detailed case study history are limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| ARCH-Embedded | |
|---|---|
| + | Nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims |
| + | Team background in positioning technology at companies like TomTom is a specific, differentiated specialty rather than general IoT experience |
| + | Full-stack scope from hardware through RTOS, Linux, and security architecture covers more than firmware coding alone |
| + | Small team size means direct senior engineering involvement on every engagement |
| - | Founded in 2022 with 2 to 10 employees, giving it one of the shortest track records and smallest teams on this list |
| - | Capacity for large or multiple concurrent programs is limited by team size |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device.
Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
Who should choose ARCH-Embedded?
A typical fit: cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device.
Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| 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: Oxalis Design (Not published) vs ARCH-Embedded (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Oxalis Design |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | ARCH-Embedded |
Use case fit: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Use case | Oxalis Design fit | ARCH-Embedded fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Strong | Limited | Oxalis Design |
| Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Strong | Limited | Oxalis Design |
| Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached.
ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development. If your situation matches that, ARCH-Embedded is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded FAQ
Is Oxalis Design better than ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement. ARCH-Embedded's strongest advantage: nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims.
How do Oxalis Design and ARCH-Embedded differ in pricing?
Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded engagements pricing. ARCH-Embedded uses project-based embedded consultancy engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Oxalis Design or ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design 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 Oxalis Design and ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. ARCH-Embedded's primary differentiator is: positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. They also differ in team size (2–10 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Consumer electronics vs Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.