Integra Sources vs Promwad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Integra Sources (4.3/5) edges ahead of Promwad (4.3/5) overall. Integra Sources is the better choice for early-stage teams wanting one small agency for hardware and firmware. Promwad is the stronger option for programs needing hardware-through-manufacturing scope from a mid-size specialist. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Integra Sources vs Promwad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Integra Sources | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2004 |
| HQ | Astana, Kazakhstan | Essen, Germany (engineering centers in Latvia and Serbia) |
| Team size | 11–50 | 101–250 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Turnkey hardware-plus-firmware delivery from a single small team, removing the need to coordinate separate hardware and firmware agencies | Mid-size specialist (100+ engineers) large enough for hardware-through-manufacturing scope, while electronics design remains the entire business rather than one division |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C/C++, FreeRTOS, Embedded Linux | C/C++, Embedded Linux (Yocto), Android embedded |
| Industries served | Consumer Electronics, Robotics, Industrial IoT, Medical devices | Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Telecom, Automotive |
Integra Sources vs Promwad: overview
Integra Sources
Integra Sources, founded in 2014, is a compact custom hardware and firmware shop with public sources disagreeing on both its exact headquarters (most list Astana, Kazakhstan) and current headcount (roughly 24 to 51 employees, depending on the source). At this size, turnkey delivery — electronic design, PCB layout, FPGA, embedded firmware, and kernel/driver development for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android — all under one small team is the actual value proposition: no coordinating separate hardware and software agencies, which matters more for a startup buyer than choosing between generalist scale options.
Promwad
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Essen, Germany with additional engineering centers in Latvia and Serbia, Promwad has built a 100+ engineer team around end-to-end electronics design: PCB layout, FPGA, embedded software, and coordination through contract manufacturing. At just over 100 people, Promwad is a mid-size specialist — large enough to run a hardware program through manufacturing handoff, still narrow enough in focus that embedded and electronics design is the entire business, not a division inside a larger generalist firm.
Services and capabilities: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Capability | Integra Sources | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot) | ✗ | ✓ |
| FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| IoT connectivity & protocols | ✓ | ✗ |
| Edge AI / on-device ML | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity & secure boot | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation / team extension | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Framework / platform | Integra Sources | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Bluetooth | N/A | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| CAN bus | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
| Verilog | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Criterion | Integra Sources | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Dimension | Integra Sources | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer Electronics, Robotics, Industrial IoT | Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Telecom |
| Best use cases | Early-stage hardware startups without an in-house team to coordinate separate electrical and firmware agencies, Prototype and MVP development needing both hardware and firmware turned around by one accountable small team | Connected hardware programs needing PCB, FPGA, and embedded Linux from a mid-size specialist rather than a generalist division, Programs requiring contract manufacturing coordination alongside development |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Integra Sources vs Promwad: pros and cons
| Integra Sources | |
|---|---|
| + | One team handles electronic design, PCB layout, FPGA, and firmware without the client coordinating separate hardware and software agencies |
| + | 250+ completed projects reported despite a small team size, suggesting efficient project turnover for a boutique this size |
| + | Kernel/driver development spans four major operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android), broader OS coverage than most similarly sized boutiques |
| - | Public sources disagree on both headquarters location and headcount, making delivery capacity harder to verify precisely |
| - | Small team size limits fit for programs needing multiple concurrent workstreams |
| - | No public case studies with named enterprise clients to independently verify scale claims |
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | Over 20 years combining PCB layout, FPGA design, and embedded software under one specialist agency, not a division of a larger generalist firm |
| + | 100+ engineers across German, Latvian, and Serbian centers give more capacity than the smallest boutiques while staying purely embedded/electronics-focused |
| + | Contract manufacturing coordination extends the engagement past pure development into production handoff |
| - | Mid-size team sits between boutique specialists and large engineering conglomerates — verify concurrent-program bandwidth directly for large needs |
| - | No large named enterprise case studies published to independently verify scale claims |
| - | No public pricing or minimum engagement figures |
Who should choose Integra Sources?
A typical fit: early-stage hardware startups without an in-house team to coordinate separate electrical and firmware agencies.
Turnkey hardware-plus-firmware delivery from a single small team, removing the need to coordinate separate hardware and firmware agencies. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer Electronics, Robotics, Industrial IoT, Medical devices.
Who should choose Promwad?
A typical fit: connected hardware programs needing PCB, FPGA, and embedded Linux from a mid-size specialist rather than a generalist division.
Mid-size specialist (100+ engineers) large enough for hardware-through-manufacturing scope, while electronics design remains the entire business rather than one division. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Telecom, Automotive.
Decision matrix: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Integra Sources |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Promwad |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Integra Sources (Not disclosed) vs Promwad (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Integra Sources |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Integra Sources |
Use case fit: Integra Sources vs Promwad
| Use case | Integra Sources fit | Promwad fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early-stage hardware startups without an in-house team to coordinate separate electrical and firmware agencies | Strong | Limited | Integra Sources |
| Prototype and MVP development needing both hardware and firmware turned around by one accountable small team | Strong | Limited | Integra Sources |
| Connected hardware programs needing PCB, FPGA, and embedded Linux from a mid-size specialist rather than a generalist division | Limited | Strong | Promwad |
| Programs requiring contract manufacturing coordination alongside development | Limited | Strong | Promwad |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Integra Sources vs Promwad
Integra Sources (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software Development projects. Turnkey hardware-plus-firmware delivery from a single small team, removing the need to coordinate separate hardware and firmware agencies.
Promwad (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need programs requiring contract manufacturing coordination alongside development. If your situation matches that, Promwad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Integra Sources vs Promwad FAQ
Is Integra Sources better than Promwad?
Integra Sources (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Integra Sources's strongest advantage: one team handles electronic design, PCB layout, FPGA, and firmware without the client coordinating separate hardware and software agencies. Promwad's strongest advantage: over 20 years combining PCB layout, FPGA design, and embedded software under one specialist agency, not a division of a larger generalist firm.
How do Integra Sources and Promwad differ in pricing?
Integra Sources uses fixed project pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Promwad uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Integra Sources or Promwad?
Promwad is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Integra Sources and Promwad?
Integra Sources's primary differentiator is: turnkey hardware-plus-firmware delivery from a single small team, removing the need to coordinate separate hardware and firmware agencies. Promwad's primary differentiator is: mid-size specialist (100+ engineers) large enough for hardware-through-manufacturing scope, while electronics design remains the entire business rather than one division. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 101–250), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Consumer Electronics, Robotics vs Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.