itemis AG vs Consult Red: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
itemis AG (4.5/5) edges ahead of Consult Red (4.3/5) overall. itemis AG is the better choice for ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 functional safety consulting and compliance engineering. Consult Red is the stronger option for connected-device consulting from a team with direct prior product-company engineering leadership. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
itemis AG vs Consult Red: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | itemis AG | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2003 |
| HQ | Dortmund, Germany | Shipley, UK |
| Team size | 220 | 220+ |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Functional safety compliance engineering as a dedicated, named business line built over more than two decades | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded |
| Pricing model | Compliance engineering consulting, model-based development tooling engagements | Consulting and product development engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 26262, IEC 61508, Model-Based Development Tools | RTOS, Embedded Software, Cloud Platforms |
| Industries served | Automotive, Industrial, Connected products, Safety-critical systems | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT |
itemis AG vs Consult Red: overview
itemis AG
itemis AG was founded in 2003 in Lünen, Germany and has consolidated its headquarters in Dortmund since 2025, with a team of 220 people. The firm organizes its business around three defined areas: compliance engineering for safety-critical and connected products, model-based development tools, and custom enterprise applications, with functional safety consulting for ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 as a named, dedicated practice rather than a service tacked onto general firmware development. More than two decades of operating history in that specific compliance-engineering space gives it a track record a buyer can check against actual certified programs.
Consult Red
Consult Red was founded in 2003 by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, initially operating as Red Embedded before rebranding to Consult Red in February 2020. Headquartered at The Wave, Shipley, England, the firm has grown to more than 220 employees across four continents and transferred ownership to an Employee-Owned Trust, applying its embedded, hardware, and cloud technology experience to connected-device consulting across Connected TV, IoT, and industrial sectors. The founding team's direct engineering leadership background at Pace Micro, a real, named prior employer, gives its consulting credibility a specific origin story a buyer can trace.
Services and capabilities: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| Capability | itemis AG | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Feasibility assessment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Functional safety consulting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✗ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| Framework / platform | itemis AG | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 26262 | ✓ | N/A |
| IEC 61508 | ✓ | N/A |
| MISRA C | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| PCB Design | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| Criterion | itemis AG | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Compliance engineering consulting, Model-based development tooling | Consulting, Product development, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| Dimension | itemis AG | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Industrial, Connected products | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial |
| Best use cases | ISO 26262 ASIL-D safety case development for an automotive program, IEC 61508 SIL-3 compliance consulting for an industrial safety system | Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting, IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background |
| Typical project type | Compliance engineering consulting | Consulting |
itemis AG vs Consult Red: pros and cons
| itemis AG | |
|---|---|
| + | Functional safety compliance engineering is one of three defined business areas, not an incidental service |
| + | More than two decades of operating history specifically in safety-critical and connected-product compliance work |
| + | Model-based development tooling expertise supports the traceability requirements ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 both demand |
| + | 220 employees give substantial bench depth for concurrent ASIL-D or SIL-3 program support |
| - | Compliance engineering focus is a narrower fit for a buyer whose primary need is general-purpose firmware development rather than safety certification |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | Recent headquarters consolidation to Dortmund (2025) is worth confirming for office-specific engagement logistics |
| Consult Red | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim |
| + | 22 years of operating history, with employee ownership since its 2020 rebrand aligning staff incentives with long-term client relationships |
| + | 220-plus employees across four continents give substantial bench depth for concurrent consulting and development engagements |
| + | Connected TV and RDK-V/RDK-B specialization is a specific, differentiated niche within broader embedded consulting |
| - | Connected TV and OTT specialization is a narrower fit for a buyer whose product has no video or pay-TV component |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | The 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded to Consult Red is worth confirming doesn't create confusion with unrelated firms using similar names |
Who should choose itemis AG?
A typical fit: ISO 26262 ASIL-D safety case development for an automotive program.
Functional safety compliance engineering as a dedicated, named business line built over more than two decades. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Industrial, Connected products, Safety-critical systems.
Who should choose Consult Red?
A typical fit: connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting.
Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT.
Decision matrix: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| 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: itemis AG (Not published) vs Consult Red (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | itemis AG |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Consult Red |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | itemis AG |
Use case fit: itemis AG vs Consult Red
| Use case | itemis AG fit | Consult Red fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 26262 ASIL-D safety case development for an automotive program | Strong | Limited | itemis AG |
| IEC 61508 SIL-3 compliance consulting for an industrial safety system | Strong | Limited | itemis AG |
| Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
| IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
Verdict: itemis AG vs Consult Red
itemis AG (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Consulting projects. Functional safety compliance engineering as a dedicated, named business line built over more than two decades.
Consult Red (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background. If your situation matches that, Consult Red is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
itemis AG vs Consult Red FAQ
Is itemis AG better than Consult Red?
itemis AG (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. itemis AG's strongest advantage: functional safety compliance engineering is one of three defined business areas, not an incidental service. Consult Red's strongest advantage: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim.
How do itemis AG and Consult Red differ in pricing?
itemis AG uses compliance engineering consulting, model-based development tooling engagements pricing. Consult Red uses consulting and product development engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: itemis AG or Consult Red?
itemis AG is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each consultancy before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between itemis AG and Consult Red?
itemis AG's primary differentiator is: functional safety compliance engineering as a dedicated, named business line built over more than two decades. Consult Red's primary differentiator is: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. They also differ in team size (220 vs 220+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Automotive, Industrial vs Connected TV, IoT).
Verify all details directly with each consultancy before making a decision.