Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Orthogonal (4.2/5) edges ahead of Jabil Healthcare (3.8/5) overall. Orthogonal is the better choice for SaMD and device companion apps. Jabil Healthcare is the stronger option for global production capacity for cleared devices. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Orthogonal | Jabil Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 1966 |
| HQ | Chicago, IL, USA | St. Petersburg, FL, USA |
| Team size | 11–60 | ~20,000 (healthcare) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices | Global scale, supply chain and FDA-registered production for established medical device brands |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, dedicated team | Manufacturing supply agreement, NPI contract |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | iOS, Android, Cloud (AWS/Azure) | Injection molding, Automated assembly, PCB assembly |
| Industries served | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Wearables & remote monitoring, Consumer health |
Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare: overview
Orthogonal
Orthogonal is a Chicago software company founded in 1998 and led by founder and CEO Bernhard Kappe, with its office in the Merchandise Mart. It builds Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), digital therapeutics and the mobile and cloud software that connects to medical devices, working with venture-backed startups as well as established medtech and pharma companies. Directory listings describe ISO 13485 and HIPAA compliance and Class I–III experience. Team size estimates vary widely, from about 11 to 60 people.
Jabil Healthcare
Jabil Healthcare was formed in 2020 when Jabil combined its Nypro business with its orthopedics, spine and trauma units. At launch it had nearly 20,000 employees and more than 35 sites, and its factories producing finished medical devices are FDA registered. It covers minimally invasive devices, surgical robotics, complex catheters, diabetes care and consumer health, and the acquisition of CDMO Pii extended it into drug development and aseptic fill-finish. Jabil reported $8.3 billion in company-wide revenue for its second fiscal quarter of 2026.
Services and capabilities: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| Capability | Orthogonal | Jabil Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✗ | ✗ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✗ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| Framework / platform | Orthogonal | Jabil Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | N/A | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| Criterion | Orthogonal | Jabil Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Time & materials | Manufacturing contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| Dimension | Orthogonal | Jabil Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device, Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance | Scaling production of a cleared diabetes device, Global manufacturing of a surgical robotics subsystem |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Manufacturing contract |
Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare: pros and cons
| Orthogonal | |
|---|---|
| + | Focused on regulated medical software for more than a decade |
| + | Publishes practical guidance on agile methods under FDA rules, a sign of real process experience |
| + | Strong on mobile apps that talk to devices over BLE |
| + | Small enough for direct access to senior people |
| - | No hardware or firmware design |
| - | Small team limits how many parallel workstreams it can staff |
| - | Team size data is inconsistent across sources |
| Jabil Healthcare | |
|---|---|
| + | One of the largest healthcare manufacturing networks in the world |
| + | FDA-registered sites for finished devices |
| + | Strong supply chain management during component shortages |
| + | Covers drug delivery through the Pii acquisition |
| - | Built for production volume; early design and invention are outside its main business |
| - | Small companies may struggle to get attention |
| - | Engineering support is tied to manufacturing programs |
Who should choose Orthogonal?
A typical fit: building a mobile app that controls a Class II device.
Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose Jabil Healthcare?
A typical fit: scaling production of a cleared diabetes device.
Global scale, supply chain and FDA-registered production for established medical device brands. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Wearables & remote monitoring, Consumer health.
Decision matrix: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| 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 | Orthogonal |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Orthogonal (Not disclosed) vs Jabil Healthcare (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Jabil Healthcare |
| 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: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
| Use case | Orthogonal fit | Jabil Healthcare fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device | Strong | Limited | Orthogonal |
| Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance | Strong | Limited | Orthogonal |
| Scaling production of a cleared diabetes device | Limited | Strong | Jabil Healthcare |
| Global manufacturing of a surgical robotics subsystem | Limited | Strong | Jabil Healthcare |
Verdict: Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare
Orthogonal (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices.
Jabil Healthcare (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need global manufacturing of a surgical robotics subsystem. If your situation matches that, Jabil Healthcare is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Orthogonal vs Jabil Healthcare FAQ
Is Orthogonal better than Jabil Healthcare?
Orthogonal (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Orthogonal's strongest advantage: focused on regulated medical software for more than a decade. Jabil Healthcare's strongest advantage: one of the largest healthcare manufacturing networks in the world.
How do Orthogonal and Jabil Healthcare differ in pricing?
Orthogonal uses time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Jabil Healthcare uses manufacturing supply agreement, npi contract pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Orthogonal or Jabil Healthcare?
Jabil Healthcare 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 Orthogonal and Jabil Healthcare?
Orthogonal's primary differentiator is: agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices. Jabil Healthcare's primary differentiator is: global scale, supply chain and FDA-registered production for established medical device brands. They also differ in team size (11–60 vs ~20,000 (healthcare)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring vs Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.