Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Team Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of ScienceSoft (3.9/5) overall. Team Consulting is the better choice for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. ScienceSoft is the stronger option for SaMD and device software on a budget. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Team Consulting | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 1989 |
| HQ | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK | McKinney, TX, USA |
| Team size | 140–190 | 700–800 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery | Large, ISO 13485 certified software team with healthcare analytics and testing services |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Fixed project, time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | SolidWorks, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering | .NET, Java, iOS |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Financial services |
Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft: overview
Team Consulting
Team Consulting began in 1986 as a general product development consultancy started by five former colleagues and has worked mainly in the medical sector since the early 1990s. It is employee-owned and based in a converted barn in Ickleton, near Cambridge, with somewhere between 140 and 190 staff depending on the source. Its best-known work is in inhaled and injectable drug delivery devices, where it combines industrial design, mechanical engineering and human factors.
ScienceSoft
Healthcare IT has been a ScienceSoft practice since 2005, inside a McKinney, Texas, software company that dates to 1989. The company holds ISO 13485:2016 certification for medical device software and SaMD, and it states experience preparing software for FDA clearance and CE marking (per company website; independently unverifiable). Its team is about 750. Its medical work is mostly software: SaMD, device companion apps, data analytics and medical device software testing.
Services and capabilities: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Capability | Team Consulting | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Framework / platform | Team Consulting | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Criterion | Team Consulting | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Dimension | Team Consulting | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies | SaMD for clinical decision support, Mobile companion app for an existing device |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Dedicated team |
Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft: pros and cons
| Team Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years |
| + | Human factors engineering is one of the strongest in the UK for drug delivery |
| + | Employee ownership supports long-term client relationships |
| + | Industrial design quality is high, which matters for patient-handled devices |
| - | Electronics and connected-device software are a smaller part of its work than mechanics and design |
| - | No manufacturing; transfer to a CM is required |
| - | UK rates and location may not suit US startups on tight budgets |
| ScienceSoft | |
|---|---|
| + | ISO 13485 certification covers medical device software and SaMD |
| + | Large team can staff software projects quickly |
| + | Offers medical device software testing as a separate service |
| + | Competitive rates compared with US onshore software firms |
| - | Generalist IT company where healthcare is one of many practices |
| - | No hardware, electronics or mechanical design |
| - | FDA and CE experience claims are self-reported |
Who should choose Team Consulting?
A typical fit: designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector.
Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose ScienceSoft?
A typical fit: SaMD for clinical decision support.
Large, ISO 13485 certified software team with healthcare analytics and testing services. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Financial services.
Decision matrix: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Team Consulting |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | ScienceSoft |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Team Consulting (Not disclosed) vs ScienceSoft (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | ScienceSoft |
| 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: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
| Use case | Team Consulting fit | ScienceSoft fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| SaMD for clinical decision support | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
| Mobile companion app for an existing device | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
Verdict: Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft
Team Consulting (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery.
ScienceSoft (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need mobile companion app for an existing device. If your situation matches that, ScienceSoft is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Team Consulting vs ScienceSoft FAQ
Is Team Consulting better than ScienceSoft?
Team Consulting (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Team Consulting's strongest advantage: medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years. ScienceSoft's strongest advantage: ISO 13485 certification covers medical device software and SaMD.
How do Team Consulting and ScienceSoft differ in pricing?
Team Consulting uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. ScienceSoft uses fixed project, time and materials, dedicated team pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Team Consulting or ScienceSoft?
ScienceSoft 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 Team Consulting and ScienceSoft?
Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. ScienceSoft's primary differentiator is: Large, ISO 13485 certified software team with healthcare analytics and testing services. They also differ in team size (140–190 vs 700–800), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.