Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) edges ahead of Orthogonal (4.2/5) overall. Planet Innovation is the better choice for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. Orthogonal is the stronger option for SaMD and device companion apps. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Orthogonal |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1998 |
| HQ | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia | Chicago, IL, USA |
| Team size | 300–400 | 11–60 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US | Agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials | Time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics | iOS, Android, Cloud (AWS/Azure) |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices |
Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal: overview
Planet Innovation
Planet Innovation was founded in Melbourne in 2009 by four diagnostics industry specialists: Eduardo Vom, Sam Lanyon, Stuart Elliott and Troy O'Callaghan. It is headquartered in Box Hill, Victoria, with a facility in Irvine, California, and employs roughly 300 to 390 people depending on the source. The company has focused on regulated medical devices since 2016 and works across diagnostics, medical devices, biotechnology and connected health, including some product ventures of its own.
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.
Services and capabilities: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Capability | Planet Innovation | Orthogonal |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Framework / platform | Planet Innovation | Orthogonal |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Orthogonal |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Dedicated team, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Dimension | Planet Innovation | Orthogonal |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device, Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal: pros and cons
| Planet Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area |
| + | Has launched products of its own, so it understands commercialization as well as engineering |
| + | Australian base offers time-zone coverage for Asia-Pacific clients |
| + | Irvine facility serves US clients locally |
| - | Runs its own product ventures, so ask how client work is prioritized |
| - | Less known in Europe |
| - | Headcount and certifications should be confirmed directly |
| 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 |
Who should choose Planet Innovation?
A typical fit: developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic.
Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
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.
Decision matrix: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Planet Innovation |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Orthogonal |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Planet Innovation (Not disclosed) vs Orthogonal (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Planet Innovation |
| 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: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
| Use case | Planet Innovation fit | Orthogonal fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Building a mobile app that controls a Class II device | Limited | Strong | Orthogonal |
| Developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US.
Orthogonal (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need developing a digital therapeutic for FDA clearance. If your situation matches that, Orthogonal is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Planet Innovation vs Orthogonal FAQ
Is Planet Innovation better than Orthogonal?
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Planet Innovation's strongest advantage: founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area. Orthogonal's strongest advantage: focused on regulated medical software for more than a decade.
How do Planet Innovation and Orthogonal differ in pricing?
Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials pricing. Orthogonal uses 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: Planet Innovation or Orthogonal?
Planet Innovation 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 Planet Innovation and Orthogonal?
Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Orthogonal's primary differentiator is: agile delivery adapted to FDA-regulated software, focused on the app and cloud side of connected devices. They also differ in team size (300–400 vs 11–60), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health vs Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.