Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) edges ahead of ScienceSoft (3.9/5) overall. Planet Innovation is the better choice for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. 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.
Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1989 |
| HQ | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia | McKinney, TX, USA |
| Team size | 300–400 | 700–800 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US | Large, ISO 13485 certified software team with healthcare analytics and testing services |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials | Fixed project, time and materials, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics | .NET, Java, iOS |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Financial services |
Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft: 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.
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: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| Capability | Planet Innovation | 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: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| Framework / platform | Planet Innovation | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| Dimension | Planet Innovation | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | SaMD for clinical decision support, Mobile companion app for an existing device |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft: 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 |
| 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 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 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: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| 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 | ScienceSoft |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Planet Innovation (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: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
| Use case | Planet Innovation fit | ScienceSoft fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| SaMD for clinical decision support | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
| Mobile companion app for an existing device | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
Verdict: Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft
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.
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
Planet Innovation vs ScienceSoft FAQ
Is Planet Innovation better than ScienceSoft?
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. ScienceSoft's strongest advantage: ISO 13485 certification covers medical device software and SaMD.
How do Planet Innovation and ScienceSoft differ in pricing?
Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials 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: Planet Innovation 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 Planet Innovation and ScienceSoft?
Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. ScienceSoft's primary differentiator is: Large, ISO 13485 certified software team with healthcare analytics and testing services. They also differ in team size (300–400 vs 700–800), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health vs Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.