Best IoT Operating Systems in 2026
Updated
In short: Particle Device OS is ranked #1 of 14 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Micrium OS and VxWorks. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Particle Device OS at $299/mo.
IoT operating systems support the software layer behind connected devices and device fleets. In this 2026 ranking, compare certificate management, fleet provisioning, over-the-air updates, and protocol support, as well as deployment models and supported device operating systems. Device limits, free plans, and starting paid prices offer additional ways to assess fit. Particle Device OS and Micrium OS lead the entries shown, followed by VxWorks and RT-Thread; TencentOS Tiny, Azure Sphere OS, Contiki-NG, and PikeOS are also included. Match the listed device and protocol support to your deployment requirements, and weigh the fleet-management capabilities against the scale and update needs of your devices.
14 IoT operating systems ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
- Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 299 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Supported device OS
- Particle Device OS on Particle devices
- Over-the-air updates
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$299/mofirst paid tier About Particle Device OSVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- edge
- Supported device OS
- Micrium OS; runs on Silicon Labs EFR32 and EFM32 devices
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- edge
- Over-the-air updates
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- edge
- Over-the-air updates
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Supported device OS
- Azure Sphere OS (custom Linux-based OS)
- Over-the-air updates
- Yes
- Fleet provisioning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Deployment model
- edge
- Supported device OS
- ARM Cortex-M3/M4; TI MSP430; TI CC13xx/CC26xx; Nordic nRF5340/nRF52840; Silicon Labs Gecko; native/Cooja
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- edge
- Supported device OS
- Linux, Android, Windows, ELinOS, POSIX, ARINC 653, PikeOS Native
- Over-the-air updates
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Deployment model
- edge
- Supported device OS
- Apache Mynewt
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- edge
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which IoT operating system is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Particle Device OS is ranked #1 of 14 with a score of 7.0. Micrium OS is second and VxWorks third.
How many of these have a free plan?
1 of the 14 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Particle Device OS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $299/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.