Best Software-Defined Networking Software in 2026
Updated
In short: VMware Workstation Pro is ranked #1 of 23 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller and Antrea. The best-ranked option with a free plan is TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller.
Software-defined networking gives you software-based ways to manage network control and policy. These entries are ranked and compared across control-plane and deployment models, supported protocols, and policy segmentation. You can also consider managed device limits and northbound API support when assessing how a tool might fit your environment. The first entries include VMware Workstation Pro, TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller, and Antrea, followed by OpenDaylight and Cilium. Compare free-plan availability and paid-from pricing with the listed capabilities, then weigh which models and controls align with the network you need to manage.
23 software-defined networking software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 VMware Workstation Pro Top pick · 7.1 Free plan · Free
#2 TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller Runner-up · 7.0 Free plan · Free
#3 Antrea Also great · 6.9 Free plan · Free- Free plan Linuxself-hostedWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- hybrid
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindowsRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- Free plan Linuxself-hosted
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- hybrid
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - self-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxself-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Control-plane model
- centralized
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- hybrid
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- hybrid
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebLinux
- Deployment model
- on-premises
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Control-plane model
- distributed
- Policy segmentation
- Yes
- Northbound API
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- on-premises
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebRecognisedDocumentedFree 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 software-defined networking software is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
VMware Workstation Pro is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 7.1. TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller is second and Antrea third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 23 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
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.