Best Free IoT Operating Systems of 2025

Developed in collaboration with top chip manufacturers over a span of 15 years, FreeRTOS is now downloaded approximately every 170 seconds and stands as a top-tier real-time operating system (RTOS) tailored for microcontrollers and small microprocessors. Available at no cost under the MIT open source license, FreeRTOS encompasses a kernel along with an expanding collection of IoT libraries that cater to various industries. Prioritizing reliability and user-friendliness, FreeRTOS is renowned for its proven durability, minimal footprint, and extensive device compatibility, making it the go-to standard for microcontroller and small microprocessor applications among leading global enterprises. With a wealth of pre-configured demos and IoT reference integrations readily available, users can easily set up their projects without any hassle. This streamlined process allows for rapid downloading, compiling, and quicker market entry. Furthermore, the ecosystem of partners offers a diverse range of options, including both community-driven contributions and professional support, ensuring that users have access to the resources they need for success. As technology continues to evolve, FreeRTOS remains committed to adapting and enhancing its offerings to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.

Arm Mbed OS is an open-source operating system tailored for IoT applications, providing all the essential tools for creating IoT devices. This robust OS is equipped to support smart and connected products built on Arm Cortex-M architecture, offering features such as machine learning, secure connectivity stacks, an RTOS kernel, and drivers for various sensors and I/O devices. Specifically designed for the Internet of Things, Arm Mbed OS integrates capabilities in connectivity, machine learning, networking, and security, complemented by a wealth of software libraries, development boards, tutorials, and practical examples. It fosters collaboration across a vast ecosystem, supporting over 70 partners in silicon, modules, cloud services, and OEMs, thereby enhancing choices for developers. By leveraging the Mbed OS API, developers can maintain clean, portable, and straightforward application code while benefiting from advanced security, communication, and machine learning functionalities. This cohesive solution ultimately streamlines the development process, significantly lowering costs, minimizing time investment, and reducing associated risks. Furthermore, Mbed OS empowers innovation, enabling developers to rapidly prototype and deploy IoT solutions with confidence.

Contiki-NG is a free and open-source operating system designed for the next generation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, emphasizing reliable and secure low-power communication along with standard protocols like IPv6/6LoWPAN, 6TiSCH, RPL, and CoAP. The platform is accompanied by comprehensive documentation, tutorials, a clear roadmap, and a structured development process that facilitates the integration of contributions from the community. By default, unless stated otherwise, the sources of Contiki-NG are available under the 3-clause BSD license, which permits users to utilize and share the code in both binary and source formats, provided that the copyright notice is preserved in the source materials. This licensing model supports an open collaborative environment that promotes innovation and community engagement in IoT development. Contiki-NG aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem for developers and users alike, ensuring that they can build upon and enhance the existing frameworks.

Torizon enhances developer efficiency and facilitates the creation of products that are easy to maintain. With integrated over-the-air updates and device monitoring, it enables earlier shipping, bug patching in the field, the rollout of new features, and quicker issue detection. The use of software containerization not only simplifies maintenance but also adds an extra layer of resilience. Regular validation on Toradex System on Modules (SoMs) ensures that developers can concentrate entirely on their applications without worrying about the operating system. Torizon supports an agile and iterative development process, allowing teams to adapt quickly to changes. Its seamlessly integrated remote update capabilities make deploying new software a breeze, while real-time device monitoring provides immediate insights into performance and potential problems, enhancing overall product reliability. This combination of features ultimately empowers developers to innovate and respond to market demands more effectively.

RT-Thread, short for Real Time-Thread, is an embedded real-time multi-threaded operating system. It has been designed to support multi-tasking, allowing multiple tasks to run simultaneously. Although a processor core can only run one task at a time, RT-Thread executes every task quickly and switches between them rapidly according to priority, creating the illusion of simultaneous task execution. RT-Thread is mainly written in the C programming language, making it easy to understand and port. It applies object-oriented programming methods to real-time system design, resulting in elegant, structured, modular, and highly customizable code. The system comes in a few varieties. The NANO version is a minimal kernel that requires only 3KB of flash and 1.2KB of RAM. For resource-rich IoT devices, RT-Thread can use an online software package management tool, together with system configuration tools, to achieve an intuitive and rapid modular design.