Best Software-Defined Networking Software in 2026
Updated
In short: TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller is ranked #1 of 23 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of VMware Workstation Pro and Antrea. The best-ranked option with a free plan is VMware Workstation Pro.
Software-defined networking gives you software-based ways to manage network control and behavior. The entries are ordered as a ranked best-of list. Compare the control-plane and deployment models with supported protocols and policy segmentation to see how each approach is described. Managed device limits and northbound API support offer additional distinctions, while free-plan availability and the paid-from price can help you assess cost. TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller and VMware Workstation Pro lead the entries, followed by Antrea, Cilium, and OpenDaylight. Faucet, Kube-OVN, and Open Virtual Network are also included near the start. Use these stated capabilities to compare options against 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.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 2 VMware Workstation Pro No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: hybridPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 3 Antrea No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 4 Cilium No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: hybridPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 5 OpenDaylight No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free
- 6 Netris No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 7 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 8 HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 9 Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 10 Calico Enterprise No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 11 Juniper Security Director No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Deployment model: on-premises
- 12 Kube-OVN No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4Free Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 13 Open Virtual Network No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 14 Faucet No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: on-premisesControl-plane model: centralizedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 15 Isovalent Enterprise for Cilium No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: distributedPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 16 OpenStack Neutron No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: hybridPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 17 Ryu SDN Framework No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: on-premisesPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 18 VMware NSX No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridControl-plane model: hybridPolicy segmentation: Yes
- 19 Juniper Apstra No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: on-premises
- 20 TeraFlowSDN No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: on-premises
- 21 Ericsson Billing No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1
- 22 Nokia Network Services Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.8 Deployment model: on-premises
- 23 ONOS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.7
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 Samsung Mobile US Press?
TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 7.8. VMware Workstation Pro 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 mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.