Best Software-Defined Networking Software in 2026
Updated
In short: TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller is ranked #1 of 23 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of VMware Workstation Pro and Antrea. The best-ranked option with a free plan is VMware Workstation Pro.
If you manage networks through software, the control-plane and deployment models are useful places to start comparing options. Look at supported protocols and policy segmentation, then check the managed device limit and whether a northbound API is listed. These details can help you assess how each product might fit the network you need to operate. Free-plan availability and the paid-from price offer additional context when comparing costs. TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller, VMware Workstation Pro, and Antrea are among the entries, alongside Cilium and Kube-OVN. Compare the stated models and capabilities with your environment and the controls you need.
23 software-defined networking software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
23ranked
6free plans on this page
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Software-Defined Networking Software 23 channels on this page · 90 of 184 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromDeployment modelControl-plane modelPolicy segmentationNorthbound APISupported protocolsManaged device limit Spec sheet Score
01 TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
02 VMware Workstation Pro Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelhybridPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsGENEVE, VLAN, VXLAN, REST, HTTPS, IPFIX, Syslog, IPsec, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, IPv4, IPv6Managed device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
03 Antrea Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsVXLAN, Geneve, STT, GRE, IPsec, WireGuard, BGP, IPFIXManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
04 Cilium Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelhybridPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsTCP, UDP, ICMP, ICMPv6, HTTP, DNS, gRPCManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
05 Kube-OVN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsGeneve, Vxlan, STTManaged device limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
06 OpenDaylight Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 Calico Enterprise Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsBGP, IP-in-IP, VXLAN, WireGuard, TCP, UDP, SCTP, ICMP, ICMPv6, HTTPManaged device limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.7
08 Netris Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsBGP, EVPN, VXLAN, gRPCManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
09 HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsBGP, OSPF, VRF, EVPN, VXLAN, Spanning Tree ProtocolManaged device limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.5
10 TeraFlowSDN Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsNETCONF, gNMI, OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN, IETF ACTN, IETF Network Topology, Microwave, XRManaged device limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.5
11 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsOSPF, IS-IS, BGP, VXLAN, EVPN, SNMP, SCP, RESTManaged device limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
12 Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsOpenFlow, OVSDB, NETCONF, SNMP, BGP-EVPN, JSON-RPC, RESTful, RESTCONFManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
13 Juniper Security Director Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.4
14 Open Virtual Network Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsGeneve, VXLAN, OpenFlow, OVSDB, IPsecManaged device limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
15 Faucet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelcentralizedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsOpenFlow 1.3, BGP, LLDP, LACP, RADIUS, TLSManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
16 OpenStack Neutron Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelhybridPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsVLAN, VXLAN, GRE, GeneveManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
17 Ryu SDN Framework Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsOpenFlow, NETCONF, OF-Config, Nicira Extensions, BGP, ZebraManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
18 VMware NSX Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modelhybridPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsGENEVE, VLAN, VXLAN, REST, HTTPS, IPFIX, Syslog, IPsec, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, IPv4, IPv6Managed device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
19 Juniper Apstra Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.7
20 Isovalent Enterprise for Cilium Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridControl-plane modeldistributedPolicy segmentationYesNorthbound APIYesSupported protocolsVXLAN, Geneve, BGP, IPsec, WireGuard, HTTP, TCP, UDPManaged device limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.6
21 Ericsson Billing Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 5.3
22 Nokia Network Services Platform Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelon-premisesControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.3
23 ONOS Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedControl-plane modelnot statedPolicy segmentationnot statedNorthbound APInot statedSupported protocolsnot statedManaged device limitnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 4.9
Is your tool 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 Specifiction?
TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 7.2. 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 on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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