Apache Mynewt vs Azure Sphere OS

Apache Mynewt is a free, open-source real-time operating system and development toolkit for embedded systems. It targets Cortex-M0–M4, MIPS and RISC-V microcontrollers and includes a hardware abstraction layer and board support packages. Its wireless and networking options include BLE 5, Bluetooth Mesh, LoRaWAN, TCP/IP, UDP, CoAP and 6LoWPAN. NimBLE can be configured as a full stack, host only or controller only, with up to 2 Mbps throughput and 32+ concurrent connections. Device tools cover remote firmware image management, logging, component and network statistics, and sensors; the project also describes device discovery and management using OIC 1.1. Newt combines source package management with building, debugging and installing embedded applications. Security features include device identity, secure boot, encrypted and authenticated communications, and secure over-the-air updates. The project describes uses ranging from doorbells to medical devices and power grids. Mynewt is available under Apache License 2.0. Newt installation instructions cover macOS, Linux and Windows, while simulator support has narrower native platform coverage and documented limits.

Azure Sphere OS is a custom Linux-based operating system for supported devices, included in the Azure Sphere solution for the MT3620AN. That solution bundles a certified MCU, an Azure Sphere OS license and access to Azure Sphere Security Service; the components are sold together. Ongoing OS updates are included. Listed capabilities include over-the-air updates, fleet provisioning and certificate management. Supported protocols and interfaces are TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, UART, SPI, I2C and GPIO. Deployment is described as hybrid, and the listed platform is web. Azure Sphere is paid and has no free plan. No price is listed for the Azure Sphere solution. The offering combines hardware, operating system licensing and security service access in one package for supported devices, with provisioning and update capabilities for device fleets.