Popular IoT Operating Systems and Their Key Functions

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming communication and interaction between all digital devices in a vastly interconnected world. Over the last few years many billions of smart devices of every kind, ranging from home appliances to industrial sensors, have emerged. All these devices use an operating system specifically designed for the special conditions addressed by IoT and are less commonly known as IoT Operating Systems or IoT OS. Constructors of these systems are working diligently to extend the capabilities of their IoT OS while keeping the unique challenges of the IoT environment in mind, including limited processing power, battery constraints, and the need to communicate in real-time. This article tackles some of the most widely used IoT operating systems by 2025, what they do, and how these operating systems are helping to facilitate our IoT world.

Key Takeaways

IoT operating systems tend to be designed to be lightweight, and are geared toward utilizing lower power and memory.
IoT OS also provides base capabilities for common communication protocols, like MQTT and CoAP, to facilitate the communication of data.
Security and OTA (over-the-air) updates are important features of today’s IoT OS.
Some of the popular IoT OS include TinyOS, FreeRTOS, Zephyr, RIOT, and Mbed OS.
Selecting an IoT OS requires consideration of the hardware used, application, and security requirements.

Introduction to Popular IoT Operating Systems

Unlike conventional computer or mobile operating systems, IoT OS run on resources with less memory and less CPU power, often relying on battery power as well. This means IoT devices run on a specialized platform, which is optimized to run in a resource-constrained environment, while also being transparent, reliable, and secure.

In the world of IoT, operating system software enables devices to receive, process, and transmit data in real-time while managing energy consumption and communicating through different networks. It is because of these abilities, along with support for multiple OS across various hardware and application domains, that has allowed IoT operating systems to become so popular.

What Are Popular IoT Operating Systems? Core Definition & Importance

Famous IoT OS are software platforms in embedded hardware that is operating as IoT devices. The characteristics of IoT OS include:

Operating with limited resources – less processing power, memory, etc.
Real-time data processing to provide immediate response.
Power / energy efficiency to prolong the life of battery powered devices.
Support for secure communication and remote updates.

The use of operating systems is meaningful because they provide functioning and secure infrastructure and support for IoT devices, which is important when devices are responsible for sensitive information and/or control important functions.

Top Popular IoT Operating Systems and Their Key Functions

Let’s explore some of the leading operating systems dominating the IoT landscape in 2025.

1.TinyOS

TinyOS is known for its extreme lightweight-ness. TinyOS is used for wireless sensor networks and where extreme battery life is needed. It has been programmed by using nesC. The programming structure of nesC with TinyOS is intentional to run efficiently with as little power consumed as possible, and with the lowest latency for power efficiency on each tiny processing device, resulting in longer times between each charging or maintenance event for a unit.

2.Contiki OS
This open-source system features powerful networking capabilities with support for current protocols including the IPv6, 6LoWPAN, and CoAP. It is a multitasking system that allows devices to carry out multiple operations in the same amount of time. Contiki is well suited for applications involving sensor networks for smart cities and industrial applications.

3.FreeRTOS and Amazon FreeRTOS
FreeRTOS, a real-time operating system, has deterministic timing which is required for applications such as health monitoring or industrial automation. FreeRTOS is small enough to run on microcontrollers. Amazon FreeRTOS takes FreeRTOS, add cloud integration, and provides a means for developers to connect devices securely to AWS services. This has potential to ease the development of cloud-connected IoT applications as we move forward.

4.Zephyr OS
The Zephyr operating system is acclaimed for its architectural scalability and modularity, coupled with its strong security focus. It supports numerous hardware platforms and is chiefly deployed in industrial IoT and safety-critical systems, where security and reliability are of utmost priority.

5.RIOT OS

RIOT operates with a microkernel architecture which supports multithreading and full protocol stacks, allowing it to span professional and academic IoT development while supporting a diverse range of microcontrollers to make connected, efficient devices.

6.Mbed OS

Mbed OS is built for ARM Cortex hardware and offers commercial-grade security and connectivity. Mbed OS allows developers to rapidly build robust embedded IoT applications and offers significant support through an expansive ecosystem.

7.Ubuntu Core
Ubuntu Core is a lightweight and secure Linux operating system with excellent cloud capabilities. It is suitable for IoT devices that need a fully featured Linux operating system and a secure and resilient infrastructure.

8.Tizen OS
Tizen OS is Linux-based operating system used in many different devices, including wearables and smart TVs. It is fast and secure and provides a cleaner interface. It has quite substantial backing from various companies that will ensure that Tizen OS is continually updated and stable.

9.Windows 10 IoT

Windows 10 IoT includes both Core and Enterprise versions, which provide a comfortable and familiar environment for industrial and edge devices. Windows is commonly used for IoT as it has broad hardware compatibility, and it works well with Microsoft enterprise software..

10.OpenWrt

OpenWrt is a Linux-based operating system used for routers and network equipment. OpenWrt has excellent customizability while also having strong security which makes it a great option for gateways and security hubs.

Key Functions Shared Across Popular IoT Operating Systems

There are a few fundamental functions that are consistent across these well-known IoT OS:

Efficient Resource Management: They efficiently use limited CPU and memory to ensure devices work effectively.
Real-time Task Scheduling: When many IoT applications require real-time responses, the characteristics of a real-time OS enable efficient task sequencing and scheduling.
Communication Protocols: Include support for MQTT, CoAP, TCP/IP and many others in the IoT ecosystem so that devices work together and seamlessly exchange data.
Security Features: Provide encryption, authentication, secure OTA updates and other security functions to guard devices against malicious threats.
Power Management: Implement sleep modes and other techniques to manage power consumption and prolong battery life.
Scalability & Interoperability: Built to work with a range of hardware and to connect with cloud and other devices.

Conclusion:

Knowing what the top IoT operating systems can do is essential if you’re serious about creating scalable, secure, and efficient IoT solutions. Whether you’re a developer, engineer, or student, learning these OS will help you get started in your next step in the rapidly expanding IoT industry.

For those interested in next steps, there are good embedded systems training opportunities in Bangalore. Cranes Varsity, one of the best embedded system training institutes in Bangalore, offers all-inclusive embedded system training, covering the fundamentals, real-time OS, and IoT connectivity among other important topics. The hands-on learning and industry-ready curriculum is helpful for students to become job-ready embedded engineers and take hold of IoT development opportunities