Comparison of mobile operating systems


This is a comparison of mobile operating systems. Only the latest versions are shown in the table below, even though older versions may still be marketed.

About OS

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu TouchPlasma MobilePureOSPostmarketOSKaiOS
Developed byGoogle, Open Handset AllianceApple Inc.Linux Foundation, Tizen Association, Samsung, IntelSailfish Alliance, Mer, Jolla and Sailfish community contributorsUBports and Ubuntu community contributors KDE and Blue SystemsPurismPostmarketOS communityKaiOS Technologies Inc., Google
Market share86.1%13.7%UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownN/A?
Current version1013.64.0.0.73.3.0.1616.04 OTA-115.16.49.02.6.0
Development version1114.05.5 M1UnknownUnknownUnknownUnknownN/A
Current version release dates
LicenseBase system is Free and open-source, but usually bundled with proprietary apps and drivers, which provide an increasing amount of the functionality.; both proprietary and open-source components, assorted licensesFree and open-source, but the UI and the SDK are proprietary and closed sourceFree and open-source, mainly the GPLFree and open-source, mainly the GPLFree and open-source, mainly the GPLFree and open-source, GPL except for open source kernel patches
OS familyModified Linux kernel basedDarwinLinux LinuxLinux LinuxLinux Linux Unix-based
Supported CPU architectureARM, x86, x86-6464-bit ARMv8-A onlyARM, x86, x86-64ARM, x86-64ARM, x86-64ARM, ?Convergence operating systemARM, ARM64, x86, x86-64ARM
Programmed inC, C++, Java, KotlinC, C++, Objective-C, SwiftC++, Xamarin.Forms C++, QML, PythonApps: HTML5, QML, Go, JavaScript, C++
System: C, C++, QML		C++, QMLPython install tool and shell script packages
Public issues list 3rd party
DRM-free since Android 4.1 and Android 4.3 and more restrictions on Android 4.4 – FairPlay?
Device independent system updates 3rd party software like LineageOS. Intended for use on old mobile devicesFor feature phones, not smart phones
Wireless system updates
GPU accelerated GUI?
FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu TouchPlasma MobilePureOSPostmarketOSKaiOS

Advanced controls

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
While-in-use permissions
Per-app Internet accessNo, 3rd party software 3rd party software on jailbroken devices
Per-app identity access
Per-app user data access
Per-app background execution No, 3rd party apps available
Per-app notifications
Per-app location access
Per-app camera access
Per-app microphone access
Per-app shared files access
Per-app network data usage auditing?
Fine grained storage usage?
Parental controls or 3rd party software?
Screen orientation lock?
File manager 3rd party software
File manager write access to external storage Or 3rd party software like LineageOS
Multi-user
Guest mode
Guided Access
Do not disturb mode
App groups?

Accessibility features

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
System wide base text size??
Monaural output
Always visible scrollbar
Reduced Animations

App ecosystem

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Official app storeGoogle PlayApp StoreTizen StoreJolla StoreOpenStore
Non-discriminatory storesNo, Some apps like Ad blockers are censored on Google Play but developers can distribute apps from their own sources, Apple discriminates based on country and own Apple policies??
Common APIs for smartphones, tablets, and PCs
Official SDK platformLinux, macOS and WindowsmacOS using iOS SDKGNU/Linux, Windows, macOSWindows, macOS and Linux
Cost to develop for the mobile OSFree, Requires Apple hardware.FreeFreeFree
Cost to publish app to official storeUS$25 once to offer it on Google PlayUS$99/yearFreeFreeFree

Basic features

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Cut, copy, and paste
Multi-Device clipboard
Undo
Custom home and lock screen wallpaper
Desktop sync No, but available using the vendor's companion/PC suite application such as Samsung Smart Switch & HTC Sense?
Local full backup, via external computer
Core data missing syncBookmarks, SMSs and Settings???
Notification center
Push notifications
Screenshot
iCalendar import No, but 3rd party app available?
Text/document support Microsoft Office, PDF, TXT/RTFMicrosoft Office, iWork, PDF, Images, TXT/RTF, VCFRead only: text files, PDF, HTML, Multiple office formatsMicrosoft Office, OpenDocument, PDF, Text
Printer support using Google Cloud Print but not over USB unless proprietary vendor solutions such as HP Print Service are usedyes, cups package is available
Show remembered Wi-Fi connections?

Browser

Communication and connectivity

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Unified InboxNo, but 3rd party apps available?
Email sync protocols supportedPOP3, IMAP, MAPIPOP3, IMAP, MAPI, ActiveSyncPOP3, IMAPPOP3, IMAP, ActiveSync?
Non-carrier-based integrated messaging ? 3rd party software 3rd party software
Visual voicemail???
Call log duration?
Multiple mobile phones per contact?
Contact groups or 3rd party software?
Voice over IP or 3rd party software 3rd party software 3rd party software 3rd party software
NFC payment software, via Apple Pay
TetheringMobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, USB, Bluetooth4.3+: Personal Hotspot microUSB, Bluetooth 3.0, Mobile Wi-Fi HotspotMobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, USB, BluetoothMobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
USB On-The-Go
9+: Only for connecting cameras
Direct file transfer over Wi-Fi Direct and selected devicesNo, 3rd party software on jailbroken devices, was available on bada 2+, but removed on Tizen
DHCP v4YesYes???
DHCP v6NoYes???
Direct file transfer over Bluetooth, was available on bada, but removed on Tizen but limited to images, videos and contacts
Direct file transfer over NFC

Language and inputs

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Non-English languages support
Underlining spell checker?
Built-in system-wide dictionary
Autoexpanding text replacements???
Keyboard next word prediction No, 3rd party software
Keyboard cursor controller;;;
9-11: Only on devices with 3D Touch;
Optical character recognition input method
Third party input methods???
Gesture text input
8+: 3rd party software like SwiftKey		?
Emoji support? 3rd party software

Maps and navigation

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Safe driving mode 3rd party software???
Turn-by-turn navigation? 3rd party software
Offline maps 3rd party software Google Maps, Here Maps? 3rd party software 3rd party software
Alternative routes in maps? 3rd party software 3rd party software

Media playback and controls

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Audio playbackAAC LC/LTP 3GPP, HE-AACv1, HE-AACv2 AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, MIDI, Ogg Vorbis, PCM/WAVE, FLAC, WAVE, OpusAAC, protected AAC, HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAVAAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, Vorbis, WAVMP3, FLAC, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, ALAC, AC3, DTS, Opus, Vorbis?
Video playbackH.263, H.264, H.265 HEVC, MPEG-4 SP, DivX, XviD, VP8, VP9 H.264, MPEG-4, M-JPEGH.263, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2MPEG-4, H264, H263, although audio in recorded videos is out of sync?
Wired video out or VGA, 576p/480p via component or composite;
Wired digital audio output USB Audio
Wireless video/audio streaming to set top boxes/TVs/speakers Miracast, but DLNA only available on selected devices?
Media player on-device playlist creation?
Media player video scrubbing???
Media player audio scrubbing???
Media player fine scrubbing No, 3rd party software like VLC media player, basic fine scrubbing removed on 4+???
Media player double speed playing???

Peripheral support

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Bluetooth keyboard; previous versions via 3rd party software
USB keyboard?
Interchangeable external memory cards

Photo and video

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Camera focus at specified point?
Camera exposure metering from specified point, available on some phones.?
On device picture info more with 3rd party software?
On device picture categorization 3rd party software like TouchWiz?
On device picture description and search Items/objects in picture;
7+: Only date and location		?
Turn off shutter sound
Picture crop
Photo rotation
Photo red-eye reduction
HDR photos option, some manufacturers earlier
Photo/video import from memory cards
Video trim?

Productivity

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Multitasking
4–6: Limited
Quick app switching via 3D Touch;
5+: only on iPad
Document-centric multitasking
Split-screen app usage only on iPad with 2 GB RAM or moreNo
Desktop interactive widgets
Lock screen widgets. Full Widgets on Android 4.2–4.4 only.
Notification view widgets
Quick settings toggles
Search multiple internal apps at once
Settings search or 3rd party software like LineageOS
Search all fields of internal objects?-
Core apps missing searchCalendar Bookmarks???
Phone number links to dialer
Addresses links to maps nor in Gmail??
Dates links to calendar?

Ringtones and alerts

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Custom ringtones
Custom SMS/MMS tones?
Custom vibrate alert patternsNo, possible on some Samsung devices such as Galaxy S III, but limited?
Dismiss repeating alarm clock before trigger?
Tap to snooze?

Security and privacy

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Proxy server but only global, not per connection and only works for the browser 3rd party apps available
On-device encryption but insecure on Qualcomm devices
External storage encryption
Zero knowledge encryption and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program., data stored on iCloud is accessible by Apple and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program.??
Privacy of synchronization 3rd party software like ownCloud???
Sync to cloud communication encryption???
Wireless anti-tracking?
Remote device location tracking??
Remote device locking and/or data wipe??
End-to-end encrypted push notifications??
SSH Client?
VPN?
OpenVPN No, but possible with 3rd party firmware?
WPA PEAP?

Sound and voice

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Separate volume for ringtone and media?
Voice commands ?
Offline voice commands?
Voice recognition 3rd party software
Call recorder Prevented by OS restrictions, but possible with 3rd party firmware / 3rd party software?
Sound trimNo, but 3rd party software available???

Other features

FeatureAndroidiOSTizenSailfish OSUbuntu Touch
Non-intrusive incoming calls or 3rd party software?
Non-intrusive notifications???
Move apps to external storage
Remote Frame Buffer protocol???
Screencast on device No, 3rd party software like LineageOS ScreenCast, AOKP or OmniROM
Screencast over USB over USB, for prior versions root required for 3rd party app on OS X?
Screen share