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
+About OS Feature Android iOS HarmonyOS Tizen KaiOS Sailfish OSGrapheneOS Ubuntu TouchMobian Plasma Mobile PureOS NuraDeveloped byGoogleApple Inc.HuaweiLinux Foundation, Samsung, IntelKaiOS Technologies Inc.(TCL)Sailfish Alliance, Mer, Jolla and Sailfish community contributorsGrapheneOS FoundationUBports and Ubuntu community contributors (previously Canonical Ltd.)Debian on Mobile TeamKDE and Blue SystemsPurismNura communityMarket share73%22%5%0.22%0.14% License; base system is open source, but many devices use proprietary drivers for hardware support, and most Android operating systems include Proprietary apps (such as Google Play and other Google apps)., open source kernel and core except for open-source components; both proprietary and open-source components, assorted licenses except for open source kernel patches (formerly the MPL 2.0 B2G OS); free and open-source, but the UI and the SDK are proprietary and closed source; free and open-source system with proprietary drivers Free and open-source, mainly GPL, Free and open-source, mainly GPL, Free and open-source, mainly GPL, Free and open-source, mainly GPL, Free and open-source, GPLCurrent version1727.06.09.0 M23.15.124.04-1.312.06.3.510.326.06Development version3.220250615Current version release datesOS familyModified Linux kernel basedDarwin OpenHarmonyLinux (based on a combination of MeeGo and Samsung Bada)Firefox OS / Open Web (based on Linux kernel)LinuxBased on the Android kernel (modified Linux kernel), added hardening patchesLinux (based on Ubuntu)Linux (based on Debian)Linux (mainly based on KDE neon ) Linux (based on Debian)Linux (based on Alpine Linux)Supported CPU architectureARM (32-bit ARMv7-A and 64-bit ARMv8-A / ARMv9-A only), x86, x86-6464-bit ARMv8-A / ARMv9-A only64-bit ARMARM, x86, x86-64ARMARM, x86-64ARM (32-bit ARMv7-A and 64-bit ARMv8-A only), x86, x86-64 (Only devices with ARMv8-A and newer CPUs are officially supported, due to the MTE requirement)ARM, x86-6464-bit ARMARMARM, ?Convergence operating systemProgrammed inC, C++, Java, Kotlin, RustC, C++, Objective-C, SwiftC, C++, JS, ArkTS, CangjieC++, Xamarin.Forms (.NET C#, F#, VB)HTML5, JavaScriptC++, QML, PythonC, C++, Java, Kotlin, RustApps: HTML5, QML, Go, JavaScript, C++System: C, C++, QMLC, C++C++, QMLPython install tool and shell script packagesPublic issues list 3rd partytogether.jolla.com UBports issues on Github.com: https://github.com/ubports/ubuntu-touch/issuesDRM-freeWe oppose DRM. | Defective by Design android.drm | Android Developers since Android 4.1MediaCrypto | Android Developers and Android 4.3MediaDrm | Android Developers and more restrictions on Android 4.4SurfaceView.setSecure(boolean) | Android Developers – FairPlay – Huawei WisePlay - WidevineDevice independent system updates 3rd party software like LineageOSGoogle patches Stagefright 2.0 in Nexus, fixes land in 'nightly' CyanogenMod builds | ZDNet iOS 7: what you need to know before updating For feature phones, not smartphones (legacy extended support) . Intended for use on old mobile devicesWireless system updates GPU accelerated GUIStewart Mitchell, "Android lets developers work closer to the metal" , PC Pro, 11/02/11. Since 3.0 . Works for some devices Feature Android iOS HarmonyOS Tizen KaiOS Sailfish OS GrapheneOS Ubuntu TouchMobian Plasma Mobile PureOS Nura
Advanced controls
+Advanced controls Feature Android iOS Tizen GrapheneOS Sailfish OS Ubuntu Touch HarmonyOSWhile-in-use permissionsPer-app Internet accessNo, 3rd party software 3rd party software on jailbroken devicesPer-app identity accessAndroid O Behavior Changes | Android Developers Per-app user data accessAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow, thoroughly reviewed | Ars Technica Apple Adds New Privacy Settings in iOS 6 . Iphonehacks.com (2012-06-12). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Per-app background execution No, 3rd party apps availableHow to turn off Background App Refresh in iOS 7 – CNET Per-app notificationsPer-app location accessPer-app camera accessPer-app microphone accessPer-app shared files access, Storage ScopesPer-app network data usage auditingAndroid 4.0 Platform Highlights | Android Developers . Developer.android.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Cellular Settings . manuals.info.apple.com. Retrieved on 2015-04-01.?persistent data counter Fine grained storage usageAndroid 4.0 Internal Memory Storage and Apps Management . Android Tapp. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.?Parental controls or 3rd party software?Screen orientation lockHow to enable the orientation lock on an Android phone . Youtube.com (2011-06-01). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.?Screen orientation setting / locking File manager 3rd party softwareTutorial: Install Terminal, Native File Manager And Accessing SD Card Storage | Latest Jolla And Sailfish OS News File manager write access to external storage Or 3rd party software like LineageOSMulti-userGuest modeAndroid 5.0 Lollipop announced with Material Design, Guest Mode and more Guided AccessPin & unpin screens - Android HelpWhat Is Guided Access on iPhone and How Do You Use It?Do not disturb modeSet up 'Priority' mode on Android 5.0 Lollipop – CNET App groups?Folder support in app launcher
Accessibility features
+Accessibility features Feature Android iOS Tizen Sailfish OS Ubuntu Touch HarmonyOSSystem wide base text sizePogue, David. (2011-11-10) Apple's AssistiveTouch Helps the Disabled Use a Smartphone – NYTimes.com . pogue.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.?Monaural outputAlways visible scrollbarReduced Animations
App ecosystem
+App ecosystem Feature Android iOS Tizen Sailfish OS Ubuntu Touch HarmonyOS NuraOfficial app storeGoogle PlayApp StoreTizen StoreJolla StoreOpenStoreAppGalleryGNOME Software, KDE DiscoverNon-discriminatory storesNo, Some apps like Ad blockers are censored on Google PlayGoogle Takes the Dark Path, Censors AdBlock Plus on Android | Electronic Frontier Foundation Google removes Samsung's first Android ad blocker from the Play Store | The Verge but developers can distribute apps from their own sources, Apple discriminates based on country and own Apple policies?, Huawei discriminates based on country and own Huawei AppGallery policies for native based HarmonyOS apps. But OpenHarmony developers can distribute apps from their own sourcesCommon APIs for smartphones, tablets, and PCsOfficial SDK platform(s)Linux, macOS and WindowsmacOS using iOS SDKLinux, Windows, macOSWindows, macOS and LinuxmacOS and Windows Cost to develop for the mobile OSFree, Requires Apple hardware.FreeFreeFreeFreeFreeCost to publish app to official storeUS$25 once to register to offer on Google PlayUS$99/yearFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Browser
+Browser Feature Android iOS Tizen Sailfish OS Ubuntu Touch HarmonyOSDefault web browser/engine Blink WebKit GeckoQt WebEngine (based on Blink)Blink (Servo - OniroOS/OpenHarmony)Major web browsers available Chrome for Android, Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet Safari, Chrome for iOS, Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge Tizen Browser (Based on UC Browser) Sailfish Browser (Gecko), Webcat (WebKit), Web Pirate (WebKit), others via Android (Firefox, Chrome, Opera) Morph BrowserHuawei Browser, Microsoft Edge (Blink), UC Browser (Blink, V8), Opera browser (Blink, V8), Yandex Browser (Blink), Vivaldi Browser (Blink, V8)Browser can use its own engineBrowser extensions NoFAQ – Google Chrome 3rd party softwareFind and install Add-ons on Firefox for Android | Firefox for Android Help Ten Best iOS 8 Safari Extensions For iPhone And iPad To Enhance Your Web Browsing Experience Browser direct Internet connection (increased resilience to outages)??Browser undo close tabHow to reopen a closed tab in Chrome for Android – CNET The Quick & Easy Secret to Reopen Accidentally Closed Tabs in iOS 8's Safari Browser keeps windows open on shutdown or crash Google Chrome but not on the deprecated AOSP browserBrowser keeps windows open when cleaning cookies?Browser search engine optionsManyBing, Google, Yahoo! Search, DuckDuckGo, EcosiaBing, Google, Yahoo! Search Bing, Google, Yahoo, Yandex. Baidu, DuckDuckGo, StartPage, Searx, ixquick, Swisscows, Qwant, Seznam, Hulbee via openreposBaidu, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Google, lilo, Peekier, Qwant, Wikipedia, YahooBing, Google, Yahoo! Search, Baidu, DuckDuckGoBrowser find on pageSearch in browser Browser–email save images?Browser–email save PDFsApple – iPhone – Tips and Tricks . Apple.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Browser save audio/video5+: 3rd party softwareBrowser save page, Google Chrome 55+Chrome for Android now lets you download webpages and read them offline : Offline Reading List;iOS 6: All the New Features Coming Soon to Your iPhone and iPad . Gizmodo.com (2012-06-11). Retrieved on 2012-07-03. 3rd party softwareApp Store – Instapaper . Itunes.apple.com (2012-06-02). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.4.0.1.48+Browser save any file, Chrome for Android.5+: When an app that can handle/open the filetype is installed (excluding audio/video – requires 3rd party softwareDownload any file on your iPhone with iDownloader Pro . Iphone Active (2011-12-02). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.);Downloading and uploading files through Safari iOS . Ask Different (2011-09-22). Retrieved on 2015-09-13.?Browser force enable zoom, Chrome for AndroidHow to Re-Enable Zoom for Websites That Block It in Safari for Your iPhone ???Browser text reflowBrowser Text Reflow – WP7 Internet Explorer vs Android . Youtube.com (2011-12-07). Retrieved on 2012-07-03., removed on Android 4.4Text Reflow Removed From WebViews In KitKat, Probably Not Coming Back Inside Apple's iOS 5: Safari Reader, private browsing, tabs on iPad . Appleinsider.com (2011-06-07). Retrieved on 2012-07-03. 3rd party browsers on prior versionsiOS browsers that allow font scaling and text reflow . 456 Berea Street (2011-01-05). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Browser Reader ModeNo, 3rd party softwareBrowser reader mode – together.jolla.com Browser open PDFs without storingBrowser file upload6–8: LimitedAdd file upload functionality to web browser Browser form navigation???Browser private browsing modeAndroid updates guide: All the features of every version . Reviews.cnet.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-07-03. or with Chrome for AndroidPrivate mode in web browser Offline web appsiphone – Android Offline Webapp Resources – Stack Overflow . Stackoverflow.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.How to create offline webapps on the iPhone | The CSS Ninja – All things CSS, JavaScript & HTML . Thecssninja.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Safari Web Content Guide: Configuring Web Applications . Developer.apple.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.Apple – Web apps . Apple.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.?HTTP Live StreamingHLS in sailfish WebRTCChrome 29 for Android is out: WebRTC and Web Audio support, improved scrolling, and new color picker for Web forms
Basic features