The Best Software-Defined Networking Software in 2026
We researched software-defined networking software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core job—centralized programmable network control—along with value for money and verified features for forwarding, policy management and segmentation.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
VMware NSX#1 of 249.3/10A broad hybrid-cloud networking and security platform with contact-sales pricing.
Pricing on request
-
Runner-up
9.1/10A focused controller for provisioning, automating, and governing VXLAN EVPN fabrics.
Pricing on request
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#3 ranked
Cisco Catalyst Center#3 of 249.0/10A broad Cisco network-operations platform for discovery, automation, compliance, and assurance.
Pricing on request
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 24 tools, best first
-
Best forVirtualized and hybrid-cloud networking
A broad hybrid-cloud networking and security platform with contact-sales pricing.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.3/10★★★★★Visit VMware NSX -
Best forCisco VXLAN EVPN fabrics
A focused controller for provisioning, automating, and governing VXLAN EVPN fabrics.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Cisco NDFC -
Best forCisco enterprise network automation
A broad Cisco network-operations platform for discovery, automation, compliance, and assurance.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Cisco -
Best forData-center fabric orchestration
Centralized fabric orchestration for multi-vendor, multi-cloud data-center networks.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Huawei -
Best forNutanix hybrid-cloud networking
A focused choice for centralized hybrid-cloud networking in Nutanix AHV environments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Nutanix -
Best forHPE data-center fabric management
Centralized fabric orchestration for HPE Aruba Networking data-center environments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit HPE -
Best forOpenStack cloud networking
A broad, modular networking layer for OpenStack deployments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit OpenStack -
Best forAzure virtual-network governance
A centralized Azure control plane for network grouping, policy, routing, and verification.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forOpen-source multivendor SDN control
A broad, open-source SDN controller for teams managing multivendor networks.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit OpenDaylight -
Best forCloud-native transport orchestration
A broad, API-driven controller for cloud-native transport orchestration.
- Northbound API
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit TeraFlowSDN -
Best foreBPF-based Kubernetes networking
A focused open-source choice for eBPF-based Kubernetes networking and security.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Cilium -
Best forEnterprise Kubernetes security networking
A broad Kubernetes networking and security suite for enterprise cluster operations.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Tigera -
Best forMultivendor service-provider networking
A multivendor platform for discovering, automating, assuring and optimizing service-provider networks.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Nokia -
Best forCentralized hybrid network control
Centralized hybrid network control with Kubernetes, Terraform, and EVPN/VXLAN automation.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Netris -
Best forOpen-source Kubernetes networking
A broad open-source CNI for Kubernetes connectivity, security, and observability.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Antrea -
Best forOpen-source Kubernetes and VM networking
A broad, self-managed Kubernetes network stack for teams operating on Linux.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Kube-OVN -
Best forOpen-source virtual network overlays
A focused, open-source overlay network layer for Linux-based virtualized environments.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.3/10★★★★☆Explore OVN -
Best forProgrammable network control platforms
A programmable, self-hosted SDN platform for configurable and testable network infrastructure.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit ONOS -
Best forFree OpenFlow switching control
A free, focused controller for Linux-based OpenFlow switching and routing.
- Policy segmentation
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Faucet -
Best forDevelopers building OpenFlow controllers
A free, open-source Python framework for building OpenFlow controller applications.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Ryu -
Best forSupported enterprise Cilium deployments
A supported Cilium platform for policy-controlled Kubernetes connectivity and visibility.
- Policy segmentation
- Northbound API
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Cisco -
Best forSmall Omada multi-site networks
A focused cloud controller for managing small, multi-site Omada networks.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit TP-Link Omada -
Best forIntent-based data-center networks
A multivendor platform for translating network intent into managed, validated configurations.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Contact HPE -
Best forTelecom billing teams, not SDN
A telecom billing system, not a software-defined networking platform.
2.0/10★☆☆☆☆Contact Ericsson
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Paid from | Deployment model | Control-plane model | Policy segmentation | Northbound API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VMware NSX | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Cisco Catalyst Center | Hybrid | 9.0 | ||||
| 4 | Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 5 | Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | OpenStack Neutron | Free | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | Azure Virtual Network Manager | Cloud | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 9 | OpenDaylight | Free | 8.1 | ||||
| 10 | TeraFlowSDN | Free | On-premises | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 11 | Cilium | Free | Hybrid | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 12 | Calico Enterprise | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 13 | Nokia Network Services Platform | On-premises | 7.7 | ||||
| 14 | Netris | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 15 | Antrea | Free | Hybrid | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 16 | Kube-OVN | Free | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
| 17 | Open Virtual Network | Free | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | Yes | 7.3 |
| 18 | ONOS | Free | 7.2 | ||||
| 19 | Faucet | Free | On-premises | Centralized | Yes | 7.1 | |
| 20 | Ryu SDN Framework | Free | On-premises | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 21 | Isovalent Enterprise for Cilium | Hybrid | Distributed | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 22 | TP-Link Omada Cloud-Based Controller | 6.4 | |||||
| 23 | Juniper Apstra | On-premises | 6.2 | ||||
| 24 | Ericsson Billing | 2.0 |
Head-to-head All 25 comparisons →
- VMware NSX vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller
- VMware NSX vs Cisco Catalyst Center
- VMware NSX vs Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric
- VMware NSX vs Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking
- VMware NSX vs HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer
- VMware NSX vs OpenStack Neutron
- VMware NSX vs Azure Virtual Network Manager
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller vs Cisco Catalyst Center
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller vs Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric
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How we rank Software-Defined networking software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update