Sailfish OS
Operating systems
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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€4.90 one-time
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
- Banking and insurance
- Professional services (engineering, legal, consulting, etc.)
What is Sailfish OS
Sailfish OS is a Linux-based mobile operating system used primarily on smartphones and other embedded devices. It targets organizations and consumers that want an alternative mobile OS stack with a focus on open-source components and vendor-controlled distribution. The platform uses a gesture-driven user interface and supports running many Android applications through a compatibility layer on supported builds. It is commonly evaluated for deployments where control over the software stack and update policy matters more than broad device availability.
Linux-based OS architecture
Sailfish OS is built on a Linux foundation with many open-source components, which can simplify integration with Linux tooling and development practices. This can be useful for device makers or solution providers building custom images and system services. The architecture supports typical OS needs such as process isolation, package management, and hardware abstraction layers appropriate for mobile devices.
Android app compatibility option
On supported devices and editions, Sailfish OS can run many Android applications via an Android compatibility layer. This helps address application availability compared with mobile platforms that rely only on native app ecosystems. It can reduce migration friction for users and organizations that depend on specific Android apps, though compatibility varies by device and Android API level.
Alternative mobile OS for control
Sailfish OS is often used when stakeholders want more control over the software stack than typical consumer mobile platforms allow. The vendor offers commercial licensing and support options that can fit regulated or policy-driven deployments. This positioning can be relevant for organizations that need defined update governance, customization, or reduced dependency on a single large mobile ecosystem.
Limited device availability
Sailfish OS runs on a relatively small set of officially supported devices compared with mainstream mobile operating systems. Hardware enablement and long-term maintenance depend on vendor support and, in some cases, community ports. This can constrain procurement choices and complicate fleet standardization for larger deployments.
Smaller native app ecosystem
The native application ecosystem is smaller than that of leading consumer mobile platforms. Organizations may need to rely on web apps, custom development, or Android compatibility for key applications. This can increase validation effort for line-of-business apps and may limit access to certain platform-specific services.
Android compatibility has constraints
Android app support depends on the compatibility layer implementation and may not cover all apps, especially those requiring specific Google services, device attestation, or newer Android APIs. Performance, notifications, and background execution behavior can differ from a full Android environment. Enterprises may need additional testing for security, MDM integration, and app reliability before broad rollout.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Perpetual commercial licence (selected Sony Xperia devices) | €24.90 one-time | Includes commercial components (Android AppSupport, MS Exchange support), software updates while device is supported, and customer support for listed Xperia devices. |
| Voluntary Sailfish OS subscription (support) | €4.90 — €14.90 (one-time or recurring monthly) | Voluntary subscription to support Sailfish OS development and community services; NOT equivalent to a device license. Options auto-renew monthly or one-time purchase. |
| Jolla C2 Community Phone (device bundle) | €299 (device price; includes Sailfish OS licence) | Jolla C2 ships with Sailfish OS and the licence included; device sold separately. |
| Enterprise / OEM licensing | Custom pricing (contact sales) | Commercial/enterprise licensing and adaptations (OEM, government, corporate deployments) are handled via direct sales/partnership channels (contact partners@jolla.com). |
Seller details
Jolla Oy
Helsinki, Finland
2011
Private
https://jolla.com/
https://x.com/JollaHQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jolla/
