| Developed by mostly Google and Open Handset Alliance. | Developed by Apple Inc. |
| Initial release: September 23, 2008 | Initial release: July 29, 2007 |
| Latest release: As of February 2023 Android 12 is the most popular version of Android. | The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 16.3.1. |
| Android is open source. | iOS is proprietary software, although some parts of it are open source under the Apple Public Source License and other licenses. |
| File transfer: Easier than iOS. Using USB port and Android File Transfer desktop app. Photos can be transferred via USB without apps. | File transfer: More difficult. Media files can be transferred using iTunes (Windows and macOS pre-Catalina) desktop app (via Finder in newer version of macOS). Photos can be transferred out via USB without apps. |
| Internet browsing: Google Chrome (other browsers are available). Any browser app can be set as default. Ad blocking is supported with Firefox. | Internet browsing: Safari. Any browser app can be set as default but they all use the same rendering engine (Safari/Webkit) behind the scenes. Ad blocking is supported via content blockers like Firefox Focus, or by jailbreaking. |
| Web mapping: Google Maps | Web mapping: Apple Maps (default). Google Maps also available via a separate app download, but not as default. |
| Available languages: 100+ languages | Available languages: 40 languages |
| Video chat: Google Meet and other 3rd party apps | Video chat: FaceTime (Apple devices only) and other 3rd party apps |
| Virtual assistant: Google assistant | Virtual assistant: Siri |
| Usage: It can used by many phones and tablets. Major manufacturers such as IQOO, Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Honor and Xiaomi. Android One devices are pure Android. Pixel line of devices is made by Google, using a almost pure version of Android | Usage: iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) |
| Calls and messaging: Google Messages. 3rd party apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, Discord and Skype all work on Android and iOS both. | Calls and messaging: iMessage, FaceTime (with other Apple devices only). 3rd party apps like Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, Discord and Skype all work on Android and iOS both. |
| Google Play Store – 2,500,000+ apps. Other app stores like Amazon and Aptoide also distribute Android apps. (".APKs"). Apps containing virus occasionally to rare, but existing. | Apple App Store – 1,800,000+ apps. Apps containing virus very rare or nonexistent. |
| Alternative app store: Several alternative app stores other than the official Google Play Store. (e.g. Aptoide, Galaxy Apps) | Alternative app store: Apple blocks 3rd party app stores. The phone needs to be jailbroken if you want to download apps from other stores. |
| Battery life: Many but not all Android phone manufacturers equip their devices with large batteries with a longer life. | Battery life: Apple batteries are generally not as big as the largest Android batteries. However, Apple is able to squeeze decent battery life via hardware/software optimizations. |
| It is open source - Kernel (Based on Linux), UI, and some standard apps | The iOS kernel is not open source but is based on the open-source Darwin OS. |
| Monthly security updates. It is a little risky on vulnerable apps where user should scan the apps before the usage. | Occasional security updates. Security threats rare, because iOS is locked and downloading apps out of the App Store is complicated. |
| Access and complete control over your device is available and you can unlock the bootloader. | Complete control over your device is not available. |
| As of March 2023, the total number of active android users is 3.3 billion. | As of March 2023, the total number of active iOS users is 1.5 billion. |