Thread Group certification: tiers, fees, Thread 1.4
Thread certification is a private programme run by the Thread Group, an alliance that seven organisations formed in 2014. It gives "independent validation via third-party testing" that a product complies with the Thread specification and interoperates with other Thread-certified devices, and it is the condition for the "Built on Thread" and "Thread Certified Component" logos and for the Thread IPR licence. This page works from the Thread Group documents themselves: the six membership tiers and the fee table as published in 2026, the two certification routes (testing at an Authorized Test Lab, or inheritance), what Thread 1.3 and 1.4 changed, the current lab list, and where Thread sits next to Matter and the 802.15.4 radio rules.
Thread in one paragraph
Section titled “Thread in one paragraph”Thread is an IPv6 mesh networking protocol over IEEE 802.15.4. Thread Group describes its scope as "the networking layer: routing, commissioning and security"; the application layer "is not covered by Thread, but runs on top of it" (Matter, KNX IoT, DALI+ and others). The physical and MAC layers come from IEEE 802.15.4, today in the 2.4 GHz band. Three practical consequences:
- No application. A Thread certificate says nothing about what the device does. Application interoperability is a separate programme, usually Matter.
- No radio approval. The 802.15.4 radio stays under national radio rules (RED in the EU, FCC rules in the US, and so on).
- No free use of the name. Thread Group says that companies shipping Thread technology without joining are not conferred the IP rights to practise it "and may subject themselves to legal action". Using OpenThread does not change this: an OpenThread-based product is not automatically certified.
Dated timeline
Section titled “Dated timeline”| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Seven organisations form the Thread Group (10th anniversary celebrated July 2024) | Milestones blog |
| 2015 | Thread 1.1 launched; first stacks receive the Thread Certified Component designation | Thread 1.3.0 blog, milestones blog |
| 2016 | Test bed and test harness released to members | Milestones blog |
| 2017 | Certification programme opens at independent Authorized Test Labs | Milestones blog |
| 2019 | First publicly available Built on Thread device certified (Google Nest Hub Max) | Milestones blog, 1,000 products blog |
| July 2022 | Thread 1.3.0 launched (white paper public release July 19, 2022) | Thread 1.3.0 white paper and blog |
| April 23, 2024 | Associate tier created for white-label and rebrand vendors | Associate tier blog |
| September 2024 | Thread 1.4 released and its certification programme opened (announcement September 4, 2024) | Thread 1.4 blog |
| November 18, 2025 | Over 1,000 certified products and components announced | 1,000 products blog |
| January 1, 2026 | New Border Routers certified against Thread 1.4 only, Thread 1.3 applications no longer accepted | Thread Group statement reported by Matter Smart Home magazine (secondary) |
| September 21, 2026 | Board approves work to bring Thread to a Sub-GHz PHY, under a distinct brand still to be announced | Sub-GHz blog |
| October 2026 | The specification offered on the Thread Group support page is Thread 1.4.1 | Support page |
Membership tiers and 2026 fees
Section titled “Membership tiers and 2026 fees”Thread Group "offers six levels of membership". The figures below come from the fee table image on the membership page, retrieved on October 7, 2026. They differ from older figures still found in circulation, so quote the table, not a cached copy.
| Tier | Annual fee | Who it is for | Can certify? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsor | USD 85,000, plus USD 45,000 one-time initiation fee | Companies driving Thread Group strategy | ATL testing and inheritance |
| Contributor | USD 20,000 | Companies implementing and contributing to Thread | ATL testing and inheritance |
| Implementer | USD 7,500 | Companies producing Thread technology | Inheritance only |
| Associate | USD 0 | Companies that exclusively rebrand certified end products made by Sponsor or Contributor members | Inheritance of end products only |
| Affiliate | USD 1,000 | Organisations with fewer than 50 employees | No |
| Academic | USD 0 | Academic members | No |
Per-tier rights that matter for a product team, from the same table and the April 2024 certification overview:
| Right | Academic | Affiliate | Associate | Implementer | Contributor | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-publication draft specification | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP rights as defined with certification | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certify by inheritance (approved scenarios) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-test and certify at Thread ATLs | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Thread Test Harness | No | No | No | Paid | Free | Free |
| Buy the Thread test bed | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Participate and vote in work groups | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic seat on the Board of Directors | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
The certification overview slide on access shows the test bed as a paid item for Implementers too, while the fee table ticks it only for Contributor and Sponsor; check with Thread Group if you plan to buy one as an Implementer. The overview also states that a complete ATL test environment "can be replicated for ~USD 5K".
Certification fees
Section titled “Certification fees”| Certification type | Associate | Implementer | Contributor | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested component (each), plus ATL testing fees | Not available | Not available | USD 1,250 | USD 1,250 |
| Tested end product (each), plus ATL testing fees | Not available | Not available | USD 2,500 | USD 2,500 |
| Inheritance, component (each) | Not available | USD 1,500 | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 |
| Inheritance, end product (each) | USD 2,000 | USD 1,500 | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 |
| Product family certification fee | Not listed | USD 4,500 | USD 3,000+ | USD 3,000+ |
The table notes "zero added cost for >3 end products" against the product family fee. ATL test fees are set by each lab, not by Thread Group. The 2024 overview lists the Thread Group fee for maintenance updates as USD 0.
Membership and IPR are coupled to certification. Thread Group answers "No" to whether membership at any level is sufficient for the royalty-free Thread IPR: you must be a certifying member, pursue certification of a specific component or product (ATL testing or inheritance) and achieve it. Thread technology is then "typically available royalty-free under RAND-RF" terms for IPR held by other members.
Two certification routes
Section titled “Two certification routes”Thread Group runs its process in six steps: Plan, Join, Apply, Evaluate, Review, Certify. The application to Thread Group comes first, before testing, so that it can verify "the correct certification program and mandatory/optional product features". The application identifies the product as a component or an end product, lists the supported Thread device roles and optional features, and generates a certification ID that the member gives to the ATL.
| ATL testing | Inheritance | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Contributor and Sponsor members | Associate (end products), Implementer, Contributor, Sponsor |
| What happens | The ATL runs every required test with the Thread test harness and Thread reference devices, and submits all results to Thread Group | "Paper transaction" between Thread Group and the member: evidence that the certified component and Thread stack library are in the product, and the differences from the parent |
| Size | About 50 tests for Thread 1.3.0 end nodes, 175 for Thread 1.3.0 Border Routers | No testing |
| Typical duration | 1 to 3 weeks of testing, plus up to one week for results review | One week (simple) to one month (complex) |
| Cost | ATL fee plus one-time Thread Group administration fee per product | One-time Thread Group administration fee per product |
Thread Group lists three inheritance scenarios, from simplest to most complex: derivative products (variations of a certified product, cosmetic or non-Thread changes), modules (a certified stack and chip combination inside a module) and end products using a certified hardware and Thread stack combination, where "feasibility is dependent on specific vendor stack deployment approach" and "may require extensive supporting technical information". The certification page tells members to check with their silicon vendor how far it supports inheritance.
Once granted, the product receives a certificate, a logo licence (Built on Thread for end products, Thread Certified Component for components) and, if the member wishes, a listing on the Thread Group certified products page.
Validity. The 2024 overview states that Thread certification "is valid for the lifetime of the product", on two conditions: the company keeps an active Thread Group membership, and no changes are made to the Thread functionality. Certified products "must be re-certified if any changes made to Thread functionality".
Authorized Test Labs
Section titled “Authorized Test Labs”The Thread Group ATL page lists 13 lab locations, retrieved October 7, 2026, identified here by the contact email domain:
| Region | Location | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Málaga, Spain | DEKRA |
| Europe | Bochum, Germany | TÜV Rheinland |
| Europe | Basingstoke, UK | UL |
| North America | Fremont, CA | UL |
| Asia | Nantou, Taiwan | Allion |
| Asia | Taipei, Taiwan | Granite River Labs, SGS, UL |
| Asia | Guangzhou, China | DEKRA |
| Asia | Shenzhen, China | TÜV Rheinland |
| Asia | Dongguan, China | UL |
| Asia | Gyeonggi-Do, Korea | SGS |
| Asia | Seoul, Korea | TÜV Rheinland |
Thread Group notes that many of these labs are also approved for Matter, Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi testing, which lets one lab run several programmes on the same sample.
Device roles
Section titled “Device roles”The certification application lists the Thread device roles the product supports, and the test count depends on them (about 50 tests for a Thread 1.3.0 end node, 175 for a Border Router). Recent Thread Group and OpenThread documents call a Router a Mesh Extender (the Thread 1.4 white paper writes "Mesh Extender (Router)").
| Role | Definition (OpenThread node roles page) |
|---|---|
| Leader | The Mesh Extender that manages the set of Mesh Extenders; one per network |
| Router / Mesh Extender | Forwards packets, provides secure commissioning services to joining devices, keeps its transceiver on; up to 32 per network |
| REED / Extender-Capable Device | Can act as a Mesh Extender or stand by as an end device |
| FED (Full End Device) | Full Thread device that is always a child |
| MED (Minimal End Device) | Transceiver always on, does not need to poll its parent |
| SED (Sleepy End Device) | Transceiver normally off, wakes on occasion to poll its parent |
| Border Router | Forwards information between a Thread network and a non-Thread network |
Two points from Thread Group itself. First, "a Border Router, as defined by the Thread specification, is a function not a device": it can be built into a speaker, TV, Wi-Fi access point or hub. Second, the Border Router function carries far more tests than an end node, and Thread 1.4 adds mandatory Border Router functions (see below). Declaring the Border Router role is a scope decision, not a detail.
Thread 1.3 and Thread 1.4
Section titled “Thread 1.3 and Thread 1.4”Thread Group has not published a Thread 1.0 or 1.2 feature summary that this page could cite; the ATL listings mention test coverage for 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, and the Thread 1.3.0 white paper builds "on the solid foundation of Thread 1.1/1.2". The two recent versions are well documented.
| Thread 1.3.0 | Thread 1.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | July 2022 | September 2024 (current text 1.4.1) |
| Main purpose | Enable Matter by standardising the Border Router | Interoperability between Border Routers and ecosystems, deployments at scale |
| Features named by Thread Group | IPv6 connectivity and prefix configuration across the Border Router; DNS-based service discovery (service registry, advertising proxy, discovery proxy); TCP over Thread; simplified in-field firmware updates | Thread Credentials Sharing; improved internet connectivity (IPv4 via NAT64 and DNS64, IPv6 via DHCPv6 prefix delegation); enhanced network diagnostics; Thread over Infrastructure; TCAT; robustness and scalability enhancements |
| Backward compatibility | "Fully backward compatible" | "Fully backward compatible" with 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 devices |
What the Thread 1.4 white paper says about the features most often misdescribed:
- Thread Credentials Sharing lets a new Border Router or device join an existing network instead of forming a new one. The Border Router derives a short-lived key, the ePSKc (Ephemeral Pre-Shared Key for the Commissioner), from a one-time passcode and uses it to secure a DTLS session. A "Thread 1.4 certified Border Router must be able to support" this "ePSKc mode": always-on capability signalling in its DNS-SD records, user-triggered activation with user authentication, passcode display, and deletion of the passcode and key afterwards.
- TCAT (Thread Commissioning over Authenticated TLS) is a certificate-based TLS session between a commissioning tool and the device, meant for commissioning many pre-installed devices. "TCAT support is optional for Thread devices", expected in B2B products. "In Thread 1.4, the TCAT TLS session is established over a Bluetooth Low Energy link"; other physical layers such as 802.15.4 may follow.
- Thread over Infrastructure lets 1.4 Border Routers use Wi-Fi or Ethernet links as additional paths in the Thread mesh. Border Routers may also always operate as Mesh Extenders.
For certification, the version matters in two places. A Border Router certified today is certified against 1.4 (reported cut-off January 1, 2026). And moving a certified product to a new Thread stack is a change to the Thread functionality, which per the 2024 overview requires recertification.
Thread and Matter
Section titled “Thread and Matter”In the words of the Thread 1.3.0 announcement, Matter "provides the option to run over Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet network layers". The two programmes are separate and sequential. The CSA certification page asks manufacturers to obtain certification of the network transport from the relevant standards organisation before certifying the Matter device with the Alliance. For a Matter-over-Thread product, that means:
- Thread certification (ATL testing or inheritance from the chip or module vendor), granted by Thread Group.
- Matter certification by the CSA, which issues the Matter logo and the listing in its Distributed Compliance Ledger.
A Matter certificate therefore never stands in for a Thread certificate. See the Matter guide for the CSA side.
Where Thread sits in the certification stack
Section titled “Where Thread sits in the certification stack”| Regime | Scope | Required when |
|---|---|---|
| RED article 3.2 | Efficient use of spectrum, EN 300 328 for 2.4 GHz | Placing on the EU market |
| RED article 3.3(d)(e)(f) | Network protection, personal data, fraud: EN 18031-1/-2/-3 cited with restrictions (Decision (EU) 2025/138) | Placing on the EU market, from August 1, 2025 |
| FCC Part 15 | 2.4 GHz digital modulation under 47 CFR 15.247 | Marketing in the US |
| Thread Group | Thread conformance and interoperability, Thread logos and IPR | Thread used and the Thread name or logo claimed |
| Bluetooth SIG | Bluetooth qualification and listing | Bluetooth LE used (Matter setup, TCAT) |
| CSA Matter | Matter application layer | Matter claimed |
None substitutes for another. See the RED pillar, the FCC pillar, the Bluetooth SIG guide and the Wi-Fi Alliance guide when the Border Router also has Wi-Fi.
The 802.15.4 radio underneath
Section titled “The 802.15.4 radio underneath”EU: RED
Section titled “EU: RED”The spectrum report rests on EN 300 328, the harmonised standard for wideband transmission systems in the 2.4 GHz band, which covers 802.15.4 radios. The radio EMC report uses EN 301 489-17, and exposure is assessed under article 3.1(a) with EN 62479 or EN 62311 depending on power. Article 3.3(d)(e)(f) applies from August 1, 2025, with EN 18031 as the cited standard family. Detail on the RED tests page.
US: FCC
Section titled “US: FCC”A 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio is normally authorised under 47 CFR 15.247, which covers frequency hopping and digitally modulated systems in 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz. The authorisation yields an FCC ID through a TCB. See EU + US dual certification for a combined plan.
The radio report and the Thread certificate measure different things. A shared 802.15.4 and Bluetooth LE radio can be covered by one set of radio reports, but each protocol programme (Thread, Bluetooth SIG, Zigbee) is certified on its own.
Thread and Zigbee on one chip
Section titled “Thread and Zigbee on one chip”Many 802.15.4 SoCs run Thread and Zigbee. The radio approval is shared because the RF hardware is the same. The protocol certifications are not: Thread Group for Thread, the CSA (formerly the Zigbee Alliance) for Zigbee, each with its own process and fees. See the Zigbee CSA guide.
Commissioning and BLE
Section titled “Commissioning and BLE”Thread Group describes commissioning this way: "a user typically commissions and authorizes a device onto the network using a smartphone, tablet or computer", and a security session between the new device and the commissioning device provides the credentials. The Thread specification does not require BLE. In practice BLE enters a Thread product in two ways: Matter "uses Bluetooth Low Energy for device setup" (Thread 1.3.0 announcement), and Thread 1.4 TCAT runs over Bluetooth LE. Other out-of-band methods such as NFC exist. If BLE is on board, it needs Bluetooth SIG qualification and its own radio conformity.
Claims the texts contradict
Section titled “Claims the texts contradict”| Common claim (including earlier versions of this page) | What the Thread Group documents say |
|---|---|
| "Adopter is the minimum tier to certify" | There is no Adopter tier. The six tiers are Sponsor, Contributor, Implementer, Associate, Affiliate and Academic; only the first four can certify |
| "Affiliate members get work group access, voting rights and reduced certification fees" | Affiliate (USD 1,000, fewer than 50 employees) cannot certify at all. Voting in work groups is for Contributor and Sponsor |
| "The specification is reserved to members" | Thread Group says "the Thread specification is available to anyone" on request; certification is what is reserved to members |
| "TCAT arrived in Thread 1.3 and runs directly over Thread, without BLE" | TCAT is a Thread 1.4 feature, optional, and in 1.4 runs over Bluetooth LE |
| "The ePSKc is part of TCAT" | The ePSKc belongs to Thread Credentials Sharing: a DTLS session with a Border Router keyed from a one-time passcode |
| "Thread 1.4 adds multi-PAN" | Multi-PAN is not among the six 1.4 features Thread Group lists |
| "Inheritance (compliance review) means a reduced test" | Inheritance is a paper transaction with no testing; any change to Thread functionality means recertification |
| "Certified Matter covers Thread" | The CSA wants the transport certified first; the two certificates are separate and sequential |
| "Certification must be renewed when the spec moves on" | Certification is valid for the lifetime of the product with active membership and unchanged Thread functionality |
| "Joining Thread Group gives the royalty-free IPR" | Membership at any level is not sufficient; the IPR grant follows certification of a specific product |
Planning checklist
Section titled “Planning checklist”- Decide component or end product, and list the device roles (Border Router or not).
- Check whether your chip, module or stack vendor supports inheritance for your scenario.
- Pick the tier that matches the route: Implementer for inheritance only, Contributor or Sponsor for ATL testing, Associate only for pure rebranding.
- Budget the Thread Group fee from the current table plus the ATL quote, and the separate radio, Bluetooth and Matter costs.
- For a Border Router, target Thread 1.4 and its ePSKc mode.
- Freeze the Thread stack before submitting; any later change to Thread functionality restarts certification.
Going further
Section titled “Going further”See also the glossary, and the guides Matter certification, Zigbee CSA certification, Bluetooth SIG qualification, Wi-Fi Alliance certification, niche wireless protocols and EU + US dual certification.
Sources & references
- Thread Group, Certification (why certify, six-step process), Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/What-is-Thread/Certification
- Thread Certification Overview V8 (April 17, 2024), Thread Group portal.threadgroup.org/DesktopModules/Inventures_Document/FileDownload.aspx?ContentID=3210
- Thread Group, membership levels and IPR FAQ, Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/thread-group#Membershipbenefits
- Membership benefits by tier, membership and certification costs (fee table, retrieved October 7, 2026), Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/Portals/0/Images/ThreadFeeTables.png
- Thread Group, Authorized Test Labs, Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/Authorized-Test-Lab
- Thread Group, Support FAQ (Thread 1.4.1 specification, logos, OpenThread), Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/support
- Thread 1.4 Features White Paper (September 2024), Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/Portals/0/Documents/Thread_1.4_Features_White_Paper_September_2024.pdf
- Thread 1.4 release and certification program opening (September 4, 2024), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/thread-14-paves-the-path-for-smart-devices-to-work-together-regardless-of-their-ecosystem-or-manufacturer
- Thread 1.3.0 Features White Paper (July 19, 2022), Thread Group www.threadgroup.org/Portals/0/documents/support/Thread1.3.0WhitePaper_07192022_3990_1.pdf
- Thread 1.3.0 brings Matter enablement (December 22, 2022), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/thread-130-brings-unprecedented-matter-enablement-new-levels-of-robustness-to-iot-for-smart-homes-and-buildings
- New Associate membership tier for white-label or rebrand vendors (April 23, 2024), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/new-thread-group-associate-membership-tier-a-solution-for-white-label-or-rebrand-vendors
- Milestones: 10 years of Thread Group (July 14, 2024), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/milestones-meaning-10-years-of-smart-home-and-building-tech-innovation
- Thread Group surpasses 1,000 certified products (November 18, 2025), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/thread-group-surpasses-its-1000-thread-certified-products-milestone
- Thread Group is bringing Thread to Sub-GHz (September 21, 2026), Thread Group threadgroup.org/newsroom/blog/thread-group-is-bringing-the-benefits-of-thread-to-sub-ghz
- OpenThread, node roles and types, OpenThread (Google) openthread.io/guides/thread-primer/node-roles-and-types
- CSA, why certify (network transport certification before Matter), Connectivity Standards Alliance csa-iot.org/certification/why-certify/
- CSA Matter, overview, Connectivity Standards Alliance csa-iot.org/all-solutions/matter/
- The Matter standard in 2026 (secondary: reports the Thread Group statement on Thread 1.4 Border Routers from January 1, 2026), Matter Smart Home magazine matter-smarthome.de/en/development/the-matter-standard-in-2026-a-status-review/
- IEEE 802.15.4 Working Group, IEEE www.ieee802.org/15/pub/TG4.html
- ETSI EN 300 328, transmission systems in the 2.4 GHz band, ETSI www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300300_300399/300328/
- 47 CFR 15.247, operation within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz, eCFR www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-15/subpart-C/section-15.247
Frequently asked questions
- Does Thread Group certification replace 802.15.4 radio certification (RED, FCC)?
- No. Thread certification validates conformance to the Thread specification and interoperability with Thread reference devices. It measures no radio parameter. The 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio still needs RED conformity in the EU (EN 300 328 for the spectrum) and an FCC equipment authorisation under Part 15 in the US. The two dossiers run in parallel.
- Which membership tier do you need to certify a Thread product?
- There is no Adopter tier. Thread Group has six tiers: Sponsor, Contributor, Implementer, Associate, Affiliate and Academic. Only Sponsor and Contributor members can test at an Authorized Test Lab. Implementers certify by inheritance only, Associates only for white-label or rebranded products. Academic and Affiliate members cannot certify.
- How much does Thread certification cost?
- Per the Thread Group fee table retrieved on October 7, 2026, a Thread Group fee of USD 2,500 per tested end product or USD 1,250 per tested component, plus the ATL test fee set by the lab. Inheritance costs USD 1,000 (Contributor, Sponsor), USD 1,500 (Implementer) or USD 2,000 (Associate, end products). Annual membership runs from USD 0 to USD 85,000.
- Is a Matter-certified Thread product automatically Thread-certified?
- No, and the order is fixed. The CSA asks manufacturers to obtain certification of the network transport from the relevant standards organisation before certifying the Matter device. For a Matter-over-Thread product, that is Thread Group certification first, then CSA Matter certification.
- Can a product reuse an already certified Thread chip, module or stack?
- Yes, through certification by inheritance, when the Thread functionality is unchanged. Thread Group describes it as a paper transaction with no testing, typically one week for a simple case to one month for a complex one. End products inheriting a component certification are the most complex case and depend on how the silicon vendor deploys its stack.
- Is Thread 1.4 mandatory for new certifications?
- For Border Routers, yes according to a Thread Group statement reported in the press: from January 1, 2026, new Border Routers can only be certified against Thread 1.4 and Thread 1.3 applications are no longer accepted. Thread Group itself publishes that Thread 1.4 certification opened in September 2024 and that the current specification is 1.4.1.
- How long is a Thread certification valid?
- For the lifetime of the product, provided the company keeps an active Thread Group membership and makes no change to the Thread functionality. Any change to the Thread functionality requires recertification. Thread Group charged no fee for maintenance updates in its April 2024 certification overview.
- Does Thread commissioning require Bluetooth Low Energy?
- Not by the Thread specification. Thread Group says a user typically commissions a device with a phone, tablet or computer. Matter, however, uses Bluetooth LE for device setup over Thread, and Thread 1.4 TCAT runs over Bluetooth LE. Wherever BLE is used, it needs its own Bluetooth SIG qualification and radio conformity.