diff --git a/components/openthread/Kconfig b/components/openthread/Kconfig
index 12a5066d16..8e0d219e66 100644
--- a/components/openthread/Kconfig
+++ b/components/openthread/Kconfig
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ menu "OpenThread"
 
         config OPENTHREAD_BORDER_ROUTER
             bool "Enable Border Router"
-            depends on OPENTHREAD_FTD
+            depends on OPENTHREAD_FTD && OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
             default n
             help
                 Select this option to enable border router features in OpenThread.
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ menu "OpenThread"
 
         config OPENTHREAD_DNS64_CLIENT
             bool "Enable DNS64 Client"
-            depends on LWIP_IPV4
+            depends on LWIP_IPV4 && OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
             select LWIP_HOOK_DNS_EXTERNAL_RESOLVE_SELECT_CUSTOM
             default n
             help
@@ -508,6 +508,15 @@ menu "OpenThread"
                     failure.
         endmenu
 
+        config OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
+            bool "Enable esp_netif/lwIP glue"
+            depends on OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_MTD
+            default y
+            help
+                Enable the default ESP-IDF OpenThread integration which creates an
+                OpenThread esp_netif, attaches the esp_netif glue, and enables
+                lwIP-specific DNS/netif handling.
+
     endmenu
 
     menu "Thread Log"
diff --git a/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-ftd-config.h b/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-ftd-config.h
index 82d474aff8..32a3a33795 100644
--- a/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-ftd-config.h
+++ b/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-ftd-config.h
@@ -454,6 +454,21 @@
 #endif
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PARENT_SEARCH_RSS_MARGIN CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PARENT_SEARCH_RSS_MARGIN
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+ *
+ * Define to 1 to enable platform NETIF support.
+ *
+ */
+#ifdef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+#error `OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE` is redefined.
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
+#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE 1
+#endif
+#endif
+
 /*----The following options set fixed default values but can be overridden by the user header file.----*/
 
 #if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_BORDER_ROUTER
@@ -703,16 +718,6 @@
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_COAP_API_ENABLE 1
 #endif
 
-/**
- * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
- *
- * Define to 1 to enable platform NETIF support.
- *
- */
-#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
-#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE 1
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_HEAP_EXTERNAL_ENABLE
  *
diff --git a/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-mtd-config.h b/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-mtd-config.h
index f631a157d5..1d3997c7e1 100644
--- a/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-mtd-config.h
+++ b/components/openthread/private_include/openthread-core-esp32x-mtd-config.h
@@ -245,6 +245,21 @@
 #endif
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MAC_MAX_CSMA_BACKOFFS_DIRECT CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MAC_MAX_CSMA_BACKOFFS_DIRECT
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+ *
+ * Define to 1 to enable platform NETIF support.
+ *
+ */
+#ifdef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+#error `OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE` is redefined.
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
+#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE 1
+#endif
+#endif
+
 /*----The following options set fixed default values but can be overridden by the user header file.----*/
 
 /**
@@ -257,16 +272,6 @@
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_COAP_API_ENABLE 1
 #endif
 
-/**
- * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
- *
- * Define to 1 to enable platform NETIF support.
- *
- */
-#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
-#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE 1
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_ASSERT_MANAGEMENT
  *
diff --git a/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread.cpp b/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread.cpp
index 311617f6a0..3ca5d46527 100644
--- a/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread.cpp
+++ b/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread.cpp
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ esp_err_t esp_openthread_mainloop_exit(void)
 
 esp_err_t esp_openthread_launch_mainloop(void)
 {
+    ESP_LOGI(OT_PLAT_LOG_TAG, "OpenThread enter mainloop");
     esp_openthread_mainloop_context_t mainloop;
     otInstance *instance = esp_openthread_get_instance();
     esp_err_t error = ESP_OK;
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ static void ot_task_worker(void *aContext)
     // Initialize the OpenThread stack
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_openthread_init(&(config->platform_config)));
 
-#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_FTD || CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MTD
+#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
     esp_netif_t *openthread_netif = esp_netif_new(&(config->netif_config));
     assert(openthread_netif != NULL);
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_netif_attach(openthread_netif, esp_openthread_netif_glue_init(&(config->platform_config))));
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ static void ot_task_worker(void *aContext)
     esp_openthread_cli_console_command_unregister();
 #endif // CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_CLI
 
-#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_FTD || CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MTD
+#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
     // Clean up
     esp_openthread_netif_glue_deinit();
     esp_netif_destroy(openthread_netif);
diff --git a/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread_netif_glue.c b/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread_netif_glue.c
index 35dd8db149..fc371d4849 100644
--- a/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread_netif_glue.c
+++ b/components/openthread/src/esp_openthread_netif_glue.c
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ static esp_openthread_netif_glue_t s_openthread_netif_glue = {
     .event_fd = -1,
 };
 
-ESP_EVENT_DEFINE_BASE(OPENTHREAD_EVENT);
-
 static QueueHandle_t s_packet_queue;
 static esp_netif_t *s_openthread_netif;
 static const char *netif_glue_workflow = "netif_glue";
diff --git a/components/openthread/src/port/esp_openthread_state.c b/components/openthread/src/port/esp_openthread_state.c
index c3724773bd..d106d39778 100644
--- a/components/openthread/src/port/esp_openthread_state.c
+++ b/components/openthread/src/port/esp_openthread_state.c
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 
 #define TAG "OT_STATE"
 
+ESP_EVENT_DEFINE_BASE(OPENTHREAD_EVENT);
+
 #if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_BORDER_ROUTER
 static void handle_ot_border_router_state_changed(otInstance* instance)
 {
diff --git a/components/openthread/srcs_ftd_mtd.cmake b/components/openthread/srcs_ftd_mtd.cmake
index 4d6c2fab63..bae3a44fa8 100644
--- a/components/openthread/srcs_ftd_mtd.cmake
+++ b/components/openthread/srcs_ftd_mtd.cmake
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ if(NOT CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_DNS64_CLIENT)
         "src/esp_openthread_dns64.c")
 endif()
 
+if(NOT CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF)
+    list(APPEND exclude_srcs
+        "src/esp_openthread_lwip_netif.c"
+        "src/esp_openthread_netif_glue.c")
+endif()
+
 if(NOT CONFIG_FREERTOS_USE_TICKLESS_IDLE)
     list(APPEND exclude_srcs
         "src/port/esp_openthread_sleep.c")
diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_ci_function.py b/examples/openthread/ot_ci_function.py
index 09c9c523f7..5ec70fc14b 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/ot_ci_function.py
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_ci_function.py
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def getDataset(dut: IdfDut) -> str:
 
 
 def init_thread(dut: IdfDut) -> None:
-    dut.expect('OpenThread attached to netif', timeout=10)
+    dut.expect('OpenThread enter mainloop', timeout=10)
     wait(dut, 3)
     reset_thread(dut)
 
@@ -201,16 +201,16 @@ def stop_thread(dut: IdfDut) -> None:
 
 def reset_thread(dut: IdfDut) -> None:
     execute_command(dut, 'factoryreset')
-    dut.expect('OpenThread attached to netif', timeout=20)
+    dut.expect('OpenThread enter mainloop', timeout=20)
     wait(dut, 3)
     clean_buffer(dut)
 
 
 def hardreset_dut(dut: IdfDut) -> None:
     dut.serial.hard_reset()
-    dut.expect('OpenThread attached to netif', timeout=20)
+    dut.expect('OpenThread enter mainloop', timeout=20)
     execute_command(dut, 'factoryreset')
-    dut.expect('OpenThread attached to netif', timeout=20)
+    dut.expect('OpenThread enter mainloop', timeout=20)
 
 
 # get the mleid address of the thread
@@ -474,7 +474,8 @@ def check_ipmaddr(dut: IdfDut) -> bool:
 
 
 def thread_is_joined_group(dut: IdfDut) -> bool:
-    command = 'mcast join ' + thread_ipv6_group
+    should_use_mcast = dut.app.sdkconfig.get('OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF') is True
+    command = ('mcast join ' if should_use_mcast else 'ipmaddr add ') + thread_ipv6_group
     execute_command(dut, command)
     dut.expect('Done', timeout=5)
     order = 0
diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_cli/main/esp_ot_cli.c b/examples/openthread/ot_cli/main/esp_ot_cli.c
index 44a7d1abe8..0d49da7ef5 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/ot_cli/main/esp_ot_cli.c
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_cli/main/esp_ot_cli.c
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ void app_main(void)
 
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(nvs_flash_init());
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_event_loop_create_default());
+#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_netif_init());
+#endif
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_vfs_eventfd_register(&eventfd_config));
 
 #if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_CLI
@@ -62,7 +64,9 @@ void app_main(void)
 #endif
 
     static esp_openthread_config_t config = {
+#if CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
         .netif_config = ESP_NETIF_DEFAULT_OPENTHREAD(),
+#endif
         .platform_config = {
             .radio_config = ESP_OPENTHREAD_DEFAULT_RADIO_CONFIG(),
             .host_config = ESP_OPENTHREAD_DEFAULT_HOST_CONFIG(),
diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_cli/sdkconfig.ci.cli_disable_platform_netif b/examples/openthread/ot_cli/sdkconfig.ci.cli_disable_platform_netif
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d7624ee6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_cli/sdkconfig.ci.cli_disable_platform_netif
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF=n
+CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_CLI_ESP_EXTENSION=n
diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/Kconfig.projbuild b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/Kconfig.projbuild
index 0bca5c2987..6123273f4a 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/Kconfig.projbuild
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/Kconfig.projbuild
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ menu "Config for OpenThread Examples"
     menu "External Console Commands"
         config OPENTHREAD_IPERF_CMD_ENABLE
             bool "Enable iperf command"
-            depends on OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_MTD
+            # TODO: Make this option depend on LWIP_ENABLE in the future.
+            # Currently, LWIP_ENABLE cannot be set to `n` because the OpenThread component makes MbedTLS a hard
+            # dependency.
+            # This is a known limitation of the ESP-IDF (<6) build system (component requirements are expanded
+            # before configuration is loaded).
+            depends on OPENTHREAD_PLATFORM_NETIF
             default y
             help
                 If enabled, iperf will be registered and available as a console command.
diff --git a/examples/openthread/pytest_otbr.py b/examples/openthread/pytest_otbr.py
index c2ac697f11..607fd28288 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/pytest_otbr.py
+++ b/examples/openthread/pytest_otbr.py
@@ -121,6 +121,16 @@ PORT_MAPPING = {'ESPPORT1': 'esp32h2', 'ESPPORT2': 'esp32s3', 'ESPPORT3': 'esp32
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
         pytest.param(
             'rcp_spi|cli|br_spi',
             3,
@@ -211,6 +221,16 @@ def formBasicWiFiThreadNetwork(br: IdfDut, cli: IdfDut) -> None:
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
@@ -267,6 +287,16 @@ def test_Bidirectional_IPv6_connectivity(Init_interface: bool, dut: tuple[IdfDut
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
@@ -319,6 +349,16 @@ def test_multicast_forwarding_A(Init_interface: bool, dut: tuple[IdfDut, IdfDut,
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
@@ -372,6 +412,16 @@ def test_multicast_forwarding_B(Init_interface: bool, dut: tuple[IdfDut, IdfDut,
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
@@ -432,6 +482,16 @@ def test_service_discovery_of_Thread_device(
             f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
             id='c6-h2-s3',
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            'rcp_uart|cli_disable_platform_netif|br',
+            3,
+            f'{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_rcp")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_cli")}'
+            f'|{os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "ot_br")}',
+            'esp32c6|esp32h2|esp32s3',
+            f'{ESPPORT3}|{ESPPORT1}|{ESPPORT2}',
+            id='c6-h2_disable_platform_netif-s3',
+        ),
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
@@ -719,7 +779,7 @@ def test_ot_sleepy_device(dut: tuple[IdfDut, IdfDut]) -> None:
     finally:
         logging.info('Cleaning up...')
         ocf.execute_command(leader, 'factoryreset')
-        leader.expect('OpenThread attached to netif', timeout=20)
+        leader.expect('OpenThread enter mainloop', timeout=20)
         ocf.hardreset_dut(sleepy_device)
         time.sleep(3)