diff --git a/examples/platforms/cc2538/openthread-core-cc2538-config.h b/examples/platforms/cc2538/openthread-core-cc2538-config.h
index e99cccf5f..d03444e85 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/cc2538/openthread-core-cc2538-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/cc2538/openthread-core-cc2538-config.h
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT           1
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF         1
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
  *
diff --git a/examples/platforms/da15000/openthread-core-da15000-config.h b/examples/platforms/da15000/openthread-core-da15000-config.h
index a965d95b3..0230e5ab4 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/da15000/openthread-core-da15000-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/da15000/openthread-core-da15000-config.h
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT            0
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          0
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
  *
diff --git a/examples/platforms/efr32/openthread-core-efr32-config.h b/examples/platforms/efr32/openthread-core-efr32-config.h
index 6582a8afc..51f2e91cd 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/efr32/openthread-core-efr32-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/efr32/openthread-core-efr32-config.h
@@ -60,6 +60,14 @@
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT           1
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF         1
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
  *
diff --git a/examples/platforms/emsk/openthread-core-emsk-config.h b/examples/platforms/emsk/openthread-core-emsk-config.h
index fab142f9f..1a489dd54 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/emsk/openthread-core-emsk-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/emsk/openthread-core-emsk-config.h
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT            0
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          0
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
  *
diff --git a/examples/platforms/kw41z/openthread-core-kw41z-config.h b/examples/platforms/kw41z/openthread-core-kw41z-config.h
index 7dea49796..195603c5d 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/kw41z/openthread-core-kw41z-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/kw41z/openthread-core-kw41z-config.h
@@ -92,4 +92,12 @@
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT            1
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          1
+
 #endif  // OPENTHREAD_CORE_KW41Z_CONFIG_H_
diff --git a/examples/platforms/nrf52840/openthread-core-nrf52840-config.h b/examples/platforms/nrf52840/openthread-core-nrf52840-config.h
index 023fc3451..dc644fd9b 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/nrf52840/openthread-core-nrf52840-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/nrf52840/openthread-core-nrf52840-config.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
   * Define to 1 if you want to enable software ACK timeout logic.
   *
   */
-#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT           1
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT           0
 
  /**
   * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
@@ -110,6 +110,14 @@
   */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT            1
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          0
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER
  *
diff --git a/examples/platforms/posix/openthread-core-posix-config.h b/examples/platforms/posix/openthread-core-posix-config.h
index 0f664810b..cf813d228 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/posix/openthread-core-posix-config.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/posix/openthread-core-posix-config.h
@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@
  *
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT 1
+
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ * Applicable only if raw link layer API is enabled (i.e., `OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_RAW_LINK_API` is set).
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          1
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_RADIO
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/api/link_raw.hpp b/src/core/api/link_raw.hpp
index 343c8a051..f9de0b84c 100644
--- a/src/core/api/link_raw.hpp
+++ b/src/core/api/link_raw.hpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 #include "common/timer.hpp"
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT || OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT || \
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT || OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF || \
     OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
 #define OPENTHREAD_LINKRAW_TIMER_REQUIRED 1
 #else
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ private:
     {
         kTimerReasonNone,
         kTimerReasonAckTimeout,
-        kTimerReasonRetransmitTimeout,
+        kTimerReasonCsmaBackoffComplete,
         kTimerReasonEnergyScanComplete,
     };
 
@@ -266,9 +266,13 @@ private:
     uint8_t mTransmitAttempts;
     uint8_t mCsmaAttempts;
 
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+
     void StartCsmaBackoff(void);
 
-#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
 
diff --git a/src/core/api/link_raw_api.cpp b/src/core/api/link_raw_api.cpp
index 9fc024a89..e71584cff 100644
--- a/src/core/api/link_raw_api.cpp
+++ b/src/core/api/link_raw_api.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ LinkRaw::LinkRaw(Instance &aInstance)
     , mTimerReason(kTimerReasonNone)
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER
     , mTimerMicro(aInstance, &LinkRaw::HandleTimer, this)
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_LINKRAW_TIMER_REQUIRED
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
     , mEnergyScanTask(aInstance, &LinkRaw::HandleEnergyScanTask, this)
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ otError LinkRaw::SetEnabled(bool aEnabled)
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_MTD || OPENTHREAD_FTD
     VerifyOrExit(!static_cast<Instance &>(mInstance).GetThreadNetif().IsUp(), error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_STATE);
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_MTD || OPENTHREAD_FTD
 
     if (aEnabled)
     {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ otError LinkRaw::SetEnabled(bool aEnabled)
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_MTD || OPENTHREAD_FTD
 exit:
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_MTD || OPENTHREAD_FTD
     return error;
 }
 
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ otRadioCaps LinkRaw::GetCaps(void) const
     }
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+    if ((RadioCaps & OT_RADIO_CAPS_CSMA_BACKOFF) == 0)
+    {
+        RadioCaps = static_cast<otRadioCaps>(RadioCaps | OT_RADIO_CAPS_CSMA_BACKOFF);
+    }
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
     if ((RadioCaps & OT_RADIO_CAPS_ENERGY_SCAN) == 0)
     {
@@ -218,22 +225,24 @@ otError LinkRaw::Transmit(otRadioFrame *aFrame, otLinkRawTransmitDone aCallback)
         mTransmitDoneCallback = aCallback;
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+        mTransmitAttempts = 0;
+        mCsmaAttempts     = 0;
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
         if (aFrame->mInfo.mTxInfo.mIsCcaEnabled)
         {
-            mTransmitAttempts = 0;
-            mCsmaAttempts     = 0;
-
             // Start the transmission backoff logic
             StartCsmaBackoff();
             error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
         }
         else
         {
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
             error = otPlatRadioTransmit(&mInstance, aFrame);
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
         }
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
     }
 
     return error;
@@ -245,7 +254,7 @@ void LinkRaw::InvokeTransmitDone(otRadioFrame *aFrame, otRadioFrame *aAckFrame,
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT
     mTimer.Stop();
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
 
@@ -254,7 +263,17 @@ void LinkRaw::InvokeTransmitDone(otRadioFrame *aFrame, otRadioFrame *aAckFrame,
         if (mCsmaAttempts < Mac::kMaxCSMABackoffs)
         {
             mCsmaAttempts++;
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
             StartCsmaBackoff();
+#else
+            // Start the  transmit now
+            otError error = otPlatRadioTransmit(&mInstance, aFrame);
+
+            if (error != OT_ERROR_NONE)
+            {
+                InvokeTransmitDone(aFrame, NULL, error);
+            }
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
             goto exit;
         }
     }
@@ -268,12 +287,22 @@ void LinkRaw::InvokeTransmitDone(otRadioFrame *aFrame, otRadioFrame *aAckFrame,
         if (mTransmitAttempts < aFrame->mInfo.mTxInfo.mMaxTxAttempts)
         {
             mTransmitAttempts++;
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
             StartCsmaBackoff();
+#else
+            // Start the  transmit now
+            otError error = otPlatRadioTransmit(&mInstance, aFrame);
+
+            if (error != OT_ERROR_NONE)
+            {
+                InvokeTransmitDone(aFrame, NULL, error);
+            }
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
             goto exit;
         }
     }
 
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
 
     // Transition back to receive state on previous channel
     otPlatRadioReceive(&mInstance, mReceiveChannel);
@@ -296,7 +325,7 @@ void LinkRaw::InvokeTransmitDone(otRadioFrame *aFrame, otRadioFrame *aAckFrame,
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
 exit:
     return;
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
 }
 
 otError LinkRaw::EnergyScan(uint8_t aScanChannel, uint16_t aScanDuration, otLinkRawEnergyScanDone aCallback)
@@ -319,7 +348,7 @@ otError LinkRaw::EnergyScan(uint8_t aScanChannel, uint16_t aScanDuration, otLink
 #else
         // Do the HW offloaded energy scan
         error = otPlatRadioEnergyScan(&mInstance, aScanChannel, aScanDuration);
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
     }
 
     return error;
@@ -350,7 +379,7 @@ void LinkRaw::TransmitStarted(otRadioFrame *aFrame)
 
 #else
     OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aFrame);
-#endif
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT
 }
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_LINKRAW_TIMER_REQUIRED
@@ -381,9 +410,9 @@ void LinkRaw::HandleTimer(void)
 
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ACK_TIMEOUT
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
 
-    case kTimerReasonRetransmitTimeout:
+    case kTimerReasonCsmaBackoffComplete:
     {
         otRadioFrame *aFrame = otPlatRadioGetTransmitBuffer(&mInstance);
 
@@ -398,7 +427,7 @@ void LinkRaw::HandleTimer(void)
         break;
     }
 
-#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
 
@@ -418,7 +447,7 @@ void LinkRaw::HandleTimer(void)
 
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_LINKRAW_TIMER_REQUIRED
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
 
 void LinkRaw::StartCsmaBackoff(void)
 {
@@ -434,7 +463,7 @@ void LinkRaw::StartCsmaBackoff(void)
     backoff *= (static_cast<uint32_t>(Mac::kUnitBackoffPeriod) * OT_RADIO_SYMBOL_TIME);
 
     otLogDebgPlat(&mInstance, "LinkRaw Starting RetransmitTimeout Timer (%d ms)", backoff);
-    mTimerReason = kTimerReasonRetransmitTimeout;
+    mTimerReason = kTimerReasonCsmaBackoffComplete;
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER
     mTimerMicro.Start(backoff);
@@ -443,7 +472,7 @@ void LinkRaw::StartCsmaBackoff(void)
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER
 }
 
-#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
 
diff --git a/src/core/openthread-core-default-config.h b/src/core/openthread-core-default-config.h
index 2730612c6..19416c534 100644
--- a/src/core/openthread-core-default-config.h
+++ b/src/core/openthread-core-default-config.h
@@ -948,6 +948,18 @@
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT 0
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ * Applicable only if raw link layer API is enabled (i.e., `OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_RAW_LINK_API` is set).
+ *
+ */
+#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF 0
+#endif
+
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_ENERGY_SCAN
  *
diff --git a/src/posix/platform/openthread-core-posix-config.h b/src/posix/platform/openthread-core-posix-config.h
index 0f664810b..cf813d228 100644
--- a/src/posix/platform/openthread-core-posix-config.h
+++ b/src/posix/platform/openthread-core-posix-config.h
@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@
  *
  */
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_RETRANSMIT 1
+
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF
+ *
+ * Define to 1 if you want to enable software CSMA-CA backoff logic.
+ *
+ * Applicable only if raw link layer API is enabled (i.e., `OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_RAW_LINK_API` is set).
+ *
+ */
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_SOFTWARE_CSMA_BACKOFF          1
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_RADIO
 
 /**