The best Raspberry Pi alternatives: Expert recommended

Le Potato is ZDNET’s top pick overall due to its affordability and features in the single-board computer space. We’ve broken down each Raspberry Pi alternative below based on processor, storage, and speed. If one of these qualities is a priority for you, this analysis may help you choose the best single-board computer for you.

Sometimes, you need to get on with a project, so you buy a cheap single-board computer — or, perhaps, you’ve just begun exploring the field of SBCs. But if you want to invest in better hardware, you want to ensure you’re not wasting money. 

To find the best SBC for you, we suggest starting with a clear idea of the projects you’ll use it for. This can be the hard part, but it’s worth the time. Getting derailed partway through a project can result in a massive setback that costs time and money.

Next, do some research. How much power and performance do you need? What operating system do you need to use? This SBC guide offers the best Raspberry alternatives so you can find the board that fits your budget and needs.

The Raspberry Pi is an excellent piece of hardware, but it’s been built within specific constraints that enable mass appeal. These SBCs take what the Raspberry Pi brought to the table further with features that allow you to customize your experience. 

Our list includes options personally tested by ZDNET authors and highly recommended products based on customer reviews and feedback, with these factors specifically in mind:

Performance: Performance is critical when you consider purchasing a new SBC. We have considered processing power, RAM, and graphics. 
Connectivity & storage: SBCs offer a range of connectivity options. Some provide Bluetooth, for example, whereas others only have HDMI and Ethernet. Furthermore, some SBCs include storage, while others provide USB ports for connecting your own drives. 
Ease of use: SBCs don’t have to be complex, and some of our options include practical color coding or other features to make your projects easier to handle. 
Price: Not everyone wants to invest in the most high-spec SBC out there, especially if they are just starting out and exploring their interests. We have considered a range of devices with beginners, hobbyists, and tech enthusiasts in mind. 

When you are selecting your new Raspberry Pi alternative, you should consider the following essential factors:

Price: How much are you willing to spend on your new project? The use case matters, too: if you are just starting out, a cheaper SBC should be fine, whereas you might want to spend more on long-term projects. 
Project: If you want an SBC for hobbyist projects, you won’t need the most advanced or expensive kits out there — minimal RAM and processing will do. However, if you want to explore the capabilities of AI, for example, you might want to consider a model with higher specifications. 
Media: If you intend to use your Raspberry Pi alternative for media, such as streaming audio and video, ensure that the SBC you are considering has the required components and support. 

The Raspberry Pi is still the best place to start if you want to get experience with a single-board computer. 

Also: Struggling to buy a Raspberry Pi? It could become a lot easier

These alternatives are a great next step to expand your SBC knowledge. The Raspberry Pi is a great tool for familiarizing yourself with the setup and GPIO pins. It’s also a useful tool if one of your kids has an interest in programming that you want to encourage. 

There are various options. You can find a lot of generic cases out there to protect your Raspberry Pi or alternative SBC, and I recommend getting one. After all, if you’re investing in an SBC, you should protect it. 

Also, if you are lucky enough to own a 3D printer, then you’ll have an endless supply of them! Alternatively, you can visit the 3D printing marketplace Shapeways to find your perfect case. 

You can try to waterproof the case by using seals or silicone grease. You could also spray the board with a conformal coating to resist moisture. 

But beyond these steps, there’s no way to make them completely waterproof, and you risk damage if you don’t keep your electronics away from adverse weather conditions and environments.

Inflation aside, the cost of Raspberry Pi models — once only 15 dollars or so — has increased due to a number of factors. Supply shortages, made worse during the pandemic, have impacted supply and demand, and furthermore, the price of computing components and chips has increased. 

Yes, many professionals use Raspberry Pi. However, professionals also use alternatives to it. It all depends on personal and project needs.

Raspberry Pi is a small computing system available for a lower price than a PC or a Laptop and is used to build computers, robots, security systems, and more. In a sense, it is the compact brain of a system or project.

We chose a variety of Raspberry Pi alternatives based on performance, hardware options, and pricing. If these don’t work for you, here are some suitable alternatives: