Raspberry Pi Alternatives: 10 Single-Board Computers Worthy of Hacking Projects Big & Small « Null Byte :: WonderHowTo

The$35 Raspberry Piis an amazingly useful single-board computer (SBC) with a good balance of price, performance, and connectivity options. But for some projects, it just isn't enough. Whether you need more computing power, a smaller size, or better machine-learning capabilities, there are other options available.For those unfamiliar, an SBC means that all of the components of the computer are on a single printed circuit board (PCB), including the CPU, GPU, and memory. In a regular computer, as you know it, those parts are generally interchangeable and replaceable to some degree, but the benefits of having them all integrated on a single PCB is that you get a much smaller form factor.StandardRaspberry Pimodels are computers shrunk down to the size of the height and width of a credit card, and if you add the depth in there, about the size of anall-in-one external card reader. The Pi Zero models are even smaller.Don't Miss:10 Essential Gadgets Every Hacker Should TryWhile SBCs have been around since the '70s, it wasn't until the 2012 launch of the Raspberry Pi 1 Model B that they became so popular. With that popularity came a boatload of imitators. Some are near copycats but that attempt to provide added value in various ways such as having a more powerful processor, more memory, or being cheaper than the already low-priced Pis. Depending on the type of project you're looking to run, a non-Pi board may be more beneficial to you.Raspberry Pi Competitors: ConsiderationsWhen you're selecting a Raspberry Pi alternative, you should carefully consider what your needs are. For example, are you looking for a general purpose SBC to use on various projects, or do you want something for a specific project where it needs to do its job for extended periods? You should also consider your budget. Can you afford to throw money at the problem, or would it be better to have two or three cheaper alternatives compared to one extremely powerful one?Also, size can be a critical consideration if you're doing a project involving tight spaces or hiding from notice. For example, in ourspy camera project, you'd want the tiniest SBC that you can get away with. Connectivity is also commonly forgotten about until you start working on your project and realize the Ethernet is super slow or that you don't have Wi-Fi.Don't Miss:Null Byte's Collection of Raspberry Pi TutorialsLastly, ask yourself just how much hand-holding you need on your projects. Do you follow guides or blaze your own trail, because some Pi alternatives don't have the community support or even documentation to be considered noob-friendly.We'll go over some alternative SBCs that will work in all of the above scenarios, but before we do so, let's refresh our memory on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, the most popular Raspberry Pi model. There is a new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B out, which we have listed as a newer alternative to the 3 B+ below, but it's had someissues with USB-C power, so it's not yet the must-have Pi to compare other boards to.Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+While the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is not the latest iteration of the full-size Raspberry Pi, it's more dependable until the Raspberry Pi 4 sorts its issues out.The 3 B+ takes a classic Pi and gives it some long-needed upgrades such as 5 GHz Wi-Fi and an Ethernet chip capable of speeds faster than 100 megabits per second with PoE (power over Ethernet) capabilities. While it has the same CPU as the previous model, it also adds a heat spreader to the CPU for better heat management which allowed overclocking the processor to 1.4 GHz, gaming roughly a 17% improvement over the previous Pi — all of this while maintaining the gold standard $35 price tag.Image via Raspberry PiFor specs and more detail information on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, as well as how to build a hacking kit with it, check outour article and videoon the subject.More Info:Build a Beginner Hacking Kit with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+Processor: Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC @ 1.4 GHzGPU: Broadcom VideoCore IVMemory: 1 GB LPDDR2 SDRAMStorage: microSD cardWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz IEEE 802.11.b/g/n/acEthernet: gigabit Ethernet over USB 2.0 (maximum throughput 300 Mbps)Bluetooth: 4.2, BLEPorts: full-size HDMI; four USB 2.0; four-pole stereo jack; composite videoGPIO: extended 40-pin headerConnections:CSI camera; DSI displayPower: 5 V/ 2.5 A DC power input via Micro-USB port; PoE supportDimensions: 3.37 in (H) x 2.22 in (W) x 0.67 in (D)Price: $35 (Adafruit|Amazon)Suggested on Amazon:CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (B Plus) with 2.5A Power Supply (UL Listed)Option 1: ASUS Tinker Board STheTinker Board Scomes from a name brand that many computers enthusiasts will recognize, Asus. And as you would expect from that name brand, its features are top notch.The easiest way to think of the Tinker Board S is as an expensive Pi on steroids. The form factor of the Tinker Board S is a pure clone of the standard Pi right down to the port layout and 40-pin connector. Asus even managed to improve the connector by color coding and labeling it, which is extremely helpful if you're using GPIO pins a lot.Additionally, it has a much beefier processor and GPU, which should help with those compute-intensive tasks or anything that requires rendering complex scenes. If your project is going to be using networking, the Tinker Board S also features full gigabit Ethernet, making it ideal for access point projects like thePumpkin Pi.Don't Miss:How to Build a Pumpkin Pi — The Rogue AP & MITM Framework That Fits in Your PocketImage via AsusThe real highlight, however, is the 16 GB of eMMC, which is flash storage and should equate to faster processing when compared to the microSD typical to the Pi.With all these beefy features comes a hefty price tag of about $92. If the price isn't a concern for you, or if you need the extra processing power, then the Tinker Board S should be a top choice. But if you're on a budget, you could get two Raspberry Pi 3 B+ boards for the same price.Image viaAsusProcessor: Rockchip Quad-Core RK3288GPU: ARM Mali-T764Memory: 2 GB dual channel DDR3Storage: microSD card; built-in 16 GB eMMCWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/nEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: 4.0 EDRPorts: full-size HDMI; four USB 2.0; stereo jack; mic inputGPIO: 40-pin headerConnections:CSI camera; DSI displayPower: 5 V / 2–3 A DC power input via Micro-USB portDimensions: 3.37 in (H) x 2.125 in (W)Price: $91.99 (Amazon|B&H)Suggested on Amazon:Zebra Black Ice Case for Asus Tinker Board S by C4LabsOption 2: Banana Pi M64TheBanana Pi M64is an improved 64-bit version of the Banana Pi capable of using Android, Ubuntu, Debian, OpenBSD, and Windows 10 IoT core among other OSes. It has double the RAM of the Pi 3 B+, built-in eMMC memory for snappier processing, and full gigabit Ethernet. Do you see a pattern yet? The Raspberry Pi Foundation is lagging on their Ethernet game!However, the Banana Pi M64 only offers two USB ports opposed to the four on a standard Pi. And it's not quite the standard Pi form factor but does manage to maintain the 40-pin GPIO connector that we're all familiar with.Image via Banana PiAn interesting quirk of the Banana Pi M64 is that it has an infrared receiver, which means it could be beneficial for specific IR-controlled IoT projects. All in all, the M64 is a pretty good deal if you don't need complete documentation and community support. If you're willing to deal with everything that goes along with buying Chinese products from AliExpress, then this is a bargain.Image via Banana PiProcessor: Allwinner A64 (4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 GHz)GPU: Mali-400 MP2Memory: 2 GB DDR3 SDRAMStorage: 8 GB to 64 GB eMMC; microSD card (up to 64 GB)Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/nEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: 4.0Ports: full-size HDMI; two USB 2.0; Micro-USB OTG; stereo jackGPIO: 40-pin headerConnections:CSI camera; DSI displayPower: 5 V / 2 A DC power input via 4.0 mm barrel jackDimensions: 3.62 in (H) x 2.36 in (W)Price: $52–$80 (Ali Express|Amazon)Option 3: Atomic PiTheAtomic Piis a brand new player on the scene. It's an x86-based SBC only costing $35. With its specs, it would have been considered a great tablet four years ago, and it's more in line with a low-end NUC-style computer.However, to use the full features of the Atomic Pi, it requires a $15 breakout board to supply power, so this definitely shouldn't be a top choice if your project requires a small size. That said, it has the computer power, so if you're planning a project that's going to sit on the desk or in a network closet, and you're comfortable with booting a bare Linux system, it's worth considering.Image via Digital Loggers DirectProcessor: Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (up to 1.92 GHz)GPU: Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)Memory: 2 GB of DDR3L-16000Storage: 16 GB eMMC; microSD card (up to 256 GB)Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz IEEE b/g/n/acEthernet: gigabit hard-wired RJ45 Ethernet RTL8111GBluetooth: 4.0Ports: full-size HDMI; USB 3.0; four USB 2.0GPIO: 26-pin headerConnections:n/aPower: 5 V / 2.5–4 A DC power inputDimensions: 5.12 in (H) x 3.94 in (W) x 1.97 in (D)Price: $44–$49 (Amazon|Digital Loggers Direct)Suggested on Amazon:DLI Atomic Pi Full Developers KitOption 4: Rock64TheRock 64is a reliable Pi alternative. It's Rockchip CPU slightly edges out the Broadcom processor on the Pi 3 B+, and it offers one more gigabyte of RAM for the same price. Other versions can increase that to 4 GB RAM total for about $45. Additionally, it provides an eMMC socket if you chose to use it over a microSD card. Typically, they are more expensive than a microSD card of the same capacity.Image via Pine64One of the key differences between the Rock64 and Pi 3 B+ is that the Rock64 only has three USB ports, but that third port is USB 3.0 which offers faster speeds and could be expanded with a USB hub easily. The Rock64 is also capable of handling 4K video at 60 fps which could make it great for retro Pi projects or anything else involving high-resolution video.Image via Pine64Processor: Quad-core Cortex-A53 (up to 1.5 GHz)GPU: ARM Mali-450MP2 Dual-coreMemory: LPDDR3 RAM memory variants: 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GBStorage: eMMC card; microSD cardWi-Fi: with moduleEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: with modulePorts: full-size HDMI; USB 3.0; two USB 2.0; composite videoGPIO: 40-pin headerConnections:n/aPower: 5 V / 3 A DC power input via 3.5 mm barrel jack; PoE supportDimensions: 3.35 in (H) x 2.2 in (W)Price: $24.95–$44.95 (Amazon(1 GB) |Amazon(2 GB) |Amazon(4 GB) |Pine64)Suggested on Amazon:Zebra Black Ice for the Rock64 Media Board by C4LabsOption 5: NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer KitMachine learning? Computer vision? Deep learning? AI? If any of those are involved in your project, then what you need is theNvidia Jetson Nano, end of story.Image via NVIDIAThe Jetson Nano is specifically designed to enable artificial intelligence at the edge. The module itself is the size of a standard laptop RAM card (SODIMM), which is intended to make it easy to implement into full-scale production runs. The developer kit breaks out that SODIMM module so we can tinker around with it.It has more than enough power to handle any AI ask you could throw at it, such as self-navigating robots and smart speakers. Do note, though, if you want wireless connectivity, you will have to use an M.2 key cellular or Wi-Fi card, which are commonly available and used in laptops.Processor: Quad-core ARM A57 @ 1.43 GHzGPU: 128-core MaxwellMemory: 4 GB 64-bit LPDDR4Storage: microSDWi-Fi: M.2 Key EEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: with modulePorts: full-size HDMI; four USB 3.0; Micro-USBGPIO: yesConnections:CSI camera; DisplayPortPower: 5 V / 4 A DC power input via barrel jack; 5 V / 2 A DC power input via Micro-USB port; PoE supportDimensions: 3.94 in (H) x 3.15 in (W) x 1.14 in (D)Price: $99 (Amazon|Nvidia|Sparkfun)Suggested on Amazon:NVIDIA Jetson Nano Starter Kit with 16 GB microSD Card, 5 V 4 A DC Power Supply, Edimax USB Wi-Fi for DeepLearning AI DevelopmentOption 6: Onion Omega2+If you're looking for an alternative to something like theRaspberry Pi Zero W, then theOmega2+is undoubtedly an option. It's positively microscopic, not much larger than a quarter, which makes it great for embedded applications and IOT projects in general. It runs Linux Embedded Development Environment, which is based on OpenWRT and intended for just such IOT projects.Additionally, the Omega2+ features a U.FL connector which gives it the capability of using external Wi-Fi antennas which can dramatically increase connection range. That alone makes it better than the Zero W, which can suffer from weak signal strength in some applications.Image via Onion CorporationProcessor: 580 MHz MIPS CPUGPU: n/aMemory: 128 MB DDR2 RAMStorage: microSD card; 32 MB flash storageWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/nEthernet: with moduleBluetooth: with modulePorts: has support for USB 2.0GPIO: 18-pin headerConnections:n/aPower: 3.3 V DC operating voltageDimensions: 1.69 in (H) x 1.04 in (W)Price: $13–$15 (Amazon|Onion)Option 7: NodeMCUThe Raspberry Pi can be overkill for a lot of simple projects where not a lot of processing power is called for, such as running a sensor and sending data back to a hub. That's where microcontrollers like the NodeMCU come in handy, which works great for aWi-Fi deauth alarm,beacon spammer, anddevice detector.Image via NodeMCUThe NodeMCU is based on the famousESP8266Wi-Fi microchip, which was never intended to be used as anything but a Wi-Fi module. But people started to realize that you could use the downtime between Wi-Fi transmissions to do useful things — and the NodeMCU was born.If you don't mind having RAM and storage best measured in kilobytes, then the NodeMCU is excellent and, most importantly, dirt cheap. It's virtually disposable when compared to more expensive alternatives such as the Asus Tinker Board S. And there are many different manufacturers of the NodeMCU, so quality may vary from board to board. We recommend the one with the CP2102 instead of the CH340.Unfortunately, a limitation of working with a NodeMCU is that you have to program or find programs in C++/Arduino since you're not running a full or even cut-down version of Linux like the rest of the Pi alternatives in our list. Check out ourguide to programming microcontrollersfor a more detailed comparison to a Raspberry Pi.More Info:A Hacker's Guide to Programming MicrocontrollersProcessor: L106 32-bit RISC 80 MHz CPUGPU: n/aMemory: 128 kBStorage: built-in 4 MB flashWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/nEthernet: n/aBluetooth: with modulePorts: Micro-USBGPIO: 15-pin headerConnections:n/aPower: 5 V DC power input via Micro-USB portDimensions: 1.93 in (H) x 0.96 in (W) x 0.51 in (D)Price: $5–$20 (Ali Express|Amazon)Suggested on Amazon:Set of 4 NodeMCU ESP8266 CP2102 Development BoardsOption 8: ODroid XU4TheODroid XU4is a very powerful SBC that outclasses the Pi 3 B+ and even the Asus Tinker Board S. However, what it gains it compute power it throws out in conforming to standards. It doesn't use the 40-pin header that has become ubiquitous with the Pi, nor does it use the standard form factor or port layout. One neat feature that isn't common is a real-time clock (RTC), which will allow it to keep time across resets.Image via ODroidAll of this combined makes it an excellent board for compute-based projects, but I wouldn't recommend it as much for projects where you're fooling around with accessories and add-on boards unless you really know what you're doing. Also, consider that for the price of one XU4 you could buy two Pi 3 B+ boards and two Pi Zero W boards.Image via ODroidProcessor: Samsung Exynos5422 Cortex-A15 2 GHz and Cortex-A7 Octa-core CPUsGPU: Mali-T628 MP6Memory: 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM PoP stackedStorage: eMMC; microSD cardWi-Fi: with USB adapterEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: with USB adapterPorts: full-sizde HDMI; two USB 3.0; USB 2.0GPIO: 30-pin headerConnections:serialPower: 5 V / 4 A DC power inputDimensions: 3.27 in (H) x 2.28 in (W) x 0.87 in (D)Price: $50–$80 (Amazon|ameriDroid|Hardkernel)Option 9: NanoPi NEO4TheNanoPi NEO4is essentially a shrunken Pi 3 B+ at about half the size. It's processing capabilities are very similar to the Pi 3 B+ but just a little better with its six-core processor.Image via FriendlyarmThe real selling point here is the smaller form factor for when you still need something smaller with the processing power of a standard size Pi. It also offers excellent connectivity with a USB 3.0 port and USB-C port.Image by NanoPi/AntratekProcessor: Dual-Core Cortex-A72 (up to 2.0 GHz) + Quad-Core Cortex-A53 (up to 1.5 GHz)GPU: Mali-T864 GPUMemory: 1 GB DDR3-1866Storage: eMMC socket; microSD card up to 128 GBWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/nEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: 4.0Ports: full-size HDMI; USB 3.0; USB 2.0; USB Type-CGPIO: 40-pin headerConnections:CSI cameraPower: 5 V / 3 A DC power input via USB Type-C portDimensions: 2.36 in (H) x 1.77 in (W)Price: $50 (Amazon|Friendlyarm)Option 10: Raspberry Pi 4 Model BLast but certainly not least, we have a very recent addition to the Raspberry Pi family, thePi 4 Model B. The Pi 4 is an upgrade in every way over the 3 B+. It has gigabit internet with PoE capability, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB 3.0 ports, and a flexible amount of RAM. On top of that, it maintains the same form factor as the 3 B+ meaning that all your Pi hats will work on the new model 4.Image via Raspberry PiThe USB-C power connector is a very welcome upgrade. However, do keep it in mind when buying that it makes all your old Micro-USB power supplies useless. Additionally, the USB-C and mini HDMI connectors mean that many older Pi cases will not work with the newer version. It does currently havesome issues with USB-C power, where the port uses on resistor when it should use two. So some cables won't charge the board, meaning you'll need a cable that's not "e-marked."If it's such an upgrade over the older 3 B+, then why am I listing the Pi 4 only as an alternative? Well, there is one primary reason: supply. As it is often the problem when a successful product launches, it can be challenging to get your hands on one. For these first few months, you will likely see restrictions of one per customer or one per address when purchasing, if you can find them in stock at all. This limits its usefulness for the time being if you're trying to do a project now. Plus, it's better off waiting until it fixes the USB-C issue in a future board revision.Image via Raspberry PiProcessor: Quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5 GHzGPU: OpenGL ES 3.0 graphicsMemory: 1 GB, 2 GB, or 4 GB LPDDR4-2400 SDRAMStorage: microSD cardWi-Fi: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11acEthernet: gigabit EthernetBluetooth: 5.0 BLEPorts: two Micro-HDMI; USB Type-C; two USB 2.0; two USB 3.0; four-pole stereo jack; composite videoGPIO: 40-pin headerConnections:CSI camera; DSI displayPower: 5 V / 3 A DC power input via GPIO header; 5 V/ 3 A DC via USB Type-C port; PoE supportDimensions: 3.37 in (H) x 2.22 in (W) x 0.67 in (D)Price: $35, $45, or $55 (Adafruit|Amazon|CanaKit)Suggested on Amazon:CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 Basic Kit (2 GB)Wrapping UpAll in all, there are a lot of options for Pi alternatives, depending on what niche your project fits into. If you're relatively new to SBCs and want to stick to well-worn paths but want something with a little more oomph than the standard Pi 3 B+, then try to get your hands on the newer Raspberry Pi 4. But if it's sold out and you need a lot of them, then I would look into the Asus Tinker Board S.If you're into flying drones, making robots, or anything that involves computer vision or speech recognition, then the Nvidia Jetson Nano is the way to go. If you want something tiny that could be easily hidden, look into the Onion Omega2+. To do something simple like reading a sensor or triggering a relay, give the NodeMCU a shot. Otherwise, if you have the money and you enjoy single-board computers, all of the ones listed above are worth a purchase to see which one is most useful to you.Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, you can ask below or on Twitter@The_Hoid.Don't Miss:Buy the Best Wireless Network Adapter for Wi-Fi Hacking in 2019Want to start making money as a white hat hacker?Jump-start your hacking career with our2020 Premium Ethical Hacking Certification Training Bundlefrom the newNull Byte Shopand get over 60 hours of training from cybersecurity professionals.Buy Now (90% off) >Other worthwhile deals to check out:97% off The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle99% off The 2021 All-in-One Data Scientist Mega Bundle98% off The 2021 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle62% off MindMaster Mind Mapping Software: Perpetual LicenseCover image byGareth Halfacree/FlickrRelatedHow To:Build a Portable Pen-Testing Pi BoxHow To:Enable Monitor Mode & Packet Injection on the Raspberry PiHow To:Set Up Network Implants with a Cheap SBC (Single-Board Computer)How To:Log into Your Raspberry Pi Using a USB-to-TTL Serial CableHow To:Set Up a Headless Raspberry Pi Hacking Platform Running Kali LinuxNews:Smart Home Proof of Concept Uses a Raspberry Pi to Control Air Conditioner with HoloLensHow To:Build a Beginner Hacking Kit with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+How To:Boot Multiple Operating Systems on the Raspberry Pi with BerryBootRaspberry Pi:Hacking PlatformThe Hacks of Mr. Robot:How to Build a Hacking Raspberry PiHow To:Load Kali Linux on the Raspberry Pi 4 for the Ultimate Miniature Hacking StationNews:These Guys Hacked Together a Raspberry Pi & Car Steering Wheel to Play Mario KartHow To:Set Up Kali Linux on the New $10 Raspberry Pi Zero WRaspberry Pi:Physical Backdoor Part 1How To:Share Wi-Fi Adapters Across a Network with Airserv-NgHow To:Discover & Attack Raspberry Pis Using Default Credentials with Rpi-hunterOpen Sesame:Make Siri Open Your Garage Door via Raspberry PiHow To:Lock Down Your DNS with a Pi-Hole to Avoid Trackers, Phishing Sites & MoreHow To:Hack WPA WiFi Passwords by Cracking the WPS PINHow To:Automate Hacking on the Raspberry Pi with the USB Rubber DuckyHow To:Use VNC to Remotely Access Your Raspberry Pi from Other DevicesScrabble Challenge #5:Put Your 2-Letter Word Skills to the TestHow To:Create a Wireless Spy Camera Using a Raspberry PiHow To:Scan, Fake & Attack Wi-Fi Networks with the ESP8266-Based WiFi DeautherHow To:Build an Off-Grid Wi-Fi Voice Communication System with Android & Raspberry PiHow To:Modify the USB Rubber Ducky with Custom FirmwareRasberry Pi:IntroductionHow To:Design Your Own Custom Arduino Board MicrocontrollerPost Pi Day Coding Project:Let's Uncover the Hidden Words in Pi