Best Embedded Systems Platforms (2025)
Ranked picks for embedded systems platforms. No "it depends."
🧊Nice Pick
Arduino
The gateway drug to hardware hacking. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful enough to make you think you're an engineer.
Full Rankings
#1
Details →Arduino
Nice PickThe gateway drug to hardware hacking. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful enough to make you think you're an engineer.
Pros
- +Beginner-friendly IDE with built-in libraries for common tasks
- +Vast ecosystem of shields and sensors for rapid prototyping
- +Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- +Active community with tons of tutorials and examples
Cons
- -Limited debugging tools in the default IDE
- -Can feel restrictive for advanced users due to simplified abstractions
The ultimate tinkerer's toy. It's a full computer that fits in your pocket, but good luck not burning out a GPIO pin.
Pros
- +Dirt cheap for a functional Linux computer
- +GPIO pins make hardware hacking accessible
- +Massive community and endless project tutorials
- +Runs headless for IoT without breaking the bank
Cons
- -Power management is a constant headache
- -Performance bottlenecks for anything beyond basic tasks
- -SD card corruption will haunt your dreams
Compare:vs Arduino
Head-to-head comparisons
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