Best Raspberry Pi alternatives in 2024 – top single-board computers

Want to try out an alternative to the Raspberry Pi?

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The Raspberry Pi – and all its iterations – seems like the perfect SBC (single-board computer), but what are the best Raspberry Pi alternatives in 2024? There’s a good amount of competition out there to consider, so we thought it would be an excellent idea to put them all in one place to help you out.

With the Raspberry Pi 5 release date now finally reaching us following pre orders, there is a renewed interest in the device, but some may be trying out some other options to get their fix of computer board tinkering. There are some choices which provide a similar experience as the Pi, but there are also SBCs more suitable for tasks beyond your usual robotics, home theater, or emulation needs. AI is also a massive area these days which Pi lovers are looking to get into.

You can go ahead and check out our comparison of Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 or Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 before you delve into the world of alternatives. This may help you come to a verdict on whether there’s a suitable alternative out there for you. If you’re already pretty well versed in what the Pi has to offer, then let’s waste no more time and get straight to the details.

Best Raspberry Pi alternatives : in-depth review

Now let’s check out the pros, cons, and more for our favorite picks. The entire range of Raspberry Pi SBCs have been seemingly dominating this space for a long time now, so many won’t be aware of what else is out there. In our in-depth review, we explain exactly why these alternatives are worth taking a look at before you buy.

Best overall Raspberry Pi alternative

ASUS Tinker Board S R2.0 Single Board Computer

SoC

Rockchip RK3288

CPU

1.8 GHz Quad Core

RAM

2GB LPDDR3 600 MHz

Number of ports

5

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Pros

• Easy to use color-coded GPIO
• Supports 4K video output
• Plenty of features and compatibility
• Great build quality and finish

Cons

• Pricier option

So first off is our best overall choice if you want an alternative to the Raspberry Pi. This is the ASUS Tinker Board S R2.0 SBC. A couple of the key specifications include the 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU and 2GB LPDDR3 dual-channel memory, which outperforms many Pi models.

This is probably one of the easiest SBCs to use, thanks to the color-coded design. One of the main benefits here is the quick 16GB eMMC flash memory paired with that powerful processor. The 4K video output and 4 x non-shared USB 2.0 ports are a welcome addition too.

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Best budget Raspberry Pi alternative

Libre Computer Board AML-S905X-CC (Le Potato)

SoC

AML-S905X-CC

CPU

Cortex 1512 MHz

RAM

2GB DDR3 SDRAM

USB ports

4 x USB 2.0

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Pros

• Good price to performance ratio
• Great build quality on a budget
• Support for 4K media

Cons

• Less powerful than other alternatives

There are no frills with our next pick, but this is the best alternative if you’re working with a limited budget. Single-board computers generally don’t break the bank, but not all of us are willing to spend if you’re just a hobbyist. The Libre Computer Board AML-S905X-CC is a great choice and does everything you need from it.

Reviews show that many customers are satisfied with its 4K media output, making it ideal for streaming your favorite shows. There is plenty of room for storage expansion too from the MicroSD card support available.

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Best powerful Raspberry Pi alternative

Odroid N2+

CPU

S922X CPU, Quad Core max 2.4GHz

Processor Count

2 (Quad Core 2.4GHz, Dual Core 2.0GHz)

RAM

4GB DDR4

USB ports

4 x USB 3.0

How We Review

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Pros

• Most powerful choice
• Powerful dual-processor setup
• Plenty of options for hardware due to connectivity
• Capable of running Petitboot, Linux, and AndroidOS

Cons

• Less beginner-friendly than other picks

Now for something which delivers a little more power. The Odroid N2+ is an upgrade to its younger sibling, the N2. This model now comes with 4GB of DDR4 RAM and an impressive dual-CPU setup. This combines both a Quad Core (max 2.4GHz) and Dual Core (max 2.0 GHz) processor for superior power.

With specs like this, it works closer to tiny desktop PC than some of the other SBCs you’ll see which are much more limited in their use. This makes it ideal for tasks from everyday home use to light gaming or emulation. There are a wide range of I/O ports to take advantage of too, so you’re more free to hook up additional hardware and peripherals for gaming or other media.

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Best Raspberry Pi alternative for AndroidOS

Banana Pi BPI-M5 Amlogic S905X3 Single Board Computer

SoC

Amlogic S905X3

CPU

Athlon II X3 Triple-Core 450

RAM

4GB LPDDR4

USB ports

USB 3.0 x 4 Type C

How We Review

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Pros

• Great for 4K video/audio
• Good connectivity, including four USB 3.0 ports
• Powered by USB-C
• Impressive storage with 16GB eMMC

Cons

• No on-board Wifi or Bluetooth, requires adapter

How about some Banana Pi as an alternative. The name definitely makes it obvious what it’s trying to emulate, but how does it perform. Well, we’ve picked this as our best option if you want to play around on AndroidOS, and it leans towards the more budget level. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking in power though – the 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM is great when paired with 16GB eMMC storage for speedy use of the likes of 4K media.

The familiar 40pin GPIO means it’s a great for past Raspi users – especially considering the Banana Pi is compatible with operating systems such as Android 9, Raspbian, Linux, and more. Although we’ve pointed out the con of no native Wifi or Bluetooth connectivity, this can be easily be solved thanks to the versatile connectivity. We recommend picking this up for home projects or even robotics.

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What to look for in a Raspberry Pi alternative

You may be wondering what makes a good alternative to the Raspberry Pi. There are a bunch of things to consider, which is what we’ve done before choosing our picks. Features are a massive part of determining what’s worth your time and what isn’t. The Pi is built for its number of features and compatibility crammed down to one tiny computer after all. You may have heard of Arduino as well. We can’t consider this as a great alternative though, as it is much limited is its capabilities and not as powerful of a tool.

Aside from features, you need to consider your budget too. SBCs are designed to be cost-effective, but everything comes at a price – and that price does vary between alternatives. This needs to be complimented by a good price to performance ratio to make our list.

To seal the deal, we also need to look at customer reviews. Good feedback shows that it can be trusted and relied on. Especially for tech whose target audience is those that want to tinker and push it to its limits!

Why you should consider Raspberry Pi alternatives

Even though the Raspberry Pi is definitely the most popular single-board computer, that doesn’t mean alternatives should be disregarded without consideration. The original Raspi dropped in 2012 and definitely boosted interest in SBCs, while providing a more competitive market for this kind of tech. In essence, this means that many other companies have been jumping in to develop their own, including the likes of ASUS. Today we see plenty of great alternatives which of course come with their own pros and cons compared to the Raspberry Pi.

We’ve picked out some of the best worth your interest. There are options ideal for newcomers to SBCs, contrasted with options for more seasoned users who want something more powerful or simply different to what their used to.

What specs are important for Raspberry Pi alternatives

The Raspberry Pi is no doubt an impressive piece of hardware. That’s why when looking for alternatives, you need to do a little bit of homework. The first thing we want to talk about is the SoC (System-on-a-chip) and CPU. These are the driving forces behind powering your Raspi alternative. It’s all about how the CPU and GPU work together in this compact package. A powerful CPU is needed if you want to perform more demanding tasks with your single-board computer. Our power pick the Odroid N2+ features a Quad Core 2.4GHz CPU for example.

Another main component is connectivity. One of the best things about these miniature computers is the chance to connect peripherals to help you tinker. Any good Raspberry Pi alternative has plenty of USB ports, and SD card slot, and sometimes even HDMI port connectivity to help you hook up additional equipment. Wireless connectivity is another big one if you don’t have a gigabit ethernet port. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity is pretty commonplace on these devices. There is even a Raspberry Pi camera available out there, and alternatives too which are compatible with various SBCs.

Finally, the all-important GPIO pins. For the uninformed, this stands for General Purpose Input/Output. These are for monitoring how the device is working with other connections, among controlling the input and output, as you’d expect. They essentially act as switches for you to toggle on and off as well. Understanding the GPIO pins is key to using the Pi effectively. One of our top picks is the ASUS Tinker Board S R2.0, which has a color-coded design for the GPIO which makes it a delight to use.

Best Raspberry Pi alternatives FAQs

Are there any good alternatives to the Raspberry Pi?

There are definitely some good alternatives out there to the Raspberry Pi if you shop around. While we wait for Raspberry Pi 5, now may be a good time to check out other options. There are a variety of options on show.

Are Raspberry Pi alternatives worth buying?

Although there are some great alternatives out there, you can expect to find some ineffective single-board computers which are a waste of time, especially when working with a small budget.

Despite that, yes, these are worth buying if you’re looking to tinker around. We’ve picked out products which are worth buying as an alternative to picking up a Raspberry Pi – or if you already own one!

Best Raspberry Pi alternatives : Final word

That just about concludes the best Raspberry Pi alternatives, though we’re always on the lookout for more. While we wait for another big reveal such as Raspberry Pi 5, now is a great time to delve into the world of Pi alternatives and see just what your money gets you.

There’s no doubt that the so-called ‘Raspi’ is a dominant force in the market – so it’s nice to see some equivalents and other options get a chance at the spotlight once in a while.