Which MCU do you prefer — ESP32 / STM32 / RP2040 / Arduino?

[maker_o9scok4l_1743564570]

Hey folks,

Just read this short comparison of ESP32, STM32, RP2040, and Arduino:

Curious about your real-world experience:

• ESP32 — great wireless + FreeRTOS, but still too power-hungry for battery stuff?
• STM32 — still the “safe” choice for industrial? Any toolchain pain lately?
• RP2040 — do you pair it w/ external Wi-Fi, or just go ESP32 instead?
• Arduino — still good enough for quick builds, or mostly replaced by the others?

Which one do you use most these days, and why?
Any surprises (good or bad) in long-term projects?

Interested to hear what people here think.
Thanks!

 

[Harald Kapp]

Whatever fits the need most: features, price, WiFi, price, availability, price

 

[maker_o9scok4l_1743564570]

Whatever fits the need most: features, price, WiFi, price, availability, price

 

[TechDoc]

Arduino/ATMega328 for the little devices, today I use the RP-PICO/RP2040 for the current developments for the high speed (up to 300MHz) and very large Ram memory. Actually I use the Arduino + C++ (not microPython) for all my softwares. I also develop for STM32/bluepill and ESP32 using ESPNow.

 

[danadak]

PSOC ARM SOC, all the mixed signal + ARM + on and off chip routability + fabric to
create your own specialized HW + wizards, state machine, DMA, Ohmmeter to manage
high precision analog paths +....

Whats on chip, multiple copies in most cases :



IDE and Compiler (PSOC Creator) free. Users creating more components (a component in PSOC language is an onchip
resource) to add to its lib, DDS, Cordic, 74HC logic, .......

 

[rachna062]

I don’t think there’s a single “best” MCU — it really depends on what stage you’re at and what you’re building. For basic projects or beginners Arduino is a great option to start with. For IoT projects, especially where Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is involved, ESP32 is my default. Built-in connectivity, decent performance, and huge community support make it very practical. I use STM32 when I need more control, reliability, and performance — especially in motor control, power electronics, or real life applications.

 

[Delta Prime]

Curious about your real-world experience:

I am more into neural networks, Machine Learning(TinyML) for kicks and giggles. I have used all of these microcontrollers with my choices depending on processingpower(RP2040/ESP32/STM32 strong, Arduino basic, don’t like it…(yuck), as said before “built in features” (ESP32 for Wi-Fi & BT), & for so called; ultra-low power needs (STM32L/NRF52), using tools like (TensorFlow Lite) as it pertains to my amateur hobbyist approach to “Modeling” of Neural Networks Research.

 

[Minder]

@maker_o9scok4l_1743564570 For a very long while I have used Picmicro products using assembly.
But recently have developed an interest in the Raspberry Pi v5. might be an avenue to explore, especially if one is a beginner as you claim to be.

 

[Dollyartasia772]

Hey folks,

Just read this short comparison of ESP32, STM32, RP2040, and Arduino:

Curious about your real-world experience:

• ESP32 — great wireless + FreeRTOS, but still too power-hungry for battery stuff?
• STM32 — still the “safe” choice for industrial? Any toolchain pain lately?
• RP2040 — do you pair it w/ external Wi-Fi, or just go ESP32 instead?
• Arduino — still good enough for quick builds, or mostly replaced by the others?

Which one do you use most these days, and why?
Any surprises (good or bad) in long-term projects?

Interested to hear what people here think.
Thanks!

What a fascinating question that is.
I generally use ESP32 these days. Projects get easier when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are integrated, especially for internet-connected devices. Although it is more practical for general use, its higher power consumption makes it less suitable for tiny battery projects.

I still like STM32 for longer-term or more serious projects. It has a sturdy, dependable feel. It may take a little longer to set up, but once everything is set up, everything works perfectly.
RP2040 is enjoyable and adaptable, particularly for bespoke configurations or learning. However, I typically choose the ESP32 rather than installing additional modules if I need wireless.
Arduino is still a fantastic tool for rapid prototyping. When you simply want something to operate quickly, it's straightforward, uncomplicated, and ideal.

 

[bidrohini]

ESP32 always, cheapest wifi board .... stm32 is difficult and costly ....

 

[superuser726]

RP2040 comes in nice form-factor boards from ST electronics, so I prefer that for the compactness. It's very helpful cause I usually am using it in small model rockets where the payload space is really tiny.

 

[Krishna Sankhyan]

Depends on the project
For me, I’d go with something that has built-in connectivity and good performance it just makes things easier.

 

[Krishna Sankhyan]

ESP32 for most projects (WiFi + Bluetooth), STM32 for performance, RP2040 for flexibility, Arduino for beginners

 

[jonas123]

My quick pick by use case are:

• IoT & Wireless → ESP32
• Industrial Embedded → STM32
• Learning & Creativity → RP2040
• Fast DIY Prototypes → Arduino

 

[VictorZhang_PCB]

I don’t think there’s a single “best” MCU — it really depends on what stage you’re at and what you’re building. For basic projects or beginners Arduino is a great option to start with. For IoT projects, especially where Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is involved, ESP32 is my default. Built-in connectivity, decent performance, and huge community support make it very practical. I use STM32 when I need more control, reliability, and performance — especially in motor control, power electronics, or real life applications.

I agree with your point of view, especially since ESP32 and STM32 have obvious differences in their intended use.