Raspberry Pi prices have increased again. As AI data centers continue to make things expensive, the single board computer (SBC) company has found itself in a corner. This follows years of shortages caused by the pandemic, which the Raspberry Pi CEO predicted will be surpassed in 2024. Since then, the situation has worsened as RAM and key components disappear from factories.
Alternatives have been available for some time. The Arduino, Orange, Banana Pi and even more powerful options from Asia have all raised the question of whether it’s still worth buying a Raspberry Pi. However, it’s often difficult to find a perfect replacement for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. Support can pale in comparison to the British IT company’s massive amount of documentation on almost everything you can do with the SBC.
Some Raspberry Pi alternatives ditch the ARM chip it’s known for and opt for a more traditional (x86) processor. This is a real kettle of fish, but it allows for a much wider range of off-the-shelf software. We’ve compiled the best Raspberry Pi alternatives you can buy right now.
Radxa X4 is the best to replace the Raspberry Pi 5
Radxa has been around for a while and offers the Rock series of devices. These are competitors of the Raspberry Pi who try to bring a little more than the device they are pitted against. The Radxa X4 ditches the Rock name but brings a secret weapon to the mix: a Raspberry Pi RP2040 chip. A common problem with Radxa and other boards outside of Asia is that they have almost no support. Raspberry Pi supports hardware attached on top (HAT), which brings more functionality through add-ons connected via the general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. They won’t work straight out of the box; a little DIY is required. But the RP2040 chip is actually like having a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller at your fingertips.
Rather than having to struggle and search high and low for guides or readable documentation, the coprocessor adds a layer of simplicity. The main event, the Intel N100, puts it in the same category as some mini PCs. However, Radxa has a slight cooling issue. A heatsink enclosure is available, but overloading the Radxa X4 can cause thermal throttling, making it slower than similar devices. With these limitations, the Radxa X4 is not ideal for those looking to do most beginner projects for a Raspberry Pi, unless it involves coding.
However, with the N100 chip, the Radxa X4 sports an x86 architecture. Compared to ARM, x86 brings definitive advantages. For example, non-ARM Windows and Linux distributions are all available to you. Aside from that, the Radxa ecosystem has been significantly improved in recent years, with a ton of documentation now available that wasn’t there when they came on the scene.
Intel N100/N150 Mini PC is a perfect replacement for Raspberry Pi server
With prices for the Raspberry Pi 500+ now rivaling those of some beefier mini PCs at $410, and the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB not far behind at $299.99, it’s time to reconsider which small PC you want on your desk. The Intel N100 and N150 are inexpensive processors designed for inclusion in low-power machines, but they are still more than capable when combined with 16 GB of RAM or more. These also make excellent lightweight productivity machines, easily handling web apps and streaming YouTube without breaking a sweat. It is the ideal complement for the Pi 500 or 500+.
Mini PCs also power many hobbyist homelab setups, for self-hosting applications via Docker or other tools. Once installed with a Linux or BSD version, they make fantastic home servers. While many server applications can now be run simply through Docker, regardless of PC architecture, having an Intel chip behind you means you’ll benefit from much better software compatibility.
Some even feature two Ethernet ports to provide a total of up to 2.5 Gbps on your network. In comparison, although the Pi can be used as a server, it is only capable of reaching 1Gbps, with additional modifications required to access faster speeds. There are a huge selection of devices to choose from, but Geekom and Beelink are two of the top recommendations.
You can swap the Raspberry Pi Pico for an ESP32
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Replacing the Raspberry Pi Pico is exceptionally easy in 2026. Prices for Picos haven’t increased too much, but there are plenty of alternatives. One of the most popular alternatives is the ESP32, which can sometimes offer a much wider choice of connectivity than the Pico itself. Raspberry Pi has upgraded the Pico 1 and 2 to support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but for a similar cost the wide range of ESP32 devices wins out.
You can also choose between MicroPython or CircuitPython, custom programming languages specifically designed to work within the tiny confines of the microcontroller. ESP32 boards can be very varied, meaning that much of the work needed to add connectivity functionality to the Pico can be missed, as it is often already built in. This can range from wireless systems, like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, to different connectors for specific hardware, like batteries, again eliminating the need to solder one on yourself.
One of the best microcontroller brands to use is Adafruit. Slightly more expensive, Adafruit also offers many materials that can be used in projects. Almost everything, from LEDs and displays to sensors, can be purchased from them at relatively low costs. These integrate easily with other Adafruit hardware, emulating the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. What’s interesting is that Adafruit has also released CircuitPython, which is also very easy to implement for projects.
The ZimaBlade is best for home servers
The ZimaBlade is an x86-based device, allowing it to host a wide variety of operating systems and software. It offers DDR3L RAM expandable up to 16 GB, a quad-core processor, as well as a PCIe 2.0 4x slot. This puts it ahead of some of the options available, as adding peripherals like a USB hub or additional network ports is as easy as restarting the ZimaBlade.
It’s the ideal alternative to the Raspberry Pi for those running network attached storage (NAS) or looking to add a NAS to their list. Besides the PCIe port, there are also SATA ports for direct connection to storage, in addition to USB-A ports to fully equip the ZimaBlade. Out of the box, it also comes with CasaOS, which acts as a graphical user interface to manage it on the device, rather than having to access it remotely. CasaOS is a bit divisive, but it’s great for beginners to get familiar with managing a device like this.
With the x86 processor, you can also easily play retro games and spit out video via Mini DisplayPort. However, the best use of the ZimaBlade is to act as your own local server, with which it can easily play 1080p content on apps like Jellyfin or, of course, manage your storage needs. Prices for the ZimaBlade haven’t gone up yet, but that’s because the device is sold without art. You will need to purchase or add your own DDR3L RAM to the device after it arrives.
