NodeMCU vs Arduino Uno - Choosing a Development Board

NodeMCU vs Arduino Uno - choosing a Development Board

The NodeMCU v1.0 was introduced a few years back and was initially used exclusively for WiFi and IoT Projects. Over the years, it developed a reputation of being a robust and reliable platform for DIY projects, and occasionally, for use in products.

ESP12E WiFi SoC based on ESP8266

The NodeMCU combines the benefits of a microcontroller development board with a WiFi breakout board and provides the entire package as a single development board, officially called the NodeMCU DevKit. It is has an ESP8266 based System on a Chip and is designed for electronics and IoT Projects.

The NodeMCU now has extensive support, a huge community and a plethora of libraries that you can use. The most interesting fact is that it is cheaper than the Arduino Uno development board. Does that mean you can simply switch over to using the NodeMCU even for basic projects? Let's find out.

See on Amazon:

NodeMCU Development Board | ★★★★+ | Rs. 320 onwards

Arduino Uno with USB Cable | ★★★★+ | Rs. 440 onwards

NodeMCU vs Arduino Uno - Specs

RAM

NodeMCU: 128KB

Ardiuno Uno: 2KB

ROM (Flash Memory)

NodeMCU: 4MB

Arduino Uno: 32KB

Processor

NodeMCU: 32-bit

Arduino Uno: 8-bit

Processor Speed

NodeMCU: 80MHz

Ardiuno Uno: 16MHz

Wireless Communication

NodeMCU: ESP8266 SoC

Arduino Uno: None

Serial Communication

NodeMCU: UART / I2C / SPI

Arduino Uno: UART / I2C / SPI

GPIO

NodeMCU: 9 Digital (3.3V), 1 Analog (1.8V)

Arduino Uno: 10 Digital (5V), 6 Analog (2.5V)

Dimensions / Form Factor

NodeMCU: 4.8 x 2.5 cm

Arduino Uno: 6.8 cm × 5.3 cm

See on Amazon:

NodeMCU Development Board | ★★★★+ | Rs. 320 onwards

Arduino Uno with USB Cable | ★★★★+ | Rs. 440 onwards

NodeMCU vs Arduino Uno - functional differences

That's great, but what does it mean for a developer creating DIY projects?

Well, it means that the NodeMCU has a more powerful processor, larger memory, supports larger sketches and can interact with more complex external devices. It has a smaller size and packs several additional features.

Advantages of NodeMCU

• Better Processor & Memory
• Built-in TCP/IP Stack - IoT Ready
• Cheaper
• Breadboard-friendly and compact

Disadvantages of NodeMCU

• Need to learn how to program the new functionalities - minor learning curve
• Fewer GPIO Pins
• Lower voltage level - may not be compatible with other modules in rare cases

Advantages of Arduino Uno

• Extremely extensive support available online
• Easy interfacing with sensors and data collection
• A lot of GPIOs with PWM capabilities
• It’s completely open-source

Disadvantages if Arduino Uno

• Memory and Processor limitations. No built-in WiFi or IoT capability.
• Costlier than the NodeMCU
• Peripherals are expensive and need to be imported
• Can't be used in compact breadboard prototypes

See on Amazon:

NodeMCU Development Board | ★★★★+ | Rs. 320 onwards

Arduino Uno with USB Cable | ★★★★+ | Rs. 440 onwards

How to choose between them

NodeMCU

When to choose the NodeMCU:

• If you have a budget constraint
• If you need specific features like WiFi
• If you need to run a complex sketch or algorithm
• If you need a compact prototype - on a breadboard or similar

Arduino Uno

When to choose the Arduino Uno:

• If you are an absolute beginner
• If you want to try interfacing with various sensors and modules
• If you are learning the basics
• If you need more GPIOs

Get started with NodeMCU and Arduino Uno

NodeMCU

First get the Development Board 

See on Amazon:

NodeMCU Development Board | ★★★★+ | Rs. 320 onwards

Arduino Uno with USB Cable | ★★★★+ | Rs. 440 onwards

Set up NodeMCU on your Arduino IDE

Follow this Guide to:

1. Install and set up the Board
2. Install and set up the ESP8266 Core
3. Create your first NodeMCU Project

Learn more about the NodeMCU here.

Ardiuno Uno

Get the Development Board

See on Amazon:

NodeMCU Development Board | ★★★★+ | Rs. 320 onwards

Arduino Uno with USB Cable | ★★★★+ | Rs. 440 onwards

Also see the 5 best Arduino Starter Kits under Rs. 1000

Create your first Arduino Project 

Use the examples provided in the Arduino IDE. Follow this guide to begin.