Selection GuideESP8266microcontrollerIoT
How to Choose the Right ESP8266 Module
A quick guide to ESP-01, ESP-07 and SparkFun Thing boards, with practical tradeoffs for Wi-Fi projects and prototyping.
Marco SchwartzOctober 24, 20255 min read
Key Takeaways
- 01Always check pin availability before purchasing for complex projects
- 02Consider the size constraints of your project when choosing a module
- 03Different modules suit different project types and complexity levels
The first module of this guide, which is one of the first ESP8266 modules that came out on the market, is the ESP-01 module. It is the cheapest and nearly the smallest module available. It is perfectly usable with the Arduino IDE for example. However, it.
ESP-01 Module
The first module of this guide, which is one of the first ESP8266 modules that came out on the market, is the ESP-01 module. It is the cheapest and nearly the smallest module available. It is perfectly usable with the Arduino IDE for example. However, it comes with serious disadvantages. First, you can't plug it into a breadboard without an adapter. Then, you don't have access to all the input/output pins of the ESP8266 chip, which is a problem if you have complex projects that you want to build. However, for simple projects, this is a good module to start with.
ESP-07 Module With Breakout Board
The next one I wanted to mention in this list is the ESP-07, which is the one you see on the right on the picture. This module can't be used alone on a breadboard, as you need an adapter board (usually sold with the module) to use it in your breadboard projects. It is actually the base of several other ESP8266 modules, as we will see later in this guide. The advantage of this module is that it's quite easy to integrate on a PCB later on, so if you plan to develop your own ESP8266 home automation projects in the future, that might be the ideal solution for you.
SparkFun Thing
Next, we have the SparkFun Thing which includes built-in micro-USB connector for power and a LiPo battery connector, making it perfect for battery-powered IoT projects.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The Adafruit Huzzah is the best starting point for breadboard experimentation
- ESP-07 with breakout board is ideal if you plan to create custom PCBs
- SparkFun Thing is perfect for battery-powered autonomous projects
Cons
- ESP-01 requires a breadboard adapter
- ESP-01 has limited GPIO pin access
- ESP-07 can't be used alone on a breadboard without an adapter board
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