The Raspberry Pi changed DIY computing completely. Since its release, the pocket-sized computer has proved to be the multi-tool of DIY software and hardware crossover development. We have already covered it extensively, with beginner guides for people new to the board and projects to tackle to put your Pi to use.

However, The Raspberry Pi isn't your only option for single-board computers (SBCs). So, here are a few Raspberry Pi alternatives to consider if you are having a hard time finding one in stock.

1. ODROID-C4

ODROID-C4 Single Board Computer

First on the list of Raspberry Pi alternatives is the ODROID-C4 from Hard Kernel. While it wasn't explicitly aiming to be a Raspberry Pi 4 competitor, it definitely gives it a run for its money!

One place where the ODROID-C4 shines is its price. The C4 is currently available for $54.99 from the Hard Kernel store page. That's a fantastic price for an SBC with 4 GB RAM and a speedy Amlogic S905X3 processor. You also get all the familiar Raspberry Pi Ports like Ethernet and HDMI, along with a few the Pi is missing, like an eMMC slot and built-in infrared receiver.

This board seems like a no-brainer, then? Well, it isn't without its limitations. It has no onboard support for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, while the Raspberry Pi has both. The ODROID-C4 must be powered by a DC barrel jack, and while this isn't a massive deal, it is not as convenient as the Raspberry Pi's USB power port.

Another issue you'll run into with all Raspberry Pi competitors is software support. You can run many Linux distributions and even Android on the ODROID-C4, but don't expect the same level of community and support as the Raspberry Pi!

2. Banana Pi BPI-M5

Banana Pi M5

Another strong contender for the best Raspberry Pi alternative is the Banana Pi BPI-M5. It has the same Amlogic S905X3 processor as the ODROID-C4 and even the same 4 GB RAM, but it comes with one huge advantage—16GB onboard eMMC storage.

Much like the Pi, this board crams many features into a tiny footprint. However, it lacks onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which might be a dealbreaker for some. That said, 16GB of built-in storage, USB-C power, and the familiar 40-pin GPIO setup will be quite a draw to those wanting to run physical computing projects without relying on SD Cards to run the operating system.

The versatility of this board also applies to operating systems. Much like the ODROID-C4, this board will run Android natively—something the Raspberry Pi still cannot do.

You'll also get a huge array of Linux-based distributions to work with, and with the Banana Pi's onboard Mali GPU, this could be a real contender for a small media system. Prices fluctuate all the time for the Banana Pi, like all SBCs, but it's available on Amazon and in stock at the time of writing.

3. Lenovo ThinkCentre

This isn't an ARM-based computer or even an SBC, but for several years Lenovo has been making slimline PCs for various use cases, and they've taken a strong turn towards embedded computers and home automation recently.

Not only are their newer products designed with home automation in mind, but many folks struggling to find ARM-based SBCs for home automation and home networking uses have been turning to the older ThinkCentre devices in tandem with Arduino and similar boards.

If you don't need GPIO pins, it might be worth looking into getting a second-hand ThinkCentre and installing Linux onto it. You'll still be getting a lot of power compared to an ARM SBC, and if you are lucky, you can get it for as low as $60! Older ThinkCentre devices are listed everywhere, but eBay remains a great choice for finding them.

Until recently, a list of Raspberry PI competitors would be full of almost identical boards. Now, it's worth thinking outside the box and working out exactly what you'd want to use a Raspberry Pi for.

4. Raspberry Pi Pico W

Now we are heading in the other direction. Yes, this is a Raspberry Pi, but not the type you are used to! The Pico W has Raspberry Pi's own RP2040 silicon at its heart. It's a microcontroller, so it doesn't run Linux and is nowhere near as powerful as any of the other boards on this list. What sets the Pico W aside, however, is its connectivity.

As a $6 microcontroller-based board with onboard Wi-Fi, the Raspberry Pi Pico W is perfect for various physical computing tasks. It can act as a lightweight web server for working with GPIO pins and, in many cases, could be used as the basis for an entire smart home system.

While it's missing the bells and whistles of a fully-fledged Linux-on-ARM SBC, it has one thing that no other board in this list has: Raspberry PI's documentation and community. Getting started with the Raspberry Pi Pico W is a breeze thanks to the easy-to-use MicroPython libraries and stellar official tutorials.

5. Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC

The Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC isn't exactly the catchiest name, but it is an incredibly powerful SBC and among the most powerful ARM development boards ever made. It uses the Rockchip RK3588S 8-core 64-bit processor and can come with up to 32GB of RAM and 128GB eMMC. It can encode and decode 8K video and handle multiple video streams.

As well as providing a huge I/O interface for external sensors, cameras, and peripherals, it has an M.2 slot for an NVMe drive and a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for edge AI and computer vision tasks.

This step up in power also comes with a jump in price. The Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC starts at $219 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC and goes up to $409 for the 16GB RAM/128GB storage version. One thing that is a bonus for the Firefly is its availability. While many other SBCs are unavailable, the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC has remained available in all its configurations via the Firefly store page.

Pick the Right Raspberry Pi Alternative

Choosing a single board computer can be hard, especially when they are frequently out of stock or suffering from inflated prices from scalpers. Each of these boards brings some aspect of the Raspberry Pi experience to the table, but with a bit of Linux command line knowledge, you'll find the differences aren't so significant after all.