Arduino or ESP32 for Wi-Fi projects?

[Alan]

Hey, I’ve got a quick question for all you DIY enthusiasts out there, when it comes to starting a project that needs Wi-Fi, do you typically lean towards using an Arduino, or do you dive right into the ESP32?

I’m really interested in hearing what the community thinks and the reasons behind your choices.

 

[Tovaren]

I usually go with Arduino 'cause that's what I know. When I made my garage door thingy, it was just easier to use the stuff I already knew.

 

[Circuitsmith]

After messing around with Arduino for a bit, I went straight to ESP32. I was trying to make my sprinklers work with Wi-Fi, and the ESP32 was way easier since it already had that built in. Haven’t gone back to Arduino since then.

 

[Jax_]

for WiFi, it’s ESP32 for me. using an Arduino with a separate WiFi shield is clunky and expensive compared to an ESP32 that has it baked into the silicon

 

[Circuitsmith]

Having built-in WiFi on the ESP32 makes it a lot cleaner and more budget-friendly compared to dealing with separate shields for an Arduino.