ESP32 vs ESP8266: Which Wi-Fi Microcontroller Should You Choose for IoT?

Sep 16th,2025

ESP32 vs ESP8266 are two of the most well-known Wi-Fi microcontrollers.In the world of Internet of Things (IoT), Wi-Fi microcontrollers like ESP32 Tutorial: A Comprehensive Guide to ESP32 Boards, Features, and Getting Started offer many advantages over older chips. Among the available options, the ESP8266 and ESP32, developed by Espressif Systems, stand out as two of the most widely adopted solutions. Both are affordable, versatile, and well-supported by the community, which makes them top choices for professionals, makers, and companies building connected products in IoT development.

Overview of Each Chip

ESP8266

ESP8266, launched in 2014, rapidly became a favorite for its low cost and ability to connect simple devices to Wi-Fi without external modules.

 • Processor: Single-core Tensilica CPU, which positioned the ESP8266 as one of the earliest Wi-Fi microcontroller options for IoT.
 • Connectivity: Wi-Fi only (2.4 GHz).
 • Resources: Limited RAM and GPIOs.
 • Use cases: Ideal for entry-level IoT applications such as basic sensor nodes, simple home automation, and DIY hobby projects.

A Wi-Fi–enabled temperature and humidity sensor for smart homes is a typical ESP8266 application. Using a DHT22 sensor connected to a NodeMCU board, the device can measure environmental conditions and send the data to a cloud platform such as ThingSpeak or MQTT broker.

Because the ESP8266 has limited processing power but excellent Wi-Fi integration, it’s perfect for this kind of project:
• The device wakes up from deep sleep
   every few minutes.
• It records temperature and humidity
  values.
• It transmits the data to the server and
  goes back to sleep.

This approach minimizes power consumption and provides homeowners with real-time environmental monitoring at very low cost, making it ideal for DIY enthusiasts, small businesses, or academic projects exploring connected sensors for smart home devices.

ESP32

ESP32, introduced in 2016 as the successor to the ESP8266, was designed to address performance and versatility gaps.

• Processor: Dual-core Tensilica CPU with higher clock speeds — see the Get Started guide for ESP32 for setup instructions.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) plus Bluetooth Classic and BLE, making the ESP32 a popular Bluetooth microcontroller for modern IoT projects.
• Resources: Larger memory, more GPIOs, integrated ADCs/DACs, and hardware accelerators.
• Use cases: Suited for wearables, voice-controlled devices, industrial IoT solutions, and more demanding DIY projects.

In the field of wearables, an ESP32-based fitness tracker is a strong example of how this chip fits into practical devices.An ESP32-based fitness tracker is a strong example of how this chip fits into wearables. Thanks to its dual-core processing power, integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and low-power modes, the ESP32 can:

• Collect heart rate and motion data using built-in accelerometers and optical sensors.
• Process signals locally to filter noise and detect activity patterns.
 • Sync data to a mobile app in real time via BLE, without requiring constant Wi-Fi.
• Enter deep sleep when idle, extending battery life to multiple days.

This makes the ESP32 suitable for health monitoring devices, smartwatches, and fitness bands, where both wireless connectivity and efficient power management are critical in advanced IoT projects.

Hardware Comparison: ESP8266 vs ESP32

ESP32 vs ESP8266 Power Consumption

When comparing ESP32 vs ESP8266 power efficiency, both chips include sleep modes, but their profiles differ significantly:
     •    ESP8266:
            o Deep Sleep: ~20 µA
            o Light Sleep: ~0.4–2 mA
            o Active Wi-Fi Transmission: ~70–170 mA

More efficient for ultra-low-power projects that require occasional Wi-Fi bursts, making it a better fit for battery-powered nodes and other low-power IoT applications.
     •    ESP32:
          o ESP32: [Deep Sleep]: ~10 µA (more efficient than ESP8266 in this mode)
          o Light Sleep: ~0.8–3 mA
          o Active Wi-Fi Transmission: ~160–260 mA

Consumes more energy under normal use due to higher performance, but offers advanced sleep modes to optimize consumption in well-designed applications.

ESP32 vs ESP8266 GPIO Comparison

The number and flexibility of GPIO pins is one of the biggest differences between the ESP8266 and ESP32, and it directly affects how many sensors, actuators, or peripherals you can connect — see ESP32 WROOM-32E module overview for details.

• ESP8266 GPIOs

o Around 17 usable pins depending on the module (NodeMCU, Wemos D1 Mini), as explained in the ESP32 WROOM-32E component guide, making ESP8266 GPIO sufficient for basic IoT tasks.
o Some pins have boot-related functions, so not all can be freely assigned.
o Supports basic protocols: UART, SPI, I²C, PWM.
o Limited ADC (one 10-bit ADC channel).

• ESP32 GPIOs

o Typically 30+ pins available, varying by board version.
o Richer interface support: UART, SPI, I²C, I²S, CAN bus, PWM, touch sensors, ADC, DAC.
o Up to 18 ADC channels (12-bit resolution).
o 2 DAC channels for audio or analog output.
o Better handling of multiple peripherals in parallel.

ESP8266 GPIOs are enough for basic IoT devices like a sensor node or simple automation project, but the ESP32 is the clear choice when your design requires multiple peripherals, precise ADC readings, or advanced features like touch sensing and CAN bus.

ESP32 vs ESP8266 Price & Availability

• ESP8266: Extremely budget-friendly and widely available, making it perfect for beginners and high-volume, low-cost deployments.
• ESP32: Slightly more expensive, but its additional features justify the price. Boards like the ESP32-DevKitC or NodeMCU-32S are accessible and supported by strong ecosystems.

While the ESP8266 remains unbeatable for low-cost, Wi-Fi-only devices, the ESP32’s additional features justify the price difference, especially in wearables, smart home systems, and industrial IoT.

In practice, the ESP8266 is better suited for ultra-low-power IoT nodes that only wake up occasionally to send data. The ESP32 consumes more current when active, but offers advanced sleep strategies that make it efficient in well-designed wearable or industrial devices.

Which is better?

• Pick the ESP8266 if:
   ✔ Your project has strict budget limitations.
   ✔ You only need Wi-Fi and basic input/output control.
   ✔ The goal is to learn or prototype simple IoT applications.

• Pick the ESP32 if:
   ✔ You require Bluetooth connectivity or more powerful processing.
   ✔ The project involves multiple sensors, audio processing, or higher data throughput.
   ✔ You need future scalability and broader protocol support.

Future Outlook

The ESP32 product line continues to evolve with variants such as ESP32-S2, ESP32-C3, ESP32-S3, and ESP32-H2, bringing support for BLE 5.0, Zigbee, Thread, and even Wi-Fi 6 in some cases.This positions the ESP32 family as the backbone of modern IoT innovation.

Meanwhile, the ESP8266, though still supported, is being gradually phased out for new designs. It remains highly relevant for educational projects and cost-sensitive solutions, but for most new deployments, the ESP32 is the more strategic choice.

Conclusion: ESP32 vs ESP8266 at a Glance

Choose ESP8266 → Best for simple IoT nodes, ultra-low-cost projects, or when Wi-Fi-only connectivity is enough.
Choose ESP32 → Ideal for feature-rich applications needing Bluetooth, multiple peripherals, higher performance, or long-term scalability.

In short: ESP8266 is the budget-friendly entry point, while ESP32 is the future-ready powerhouse for modern IoT projects — see the ESP32 Wikipedia article for more background.