Top 7 Raspberry Pi-like Boards That Are Cheaper and have good Linux support

Looking for a more affordable alternative to Raspberry Pi without sacrificing compatibility with Linux? You’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we will explore the top 7 Raspberry Pi-like boards that are cheaper and provide excellent Linux support. These boards are perfect for hobbyists, students, and professionals who want to create innovative projects without breaking the bank.

Prices are at the time of writting the article.

1. Orange Pi Zero

• Price: $27.99
• Specs:
  • Allwinner H2+ Quad-core Cortex-A7
  • 512MB RAM
  • 10/100M Ethernet
  • WiFi and Bluetooth

Orange Pi Zero is an affordable alternative with a compact design that still packs a punch. It supports various Linux distributions, such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Raspbian, making it an excellent choice for Linux enthusiasts. This board is best suited for IoT projects and small-scale servers due to its low power consumption and support for various communication interfaces.

2. NanoPi NEO

• Price: $35.99
• Specs:
  • Allwinner H3 Quad-core Cortex-A7
  • 512MB RAM
  • 10/100M Ethernet
  • GPIO compatibility

NanoPi NEO may be small in size, but it offers a powerful performance at a lower price point. The board supports multiple Linux distributions, including Ubuntu Core and Armbian. With its compact form factor and low power consumption, NanoPi NEO is ideal for IoT projects, small home servers, and embedded systems.

3. PINE64 ROCK64

• Price: $24.95
• Specs:
  • Rockchip RK3328 Quad-Core ARM Cortex A53
  • 1GB RAM
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • USB 3.0

PINE64’s ROCK64 provides a solid performance for its price, offering more RAM and faster connectivity than most boards in this list. It supports various Linux distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, and OpenSUSE. The ROCK64 is suitable for multimedia projects, such as building a media center or a network-attached storage (NAS) device, thanks to its 4K video playback capabilities and USB 3.0 ports.

4. Banana Pi M2 Zero

• Price: $18.22
• Specs:
  • Allwinner H2+ Quad-core Cortex-A7
  • 512MB RAM
  • WiFi and Bluetooth
  • GPIO compatibility

Banana Pi M2 Zero is an excellent Raspberry Pi Zero alternative with a similar form factor. It supports multiple Linux distributions, including Raspbian, Ubuntu, and Armbian. Its built-in WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities make it an excellent choice for IoT projects, robotics, and wearables.

6. BeagleBone Black

• Price: $47.00
• Specs:
  • AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
  • 512MB DDR3 RAM
  • 4GB 8-bit eMMC on-board flash storage
  • USB, Ethernet, and HDMI

Though slightly more expensive than the Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black offers a more powerful processor and built-in storage. It supports multiple Linux distributions, including Debian and Ubuntu.

In conclusion, these Raspberry Pi-like boards provide affordable alternatives with great Linux compatibility, making them ideal for