ESP32 and ESP8266

What Is the Difference Between ESP32 and ESP8266?

ESP32 and ESP8266 are both WiFi microcontroller boards made by Espressif Systems. They are programmable with the Arduino IDE and used in IoT, smart home, and wireless sensor projects. The key difference is that ESP32 has Bluetooth, a dual-core processor, and more GPIO pins.

Choose ESP32 when your project needs Bluetooth, more processing power, more pins, or a camera. Choose ESP8266 when you only need WiFi and want the simplest, cheapest option.

The ESP8266 does not have Bluetooth. If your project needs both WiFi and Bluetooth, you must use an ESP32 board.

For a detailed comparison, read our ESP32 vs ESP8266 buying guide.

How Much Does an ESP32 Board Cost?

ESP32 development boards at Kunkune start from £3.90. ESP8266 boards also start from £3.90. The ESP32-CAM with built-in camera starts from £4.90. Specialised boards like the ESP32-S3 and ESP32-ETH01 (with Ethernet) cost between £5.90 and £8.90.

These are some of the cheapest WiFi microcontroller boards available from any UK supplier. An ESP32 dev board at £3.90 gives you a dual-core 240 MHz processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, 36 GPIO pins, and 4 MB flash memory. No other microcontroller offers this at the same price.

Buying from a UK-based supplier like Kunkune means no customs delays, no import duties, and delivery in 1–2 days. Orders are dispatched within 1 working day. Free shipping on orders over £25. No minimum order required.

Every board comes with a 12-month guarantee and 60-day returns.

Does ESP32 Work with Arduino IDE?

Yes. ESP32 and ESP8266 boards are fully programmable with the Arduino IDE. You install the ESP32 board package through the Arduino Board Manager, select your board, and upload sketches the same way you would with an Arduino Uno.

Most Arduino libraries work with ESP32 without changes. Sensor libraries, display libraries, and communication libraries designed for Arduino also run on ESP32. This means you can use the same code and tutorials from the Arduino ecosystem.

ESP32 also supports two other programming environments. MicroPython lets you program in Python instead of C/C++. ESP-IDF is the official Espressif development framework for advanced users who need full control over the hardware.

For a step-by-step setup guide, read our ESP32 beginner guide. All Arduino sensors in the Kunkune range work with ESP32 boards.

Which ESP32 Board Is Best for IoT Projects?

The ESP32-WROOM development board is the best general-purpose ESP32 for IoT projects. It has WiFi, Bluetooth, 30 GPIO pins, 4 MB flash, and a dual-core 240 MHz processor. It costs £3.90 at Kunkune.

For IoT projects that need a camera, the ESP32-CAM includes an OV2640 camera module with WiFi. It streams video, captures images, and can run face detection. It is used for security cameras, doorbell cameras, and timelapse photography. See our ESP32-CAM setup guide.

For IoT projects that need wired internet instead of WiFi, the ESP32-ETH01 has a built-in Ethernet port. This is more reliable than WiFi for industrial monitoring and always-on systems.

For the smallest possible WiFi microcontroller, the ESP32-C3 Mini and XIAO ESP32-C3 are compact boards with WiFi and Bluetooth in a tiny form factor. These fit inside enclosures, wearables, and small IoT devices.

To build a smart home system with ESP32, read our smart home build guide. For connecting ESP32 to Home Assistant, see our ESP32 MQTT and Home Assistant tutorial.

Should I Buy ESP32 or Arduino Uno?

Buy an Arduino Uno if you are a complete beginner learning electronics for the first time. The Uno has the most tutorials, the simplest setup, and the widest shield compatibility. It runs at 5V logic, which works with most sensors without level shifting.

Buy an ESP32 if your project needs WiFi, Bluetooth, or more processing power. ESP32 costs the same as an Uno clone (from £3.90) but has a faster processor, more memory, more pins, and wireless connectivity built in.

Many makers start with an Arduino Uno to learn the basics, then move to ESP32 when they want to add WiFi to their projects. Most Arduino code runs on ESP32 with minimal changes. The Arduino IDE, libraries, and wiring concepts are the same.

For Arduino boards without WiFi, browse our Arduino-compatible boards from £2.90. For a compact WiFi board with stackable shields, see the Wemos D1 Mini range.

What Is ESP32-CAM and What Can I Build with It?

The ESP32-CAM is an ESP32 development board with a built-in OV2640 camera module and a microSD card slot. It has WiFi for streaming and costs from £4.90 at Kunkune. No separate camera module or wiring is needed.

The ESP32-CAM is used for wireless security cameras, video doorbells, timelapse photography, QR code readers, face detection, and remote monitoring. It streams video over WiFi to a web browser, phone app, or home automation system.

The ESP32-S3 CAM is a newer version with a USB-C port, more GPIO pins, and better processing power. It supports larger camera modules and faster image processing.

For a complete setup walkthrough, read our ESP32-CAM guide with project ideas.

Which ESP32 Has Bluetooth?

Every ESP32 board has Bluetooth. The standard ESP32-WROOM has Bluetooth 4.2 with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) support. The newer ESP32-S3 has Bluetooth 5.0 with BLE. The ESP32-C3 Mini has Bluetooth 5.0 with BLE.

ESP8266 boards do not have Bluetooth. If you need both WiFi and Bluetooth in the same board, you must choose an ESP32.

Bluetooth on ESP32 is used for connecting to phones, sending data to apps, pairing with Bluetooth speakers and headphones, and communicating with other ESP32 boards. BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is used for battery-powered IoT devices, fitness trackers, and smart home sensors that need to run for months on a single charge.

To control appliances with your ESP32, add a relay module. For reading sensors wirelessly, pair your ESP32 with modules from our sensor range.