DIY electronics boards are getting cheaper and cheaper.

The Contenders

TheRaspberry Pi Foundationintroduced the originalRaspberry Piback in 2012.

While it certainly wasnt the first tiny computer of its kind, it was the most popular.

Hobbyists latched on to the idea of micro-sized, Linux-capable computers.

The Raspberry Pi Zero and C.H.I.P.

are two of the smallest and cheapest of these boards.

Now, its more widely available.

At $5, its the cheapest Raspberry Pi model available.

It also has a HDMI mini port to connect to a display.

is $9, but comes with a few features the Pi Zero does not.

It has the same micro USB for power and a standard-sized USB for external devices.

Both the Raspberry Pi Zero and C.H.I.P.

are exceptionally small, but the Pi Zero is easily the smaller of the two.

Its also flat where the C.H.I.P.

is tall, which makes it more appealing to any project where you really need the smallest board possible.

That comes at the cost of easily accessible General-purpose input/output (GPIO).

That extra bulk of GPIO makes the C.H.I.P.

Well assume you already have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

Its Easier to Get Started with the C.H.I.P.

but the Raspberry Pi Zero Is Easier for Beginners to Use

Both the Raspberry Pi Zero and the C.H.I.P.

are tiny computers for hobbyists to make their own DIY electronics and to teach coding to kids.

However, both have very different set up procedures.

is easily the winner when it comes purely to getting started because it comes with its operating system installed.

It runs a version of Linux based onDebianand made specifically for the C.H.I.P.

Of course, you might also install any other Linux program you want.

Beyond software, C.H.I.P.

makes it easy to connect Bluetooth devices and to Wi-Fi networks.

Youll do both from a parameters panel just like you would with any operating system.

is also preconfigured to automatically update the operating system and pre-installed software, so its a pretty fool-proof process.

Unlike the C.H.I.P., the Raspberry Pi Zero does not come with an operating system installed.

Raspbians been around a lot longer and it shows.

C.H.I.P.s operating system isnt impossible to learn by any means, its just not nearly as smooth as Raspbian.

Beyond all that, the community behind the Raspberry Pi is significantly larger than the C.H.I.P.

That makes it a better option for most beginners.

simply does not have these options.

doesnt really have any alternate operating systems right now.

To change an operating system on the C.H.I.P.

Third-party operating systems are technically supported, but none exist yet.

However, the price of the C.H.I.P.

is far more appealing for anyone looking to start a project that requires Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

You wont find the same support system around the C.H.I.P.