NodeMCU vs Arduino
Which one should you use for your next project?
I'm a big fan of the Arduino family of products. They are inexpensive, easy to program, simple to setup, and reliable. There is a gigantic community of support around them. Most problem you run into can be solved by simple Google searches.
However, recently I wanted to gather some temperature data and save it on a website to read on my phone. While researching how to interface my Arduino with the web, I found this device called the NodeMCU. These tiny chips have WiFi, a faster processor, more RAM, can operate at lower power, and cost less. Check out the table below for all the other ways they are better. On top of that, you don't have to switch from the Arduino IDE ecosystem. Simply import the ESP866 library into the Arduino IDE and your Arduino programs will upload and run on the NodeMCU.
Technical Specs for the NodeMCU ESP8266 and Arduino UNO R3
| Function | NodeMCU ESP8266 | Arduino UNO |
| Microcontroller | Tensilica 32-bit Xtensa LX106 | ATmega328P |
| Flash Memory | 4 MB | 32 KB (0.5 KB is used for Bootloader) |
| SRAM | 128 KB | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | Not Available (512 bytes Software) | 1 KB |
| CLOCK Speed | 80 MHz or 160 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V DC | 5V DC |
| Input Voltage | 7-12 DC | 6V-20V DC |
| Current consumption | 15 µA – 400 mA | 45 mA – 80 mA |
| DC Current per I/O Pin | 12 mA | 40 mA |
| Digital IO Pins | 17 | 14 |
| Analog Input Pins | 1 | 6 |
| UARTs | 2 | 1 |
| SPI | 2 | 1 |
| I2C | 1 | 1 |
| PWM | 4 | 6 |
| WiFi | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
COST
You can also get these boards for much less than your typical Uno R3 clone. Current prices for Arduino clones run $12-$18, but you can buy six NodeMCUs for $19 right now.
If you have a project where you'd like to interface sensors with online data logging, like sending weather data to Thingspeak (and who doesn't want to do that??), then check out the NodeMCU.