Particle Photon vs SparkFun ESP32 Thing Plus
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
The Particle Photon is a powerful 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller combined with a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, designed to make building internet-connected hardware accessible to everyone. It integrates seamlessly with the Particle cloud ecosystem, allowing developers to manage devices, push over-the-air firmware updates, and write code using an online or offline IDE. Equipped with numerous digital and analog I/O pins, the Photon easily interfaces with sensors, motors, and displays. Whether you are an experienced engineer prototyping a commercial product or a hobbyist building a smart home gadget, the Photon provides all the necessary tools to bring connected hardware ideas to life quickly.
The SparkFun ESP32 Thing Plus is a small, breadboard‑friendly development board that packs a dual‑core ESP32‑WROOM‑32U module, USB‑C power and programming, and a rich set of peripherals. It’s designed for rapid prototyping of IoT, wearables, and sensor projects while keeping the footprint low. With built‑in voltage regulators, a reset button, and a Qwiic‑compatible I2C header, the board offers both flexibility and ease of use for hobbyists and engineers alike. Its open‑hardware design encourages community contributions and custom extensions.
- Extremely easy to set up and connect to the cloud
- Robust over-the-air firmware update capability
- Active developer community and extensive documentation
- Breadboard-friendly form factor for rapid prototyping
- USB‑C simplifies power and programming
- Rich peripheral set including Qwiic and breadboard pins
- Robust Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth performance
- Fully open‑hardware with extensive community support
- Relies on the Particle cloud service for certain advanced management features
- Lacks built-in Bluetooth on the original standard model
- Higher power consumption compared to ultra-low-power BLE or cellular alternatives
- No built‑in battery management circuitry
- Limited GPIO count compared to larger dev kits
- No Ethernet port for wired networking
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataThe Particle Photon offers a tiny, breadboard‑friendly Wi‑Fi‑only board with easy cloud integration, while the SparkFun ESP32 Thing Plus adds Bluetooth, USB‑C and more I/O at a slightly higher price and size.
Key differences
- •Particle Photon includes built‑in Particle Cloud access and OTA updates; ESP32 Thing Plus does not provide a proprietary cloud service.
- •ESP32 Thing Plus offers Bluetooth 5.0 LE and USB‑C connectivity; Photon lacks Bluetooth and uses a micro‑USB‑style power source.
- •Photon is smaller (38.1×20.3×3.8 mm) and lighter (9 g) than the ESP32 board (58×33×12 mm, 12 g).
- •ESP32 board provides two Qwiic I²C sockets and 5 V‑tolerant pins; Photon offers 18 mixed‑signal GPIO without Qwiic.
- •Warranty differs: Photon 1 year vs. ESP32 2 years.
Performance
ESP32 Thing Plus runs a dual‑core 240 MHz processor; Photon has a single 120 MHz Cortex‑M3.
Build quality
Both are open‑source, breadboard‑compatible boards with similar hobby‑grade construction.
Connectivity
ESP32 includes Wi‑Fi + Bluetooth 5.0 LE and USB‑C; Photon provides Wi‑Fi only.
Power & efficiency
Photon is smaller, lighter and USB powered; ESP32 is larger and consumes more power with dual cores.
Compatibility
ESP32 offers Qwiic sockets, 5 V‑tolerant pins and USB‑C; Photon lacks these but fits standard breadboards.
Price & value
Photon MSRP $19 vs. ESP32 $19.95; price difference is minimal but Photon is cheaper.
Warranty & support
ESP32 Thing Plus provides a 2‑year warranty, double Photon’s 1‑year warranty.
Choose Particle Photon if…
Ideal for developers who want a tiny Wi‑Fi board with seamless Particle Cloud OTA updates and minimal size.
Choose SparkFun ESP32 Thing Plus if…
Best for makers needing Bluetooth, USB‑C programming, extra I/O (Qwiic) and longer warranty despite larger size.
Common questions
Which board is cheaper?
Photon costs $19 MSRP; ESP32 Thing Plus costs $19.95 MSRP.
Do both boards support Bluetooth?
Only the ESP32 Thing Plus includes Bluetooth 5.0 LE; the Photon does not.
Is there a built‑in cloud service for device management?
Photon provides free access to Particle Device Cloud; ESP32 Thing Plus has no proprietary cloud service.