Comparison table
 Freenove (ESP32)Freenove |  Freenove (Raspberry Pi)Freenove |  ELEGOO V4.0ELEGOO |  PiCar-XSunFounder |  Raspbot V2Yahboom |  GalaxyRVRSunFounder |  GoPiGo3Modular Robotics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||||||
| Price range | $63.99 | $69.99 (no Pi) | $79.99 | $89.99 (no Pi) | $114.99 – $144.99 (no Pi) | $129.99 | $199 (no Pi) |
| Version compared | FNK0053 kit $63.99 | FNK0043 kit $69.99 (Mecanum version $74.99) | V4.0 with camera $79.99 | Kit without Pi $89.99 | Standard without Pi $114.99 on Amazon, $134.99 from Yahboom (Superior with AI voice $144.99) | GalaxyRVR kit $129.99 | GoPiGo Kit $199 |
| Controller included | Yes, ESP32-WROVER camera board | No, needs a Raspberry Pi | Yes, UNO R3 plus ESP32 camera module | No, needs a Raspberry Pi | No, needs a Raspberry Pi 5 | Yes, UNO R3-compatible board plus ESP32-CAM | No, needs a Raspberry Pi |
| Also needed | Two 18650 cells and a charger | Raspberry Pi (5, 4B, 3B+ or Zero 2 W), microSD card, two 18650 cells and a charger | Nothing listed | Raspberry Pi (5, 4B, 3B+ or Zero 2 W) and a microSD card | Raspberry Pi 5 and a microSD card | Nothing listed | Raspberry Pi 3B+ or 4 (Pi 5 not supported). Camera optional |
| Hardware | |||||||
| Drive | 4WD skid steer | 4WD skid steer | 4WD skid steer | Rear drive, servo-steered front wheels | 4WD Mecanum wheels, moves sideways | 6 wheels on rocker-bogie suspension | 2 wheels with encoders, plus a caster |
| Camera | ESP32 board camera on a pan-tilt | 5 MP Pi camera (OV5647) on a pan-tilt | OV2640 on the ESP32 module, on a pan servo | 5 MP Pi camera (OV5647) on a pan-tilt | 1 MP USB camera on a pan-tilt | ESP32-CAM on a tilt servo | Not included (optional Pi camera) |
| Other sensors | Ultrasonic, IR line, light, IR remote, LED matrix face | Ultrasonic, 3-channel IR line, light | Ultrasonic, 3-channel IR line, IMU, IR remote | Ultrasonic, 3-channel grayscale line | Ultrasonic, 4-channel IR line, OLED, IR remote | Ultrasonic, 2 IR obstacle sensors, solar panel | Distance sensor, wheel encoders, Grove ports |
| Battery | 2 × 18650, not included | 2 × 18650, not included | 7.4 V 2000 mAh pack included, about 2 h | 2-cell 18650 pack included | 7.4 V 2000 mAh pack and charger included | 2 × 18650 included, about 90 min, solar top-up | Rechargeable pack and charger included |
| Programming | |||||||
| Code runs on | ESP32 microcontroller | Raspberry Pi (Linux) | Arduino UNO microcontroller | Raspberry Pi (Linux) | Raspberry Pi 5 (Linux) | Arduino UNO-compatible microcontroller | Raspberry Pi (Linux) |
| Languages and tools | Arduino C++, phone app, PC client | Python, phone app, PC client | Arduino C++, phone app | Python, Ezblock blocks, phone app | Python, ROS 2 Humble, phone app | Arduino C++, Scratch-style blocks (Mammoth Coding), phone app | Python, Bloxter blocks, Scratch |
| On-board vision | No, video stream only | OpenCV face tracking | No, video stream only | OpenCV and MediaPipe | OpenCV, MediaPipe and YOLO examples | No, video stream only | With the optional camera |
| LLM support | Possible via SDK | Possible via SDK | Possible via SDK | Official LLM tools | LLM plans actions | Possible via SDK | Possible via SDK |
| Assembly | Kit build, time not published | Kit build, time not published | About 1–1.5 h (reviews) | About 2 h (reviews) | Kit build, time not published | About 2–3.5 h, 300+ parts (reviews) | Kit build, time not published |
| Purchasing | |||||||
| Suggested ages | 12+ | 12+ | 8+ | 10+ | 12+ (est.) | 15+ | 10+ |
| Where to buy in the US | Amazon US or the Freenove store | Amazon US or the Freenove store | Amazon US | Amazon US | Amazon US or the Yahboom store | Amazon US | gopigo.io (Modular Robotics, USA) |
| Shipping to the US | 2–5 days (Amazon) | 2–6 days (Amazon) | 2–5 days (Amazon) | 2–5 days (Amazon) | 2–5 days (Amazon), about 1–2 weeks from Yahboom (est.) | 2–5 days (Amazon) | Not published |
Highlighted cells are the strongest in their row. Speeds marked (est.) are not published by the maker. They come from owner measurements or the makers' gait code, explained on each robot page. Prices are US list prices as of September 2026. Each robot's page has full specs, sources and photos.
Which one fits
- Freenove ESP32 is the cheapest way to get a camera car, at $63.99 with the ESP32 camera board included. It is coded in Arduino C++ only, and the two 18650 cells and charger cost extra.
- Freenove Raspberry Pi is the lowest-cost Python car for owners of a spare Raspberry Pi, with a pan-tilt camera, OpenCV face tracking and a desktop client. The Pi, batteries and charger are all extra.
- ELEGOO V4.0 is the quickest to build and comes with everything, battery included, for $79.99. It teaches Arduino C++ and wiring, but the UNO has little memory and the camera only streams video to a phone.
- PiCar-X has the most complete Python course, from Ezblock blocks through OpenCV to LLM voice lessons, and car-style steering. The Raspberry Pi is not included, and the LLM projects need a Pi 4 or 5 and an online account or a local model.
- Raspbot V2 is the only Mecanum car here built for the Raspberry Pi 5, with a metal frame, ROS 2 and YOLO examples. It needs a Pi 5, the AI voice module comes only with the $144.99 Superior kit, and Yahboom's own store ships from China.
- GalaxyRVR is a six-wheel Mars rover with rocker-bogie suspension and a solar panel, and the only one built for rough ground outdoors. It includes its board and batteries, but it is coded in Arduino C++ or blocks and takes the longest to build.
- GoPiGo3 is the only kit sold from a US maker and has wheel encoders for accurate driving and a long-running classroom curriculum. At $199 before the Raspberry Pi it is the most expensive, it skips the camera and it does not support the Pi 5.
The robots
Freenove 4WD Car Kit for ESP32 (FNK0053)Freenove (China)$63.99Freenove 4WD Smart Car Kit for Raspberry Pi (FNK0043)Freenove (China)$69.99 (no Pi)ELEGOO Smart Robot Car Kit V4.0 (with Camera)ELEGOO (China)$79.99PiCar-XSunFounder (China)$89.99 (no Pi)Yahboom Raspbot V2Yahboom (China)$114.99 – $144.99 (no Pi)SunFounder GalaxyRVR Mars Rover KitSunFounder (China)$129.99GoPiGo3Dexter Industries / Modular Robotics (USA)$199 (no Pi)