Category: Buying Guides

Last updated October 2026. Prices are US list prices as of October 2026. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means RPi4U may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the faster board, and after the October 2026 price rise it is also the cheaper way in: a 1GB Pi 5 now costs less than a 2GB Pi 4. Here’s how the two compare, and when the Pi 4 still makes sense.

Quick verdict

• Buy the Pi 5 if you want a smooth desktop, run Home Assistant or a media server, or need fast SSD storage.
• Buy the Pi 5 (1GB, $45) if you’re building retro gaming, a TV box, a 3D-printer controller or a simple sign, and want to spend as little as possible. It’s faster than a 2GB Pi 4 and $22.50 cheaper.
• Buy a Pi 4 only for compatibility, such as a case, HAT or headphone jack you need. At $67.50 (2GB), $100 (4GB) and $165 (8GB) it costs about the same as, or more than, a much faster Pi 5.

Side-by-side specs

	Raspberry Pi 5	Raspberry Pi 4
Processor	4-core Cortex-A76, 2.4 GHz	4-core Cortex-A72, 1.8 GHz
Speed	2–3 times faster (official figure)	Baseline
Memory options	1, 2, 4, 8 or 16GB	1, 2, 3, 4 or 8GB
Price (2GB)	$77.50	$67.50
Price (4GB)	$110	$100
Fast SSD support	Yes, through a PCIe connector (needs an adapter board)	USB only
Video output	Two 4K screens at 60fps	Up to 4K via two micro-HDMI ports
Cameras and displays	Two connectors, each works as camera or display	One camera and one display connector
Power supply	5V/5A USB-C (27W)	5V/3A USB-C (15W)
Extras	Power button, built-in real-time clock	Headphone/composite jack

Where the Pi 5 is clearly better

Everyday speed. Raspberry Pi says the Pi 5 is two to three times faster than the Pi 4. You notice it most as a desktop: web pages, apps and updates all feel quicker.

Storage. The Pi 5’s PCIe connector lets you add an NVMe SSD with an adapter board. SSDs are much faster and more reliable than microSD cards, which matters for servers that run 24/7, like Home Assistant or a NAS.

Small conveniences. A real power button, a built-in clock that keeps time when unplugged (with an optional battery), and two connectors that can each take a camera or a display.

Where the Pi 4 still wins

Price, not any more. Cost used to be the Pi 4’s big advantage. After two increases in 2026 the 2GB Pi 4 is $67.50, only $10 less than the 2GB Pi 5 and $22.50 more than the 1GB Pi 5. For light jobs, the 1GB Pi 5 is now both cheaper and faster.

Power and heat. The Pi 4 needs a smaller 15W power supply and usually runs fine without a fan for light jobs. The Pi 5 needs a 27W supply, and a small active cooler is recommended.

Maturity. The Pi 4 has been out since 2019, so almost every tutorial, case and add-on board works with it. Raspberry Pi has committed to making it until at least January 2034.

Which one for your project?

Project	Our pick
Retro gaming	Pi 5 (1GB)
TV box with Kodi, digital sign	Pi 5 (1GB)
3D-printer controller (OctoPrint)	Pi 5 (1GB)
Home Assistant	Pi 5 (2GB)
Media server or NAS	Pi 5 (4GB)
Desktop computer	Pi 5 (4GB) or Pi 500
Ad blocker or VPN	Neither: a $15 Pi Zero 2 W is enough

Still deciding? Try our Which Pi do I need? tool, or read the full 2026 buying guide covering every model.

Sources: Raspberry Pi 5 product page, Raspberry Pi 4 specifications, 2026 Raspberry Pi pricing guide (Mehatronika), Raspberry Pi, October 2026.

Last updated October 2026. Prices are US list prices as of October 2026. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means RPi4U may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Memory (RAM) is now the biggest factor in what a Raspberry Pi costs. A 2GB Pi 5 is $77.50, while the 16GB version is $305. Most projects need far less than people expect, so choosing the right amount is the easiest way to save money in 2026.

The quick guide

Memory	Good for	Pi 5 price
512MB (Zero 2 W)	Ad blockers, VPNs, sensors, simple cameras	$15 (Zero 2 W)
1GB	One job at a time: retro gaming, OctoPrint, a TV box, a sign, a small server	$45
2GB	Home Assistant and most server projects	$77.50
4GB	Media servers, a home NAS, several apps at once, light desktop use	$110
8GB	A comfortable everyday desktop, many containers, small local AI models	$175
16GB	Large local AI models and heavy multitasking	$305

Why RAM costs so much in 2026

Memory chip prices rose sharply across the electronics industry. On April 1, 2026, Raspberry Pi passed those costs on by raising prices on most Pi 4 and Pi 5 models with 4GB or more. The 1GB and 2GB models were spared then, but on October 1, 2026, the 2GB Pi 4 and Pi 5 went up by $12.50 too. The 1GB models still cost what they did, which is why they’re the best value today.

Three questions to find your number

1. Will you use the desktop? The Raspberry Pi desktop and a web browser use a lot of memory. If you’ll sit in front of it with a screen, get at least 4GB, and 8GB if you keep many browser tabs open. If it will run on its own in a cupboard (“headless”), you can go much lower.

2. How many things will it run at once? One job, like an ad blocker or a 3D-printer controller, fits easily in 1–2GB. Every extra app or container adds to the total. If you plan to keep adding services over time, 4GB gives you room to grow.

3. Does the software say what it needs? Check the project’s own requirements before you buy. For example, Home Assistant asks for at least 2GB on a Pi 4 or Pi 5.

Common mistakes

• Buying 8GB “to be safe” for a headless project. An ad blocker or sensor logger will never use it, and it costs $97.50 more than the 2GB Pi 5.
• Buying 1GB for a desktop. It will work, but it will feel slow. For desktop use, 4GB is the practical minimum.
• Using a slow microSD card and blaming the RAM. Many “my Pi is slow” problems come from cheap storage. An A2-rated card or an SSD often helps more than extra memory.
• Assuming the Pi 4 is the cheap option. Not any more: a 2GB Pi 4 is $67.50, while a faster 1GB Pi 5 is $45. For light projects, the 1GB Pi 5 is the better deal.

The bottom line

For single-job projects, 1GB is now the best value in 2026. Choose 2GB for Home Assistant and most server projects, step up to 4GB for media servers or desktop use, and only go to 8GB or 16GB if you know you’ll run many apps at once or experiment with local AI.

Want a personal recommendation? Try our Which Pi do I need? tool, or compare the boards in Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4.

Sources: 2026 Raspberry Pi pricing guide (Mehatronika), The Register, April 2026, Home Assistant installation guide, Raspberry Pi, October 2026.

Last updated October 2026. Prices are US list prices as of October 2026. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means RPi4U may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Raspberry Pi prices jumped in 2026, so picking the right model matters more than it used to. The good news: most projects don’t need the most expensive board. This guide tells you which Pi to buy for what you want to build, and how to avoid paying for RAM you’ll never use.

The short answer

If you want to…	Buy this	Price
Block ads (Pi-hole), run a VPN, log sensors	Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W	$15
Retro gaming, a TV box, a kiosk or sign, a 3D-printer controller	Raspberry Pi 5 (1GB)	$45
Run Home Assistant	Raspberry Pi 5 (2GB)	$77.50
Run a media server or home NAS	Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB)	$110
Use it as a desktop computer	Raspberry Pi 500 (8GB)	$180

Not sure which project fits you? Our Which Pi do I need? tool asks five quick questions and recommends the cheapest Pi that will do the job.

Why Raspberry Pi prices went up in 2026

On April 1, 2026, Raspberry Pi raised prices on most Pi 4 and Pi 5 models with 4GB of memory or more. The reason is the cost of memory chips, which rose sharply across the whole electronics industry. The 16GB Pi 5 went from $120 in 2025 to $305 today.

The 2GB models went up next. The 2GB Pi 4 rose to $55 in February, and on October 1, 2026, Raspberry Pi added $12.50 to both 2GB boards: the Pi 4 is now $67.50 and the Pi 5 $77.50. The 1GB Pi 4 and Pi 5 and the Zero 2 W have not changed, which makes them the best value right now. Buy only the memory your project needs.

Every current model, compared

Model	Processor	Memory	Price (US)	Best for
Pi Zero 2 W	4-core, 1.0 GHz	512MB	$15	Small, always-on jobs
Pi 4	4-core, 1.8 GHz	2GB / 3GB / 4GB / 8GB	$67.50 / $83.75 / $100 / $165	Existing Pi 4 add-ons
Pi 5	4-core, 2.4 GHz	1GB / 2GB / 4GB / 8GB / 16GB	$45 / $77.50 / $110 / $175 / $305	Almost everything
Pi 500	Same as Pi 5	8GB	$180	Plug-in desktop
Pi 500+	Same as Pi 5	16GB + 256GB SSD	$410	Premium desktop

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W ($15): the best value Pi

It’s tiny (65 × 30 mm), sips power, and has built-in Wi-Fi. It isn’t fast, but it doesn’t need to be for jobs that just run quietly in the background: a Pi-hole ad blocker, a small VPN, a weather station or a sensor logger. (For a weather station, we like the SparkFun BME280 sensor, which measures temperature, humidity and air pressure.) Its price didn’t go up in 2026, which makes it one of the few Pis that is still a bargain.

Raspberry Pi 4 ($67.50 for 2GB): no longer the budget pick

The Pi 4 used to be the cheap all-rounder, but after two price rises in 2026 the 2GB model costs $67.50, more than the faster 1GB Pi 5 at $45. Buy one only if you need something the Pi 4 has and the Pi 5 doesn’t, like its headphone jack or a case or HAT you already own. The 4GB and 8GB Pi 4 ($100 and $165) are also poor value next to a Pi 5.

Raspberry Pi 5 ($45–$305): the one to get if you need speed

The Pi 5 is roughly two to three times faster than the Pi 4. It also adds a PCIe connector, so you can attach a fast NVMe SSD instead of relying on a microSD card, plus true gigabit Ethernet and a built-in clock. How much memory to get:

• 1GB ($45): the new budget pick. It handles retro gaming, a TV box with Kodi, a digital sign or a 3D-printer controller with OctoPrint. For server jobs, use the “Lite” (no desktop) version of Raspberry Pi OS.
• 2GB ($77.50): the sweet spot for Home Assistant and most server projects.
• 4GB ($110): media servers like Jellyfin, a home NAS, or light desktop use.
• 8GB ($175) and 16GB ($305): only for running many apps at once or experimenting with local AI. Most people don’t need this much.

Raspberry Pi 500 ($180) and 500+ ($410): a computer in a keyboard

The Pi 500 is a Pi 5 built into a keyboard with 8GB of memory. Plug in a monitor and mouse and you have a working desktop, which makes it a great first computer for kids or a simple machine for learning to code. The Pi 500+ adds a mechanical keyboard, 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, but at $410 it’s hard to recommend over a used mini PC.

Don’t forget these parts

A bare Pi board won’t do anything on its own. Budget for:

• A power supply that matches your model. The Pi 5 needs a 5V/5A USB-C supply. The Pi 4 needs 5V/3A. A weak phone charger is the most common cause of crashes.
• Storage. A good 32GB or larger microSD card, or an NVMe SSD with an adapter board for a Pi 5.
• A case. Protects the board and makes it easier to mount.
• Cooling for a Pi 5. A small active cooler keeps it from slowing down under load.
• Cables. The Pi 4 and Pi 5 use micro-HDMI, not full-size HDMI.

The bottom line

For most people in 2026, the best Raspberry Pi is the cheapest one that fits the project: a Zero 2 W for simple always-on jobs, a Pi 5 1GB for gaming, TV boxes and printer controllers, or a Pi 5 2GB for Home Assistant and servers. Only step up to 4GB or more when you know your project needs it.

Ready to pick yours? Try our Which Pi do I need? tool for a personal recommendation and shopping list, or compare the top two boards in Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4.

Sources: 2026 Raspberry Pi pricing guide (Mehatronika), The Register, April 2026, raspberry.tips model comparison, Raspberry Pi, October 2026.