Top 10 Cheapest Microcontrollers You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use in 2026
When you’re developing a new electronic product, one of the biggest cost decisions you’ll make is the microcontroller.
It’s often one of the pricier parts on the board, and the choice you make affects performance, power, and long-term cost.
The good news is, there are now more low-cost microcontrollers available than ever before.
Some are shockingly cheap, but the real question is whether they’re actually worth it.
Because a few of these bargain chips come with trade-offs that can cost you far more in the long run.
So in this video, I’ll walk you through the top 10 cheapest microcontrollers you can actually use in a real product.
We’ll count down from the most expensive to the cheapest, compare what you get for your money, and talk about which ones you should and shouldn’t use.
Alright, let’s get started.
#10 – Raspberry Pi RP2040 / RP2350
Let’s start with the fastest and most powerful chips on this list, the RP2040 and RP2350 from Raspberry Pi.
The RP2040 runs a dual-core Cortex-M0+ up to 133 MHz, with 264 KB of SRAM and external flash. You do need a separate flash chip for program storage, but it’s a small price to pay for that kind of performance.
This is the most capable microcontroller here by far. Nothing else on this list matches its clock speed or dual-core design.
The newer RP2350 adds more performance and memory yet still stays under $1 in production quantities.
For development, you’ve got the Raspberry Pi Pico board for the RP2040 and the Pico 2 board for the RP2350. Both are inexpensive, well supported, and backed by a huge community.
If your product needs serious processing power at a low cost, the RP2040 and RP2350 are both excellent choices.
#9 – Renesas RA0 Family
Next is the Renesas RA0 family, one of the newest low-cost 32-bit lines from a major vendor.
A good example is the RA0E1, which runs an Arm Cortex-M23 core at 32 MHz with 64 KB of flash and 12 KB of RAM.
Pricing comes in around 60 to 70 cents in 1,000-unit quantities, putting it toward the upper end of this list but still under a dollar.
What makes the RA0 stand out is that it’s built on Arm’s newer M23 core, which supports TrustZone security while keeping power and cost low.
It’s a nice balance of performance, efficiency, and long-term reliability, and Renesas has a strong reputation for industrial-grade MCUs.
There’s also a Renesas development board available, so you can start prototyping right away.
If you want a low-cost 32-bit microcontroller from a top-tier vendor with strong support, the RA0 family is a great choice.
#8 – Microchip PIC16 Family
Another long-running favorite, the PIC16 family is used in millions of products worldwide.
A representative part like the PIC16F15313 runs at 32 MHz with 3.5 KB of flash and 256 bytes of RAM.
Pricing typically lands around 60 to 70 cents in volume depending on features and package.
The PIC16 line is well-documented, easy to find, and has an enormous ecosystem of boards and tutorials.
Performance is limited since these are 8-bit MCUs, but they’re extremely dependable for small control tasks.
If you want stability and long-term availability, the PIC16 family is still one of the safest bets out there.
#7 – Texas Instruments MSP430 Family
Next up is a name that’s been around for decades, the MSP430 from Texas Instruments.
This family has earned its reputation as one of the most efficient low-power microcontrollers ever made.
A typical part like the MSP430G2553 runs at up to 16 MHz with 16 KB of flash and 512 bytes of RAM.
Pricing is about 45 to 50 cents in 1,000-unit quantities, which still makes it one of the most affordable options available.
The MSP430’s biggest advantage is power efficiency. It was built from the ground up for battery-powered products and it’s still one of the best performers if your product needs to run for months or years on a small battery.
The downside is that it’s a 16-bit architecture, not 32-bit like some of the more modern options.
TI offers several LaunchPad boards for the MSP430, which makes it easy to experiment and test your design.
If ultra-low power is your top priority, the MSP430 is still a great fit for real-world products today.
#6 – STMicroelectronics STM32C0 Family
The STM32C0 family is one of the most impressive low-cost options from a major vendor.
A typical example is the STM32C011, a Cortex-M0+ running at 48 MHz with 32 KB of flash and 6 KB of RAM.
For about 40 cents, you get access to ST’s full development ecosystem and toolchain used across their higher-end parts.
This family is perfect for cost-sensitive products that don’t need wireless but still need reliable, professional-grade performance.
ST even makes a Discovery Kit for the STM32C0 series to make prototyping easy.
If you want low risk, long-term support, and solid tools, the STM32C0 family is hard to beat.
#5 – Texas Instruments MSPM0 Family
Next is TI’s MSPM0 family, built for low-cost, low-power applications.
One of the cheapest examples, the MSPM0C1103, runs at 24 MHz with 8 KB of flash and 1 KB of RAM.
At roughly 25 cents each, it offers great analog performance and typical TI reliability.
It’s ideal for sensor nodes, power monitors, or control circuits where accuracy matters more than speed.
There’s also a LaunchPad board for the MSPM0 to get you started quickly, and TI’s software libraries are excellent.
If you want an inexpensive 32-bit chip from a top-tier vendor with great analog performance, the MSPM0 family is a solid choice.
#4 – Microchip ATtiny Family
The ATtiny family from Microchip is a classic option for low-cost control.
A typical ATtiny202 runs at 20 MHz with 2 KB of flash and 128 bytes of RAM.
They usually cost around 25 to 30 cents in volume and are known for their simplicity and rock-solid reliability.
These chips have been around for decades, so there are countless development boards and example projects available.
If your product just needs to toggle a few GPIOs or handle basic control tasks, ATtiny MCUs are still a great option.
#3 – Nuvoton N76 Family
The N76 family from Nuvoton is based on the old 8051 core and still shows up in plenty of low-cost consumer products.
A common part, the N76E003, runs at 16 MHz with 18 KB of flash and 1 KB of RAM.
Pricing is around 20 to 25 cents in volume.
You’ll find these chips in LED controllers, small appliances, and interface boards.
They’re simple and stable but based on an older architecture that isn’t as efficient as modern 32-bit designs.
If you’re already familiar with 8051 development, these can make sense. If not, you’re probably better off with something newer like the STM32C0 or MSPM0.
#2 – CH32 Family
Now we’re entering the extreme budget range with the CH32 family from a Chinese company commonly known as WCH.
The CH32V003 uses a 32-bit RISC-V core running at 48 MHz with 16 KB of flash and 2 KB of RAM.
At around 10 cents in volume, this is unbelievably cheap.
Documentation and support are limited, but a small open-source community is working to improve that.
You’ll find a few basic dev boards, but expect to do more figuring out on your own.
That’s the trade-off you save money, but you take on more risk around supply and tooling.
If you handle your own production and want to push costs as low as possible, the CH32 family is one of the most interesting ultra-cheap options around.
#1 – Puya PY32 Family
Finally, the cheapest usable microcontroller is the Puya PY32 family.
One of the lowest-cost models, the PY32F002B, is a Cortex-M0+ running at 24 MHz with 24 KB of flash and 3 KB of RAM.
Prices can drop as low as 8 cents in large orders.
The PY32 uses real flash memory so it’s fully reprogrammable and practical for production.
There are some community-made dev boards, but they’re basic and lightly documented.
And since Puya is another Chinese company rather than a tier-one vendor, you’re taking on some risk around long-term support and availability.
Still, it’s amazing that a fully capable 32-bit microcontroller now costs under ten cents.
If you need help selecting the best microcontroller for your product, we can help you inside the Hardware Academy.
You’ll get direct access to me and a team of engineers who can review your design, answer questions, and help you make the right technical choices for your specific product.
If you enjoyed this video, check out these next two – one compares the ESP32, STM32, nRF52, and RP2040, and the other covers the most powerful microcontrollers you’ll see in 2026.
