It might surprise newcomers to the world of Arduino that these nifty little boards have been around since 2005! Designed as a cost-effective and easy way for students to learn simple electronic and software programming, the Arduino ecosystem (along with its community) has continued to grow and now has endless applications.
If you want to get started with some basic Arduino programming and projects, you’ll be faced with an overwhelming array of options and tutorials from all over the internet. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best sites for beginners, to help you find the right one for you.
Adafruit
Adafruit is a great option if you’re totally new and are looking for a bright and visually engaging way to learn Arduino. There’s content for everyone, from beginners armed with their very first starter kits right through to experts with some complex projects already behind them.
The tutorials are bright and fun and utilize clear visual and written directions for every step of the project. There are tutorials suitable for a variety of skill levels and project types, and the regular updates with new guides mean you’ll never run out of new and unique projects to hone your skills.
- Price: Free
- Length: Self-taught at own pace, with a large volume of content to choose from
- Recommended level: Perfect for absolute beginners of all ages and visual learners
- Where to find it: Adafruit
Arduino
The official Arduino site has a wealth of knowledge that’s available to professionals, students, and hobbyists alike. While it offers its substantial content and projects for beginners, it can appear a bit overwhelming at a first glance.
Tutorials are presented as documents of cheatsheets and instructions, however, the content can be quite dry and assumes a familiarity with the basics that absolute beginners might struggle with. Therefore, these projects are perhaps more suited to seasoned beginners and those with some familiarity with programming.
- Price: Free
- Length: Self-taught at own pace, with a large volume of content to choose from
- Recommended level: Better for more advanced beginners
- Where to find it: Arduino
Tech Explorations
Tech Explorations’ content is broken down into five chapters, each with multiple subsections. There’s a lot of reading here, and a lot of the subsections break away to other articles or web pages, so be prepared to jump around a bit!
There are basic summary images (like the one shown above), so if you’re looking for something that’s getting up close with lots of example pictures, this isn’t going to be the tutorial for you. There is, however, a considerable amount of in-depth content to explore that goes into the finer details, so it’s definitely a good start if you love a deep dive into the background information of your projects.
- Price: Free
- Length: Self-taught at own pace across five chapters, each with multiple subsections
- Recommended level: Better for those looking to deep dive into the finer points – be prepared to read a lot!
- Where to find it: Tech Explorations
Technology Tutorials
If you don’t have the confidence to go through a step-by-step tutorial with only pictures to guide you, then Paul Whorton’s Technology Tutorials website is a great option. Run by a former electrical engineer turned science teacher, these videos break down each step into an easy-to-follow – yet still greatly detailed – stage. This is perfect for those who want someone there to offer more guidance (plus the ability to pause doesn’t hurt!).
- Price: Free
- Length: Each video varies in length
- Recommended level: Perfect for those looking for a little more human guidance
- Where to find it: Technology Tutorials, YouTube
FreeCodeCamp
Another great video course to consider is FreeCodeCamp, however, this isn’t a course for the faint of heart. With the first video clocking in at an impressive 4 hours and 4 minutes, this is certainly the choice for very dedicated beginners with a lot of time to commit, rather than those who are just looking to dip their toes in the Arduino water. Don’t let the runtime scare you off though, these videos are really well structured and are great for getting into the depths and intricacies of Arduino’s full capabilities!
- Price: Free
- Length: The length of videos can be a little overwhelming, with the first video clocking in at an impressive 4 hours!
- Recommended level: A great option for those who are a little more serious about learning Arduino quickly
- Where to find it: FreeCodeCamp, YouTube
Grinfer
If you struggle with learning off of your own steam, then this course from Grinfer might be a better option for you. With a free 3-day trial (and then a one-off payment of around $30 after that if you wish to continue), you can get a feel for a more structured course that follows an outline. You can still learn at your own pace, but any questions that you might have along the way can be directed to the instructor.
- Price: ~$30
- Length: Learn at your own pace
- Recommended level: More structured than some options, with additional instructor supervision and support if needed
- Where to find it: Grinfer
Instructables
If you’re looking for a well-balanced tutorial that sits between visual and written learning, then this Instructables course by Becky Stern is a great option. There’s a considerable range of follow-up projects to keep you learning, and the content takes you through a wide range of possibilities to explore with Arduino.
All the instructions are clear and in-depth with accompanying imagery, and there’s a handy product requirement list so you can make sure that you’ve got everything you need before you start.
- Price: Free
- Length: Learn at your own pace
- Recommended level: A nice balance between clear images and written instruction suitable for beginners
- Where to find it: Instructables
STEMpedia
STEMpedia is a great website that caters to Arduino users of all levels. Their clearly labeled tutorials and the huge range of content mean that there’s something for every level of user. Even better, the fun and varied types of tutorials mean that you get a chance to really tailor what you want to learn and dive into everything that Arduino has to offer. You certainly won’t get bored!
- Price: Free
- Length: Learn at your own pace
- Recommended level: Something for everyone with great variation in the types of projects
- Where to find it: STEMpedia
Programming Electronics Academy
If you’re short on time (or learn best under pressure), then Programming Electronics Academy is a fantastic option. Their Arduino Crash Course is designed to get you up and running with Arduino in as short a time as possible – it really is a crash course! The 12 video lessons get you up to speed on the basics of Arduino programming and coding, its two most vital functions.
In addition to the crash course, Programming Electronics Academy has a whole range of written and video tutorials on various ways to use Arduino, and there’s also a library of member-submitted projects.
- Price: Free
- Length: Fast and fierce
- Recommended level: A real crash course to get beginners up to speed with the basics
- Where to find it: Programming Electronics Academy, YouTube
Udemy
Udemy offers a range of courses across various topics, ranging from Arduino for absolute beginners through to some more ambitious and technical projects. As with all paid courses, you’ll experience a much more structured learning environment along with the knowledge and support of the course instructors. Each course offers a different approach to learning, so if you’re considering a more formal type of course, we’d recommend some browsing.
- Price: Variable between courses, with regular discounts
- Length: Course-dependent
- Recommended level: Everyone from true beginners to experienced tinkerers
- Where to find it: Udemy
License: The text of "Learn Arduino: The Best Sites" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.