⚙️ RISC-V vs ARM – Key Differences for Embedded Designers
Choosing the Right Core for Your Next Project
If you’ve worked with Arduino, STM32, or ESP-based boards, you’ve already met ARM processors — the most common embedded cores in use today.
But lately, there’s a new player on the scene: RISC-V, the open-source alternative that’s changing how designers think about hardware.
Both architectures are powerful, efficient, and flexible — but they take very different paths to get there.
Let’s break down what sets them apart and help you decide which one fits your next project best.
🧠 The Big Picture
At a glance:
- ARM is a licensed, proprietary architecture, built by Arm Ltd., known for its polished ecosystem and proven performance.
- RISC-V is an open-standard architecture, free to use and modify — ideal for innovation and cost-sensitive projects.
ARM cores are everywhere — powering Arduino boards like the MKR1000, Nano 33, and Portenta H7.
RISC-V, on the other hand, is newer but growing fast, used in boards like Seeed Studio’s Wio RISC-V or Arduino’s experimental platforms.
⚙️ Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | RISC-V | ARM |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | Open-source RISC | Proprietary RISC |
| Core Variants | Highly customizable | Standardized families (Cortex-M, -A, -R) |
| Licensing Cost | Free to use | Licensed per design |
| Ecosystem | Growing, open-community driven | Mature, with official SDKs and IDEs |
| Toolchain Support | GCC, LLVM, PlatformIO, Arduino | Keil, STM32CubeIDE, Arduino, GCC |
| Power Efficiency | Excellent for small cores | Tuned and predictable |
| Security | Optional extensions (customizable) | Integrated TrustZone and secure boot |
| Performance Range | From 32-bit MCUs to 64-bit SoCs | Broad – from Cortex-M0 to Cortex-A76 |
| Best For | Innovation, education, open design | Industrial, commercial, and IoT systems |
RISC-V focuses on freedom and flexibility, while ARM emphasizes consistency and reliability.
💡 When to Choose Each
Choose RISC-V when:
- You want to customize your chip design.
- Cost and open access are key priorities.
- You’re developing for education or research.
- You want to experiment with hybrid or low-power open architectures.
Choose ARM when:
- You need a stable, well-supported ecosystem.
- You rely on vendor tools or RTOS frameworks.
- You’re building production-grade devices that need long-term support.
- Security and certified toolchains are essential.
🚀 How They Coexist
The future isn’t “ARM or RISC-V” — it’s both.
ARM continues to dominate consumer and industrial devices, while RISC-V grows rapidly in AI, IoT, and low-power research platforms.
More hybrid systems (like UNO Q) now use ARM for applications and RISC-V for co-processing or energy-sensitive control.
Together, they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in embedded design.
💬 In Simple Terms
ARM gives you a polished and proven platform.
RISC-V gives you the freedom to build your own.
Both are shaping the future of microcontroller and processor technology — and both have a place on your workbench.