Choosing between microcontrollers & dev boards is less about picking the longest feature list and more about matching the board to how you plan to learn and build. The ELEGOO ESP-32 Super Starter Kit is oriented toward Arduino IDE projects and connected electronics, while the Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit takes a more focused PIC programming and debugging route.
Quick verdict
ELEGOO is the clearer fit for an Arduino IDE-oriented ESP-32 project with listed wireless and general-purpose connections. Microchip is the stronger match for PIC-focused programming and debugging around its named demo board. At the listed prices, the gap is $30.26, so the lower price does not remove the ecosystem difference.
Listed-price comparison
| Comparison | ELEGOO ESP-32 Super Starter Kit | Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 49.74 | USD 80.00 |
| Difference between listed prices | $30.26 lower | $30.26 higher |
Where each product wins
- ELEGOO wins when the project brief calls for an ESP-32 starter kit, Arduino IDE compatibility, and connections such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPIO, or I2C.
- Microchip wins when the work calls for the PICkit 2 programmer, PIC16F690 demo board, or in-circuit programming and debugging.
Product notes
ELEGOO ESP-32 Super Starter Kit with Tutorial and Development Board USB-C Dual C
The ELEGOO ESP-32 Super Starter Kit with Tutorial and Development Board USB-C Dual C is the natural match for a maker who wants a single kit spanning an ESP-32 board, Arduino IDE compatibility, and connected-project inputs. The title calls out a tutorial and USB-C, while the listed connectivity includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPIO, I2C, and USB. Those details give the kit a clear place in Arduino-oriented electronics work. The limitation is its stated workflow: Arduino IDE compatibility is the named fit, not the PIC programmer-and-demo-board route covered by the Microchip kit. Choose ELEGOO when wireless links or GPIO and I2C work are part of the project brief; choose Microchip when PIC-specific programming is the central requirement.
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690 follows a more specific learning and development path. Its description names the PICkit 2 USB programmer/debugger, a low-pin-count demo board, and a PIC16F690 microcontroller, along with tutorials and example projects for learning PIC programming. Support for many PIC microcontrollers and EEPROM devices, plus in-circuit programming and debugging, gives the kit a concrete role in embedded development practice. The limitation is that its stated scope is centered on PIC programming rather than the ESP-32 and Arduino IDE route described for ELEGOO. Choose Microchip when the target is PIC development, especially where the named demo board or debugging workflow matters.
Final choice by use case
For an electronics kit where tutorial-led Arduino work and connected experiments are the priority, choose the ELEGOO ESP-32 Super Starter Kit. Its $49.74 listed price also keeps the entry point below the Microchip kit's $80.00 price.
For a learner following PIC examples, programming EEPROM devices, or using in-circuit debugging, choose the Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit. The PIC16F690 demo-board focus makes that choice more targeted, even with the $30.26 higher listed price.
