AI for Arduino and ESP32: the tools compared
Anyone who wants to build something with Arduino or ESP32 today has several tools with AI or a simulator. They do different things: here is what each does, by its own site, and when it fits. Text to Chip is our product, so we say so first, with its limits.
The other tools' descriptions come from their own sites, read on October 28, 2026. If something changed, tell us.
Updated on October 31, 2026
Text to Chip
Describe the project in plain words, in English or Italian: you get the parts to buy, the wiring on the breadboard and a program that the compiler and the simulator check before giving it to you. The program then runs on its own on the board.
Use it when: you cannot code, want to know which parts to buy and how to wire them, and want to try everything in the browser before building it.
Limits: three boards (ESP32-S3, Arduino UNO R4 WiFi, Nordic nRF54LM20 DK) and the parts in its catalogue; the program is in Chip BASIC, not Arduino C++.
Wokwi
Presents itself as the most advanced ESP32 simulator: it simulates ESP32, STM32, Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico running their real code.
Use it when: you already have a C++ sketch or an ESP-IDF project and want to simulate it faithfully.
Limits: its site does not present it as an AI tool that designs for you.
Tinkercad Circuits
The electronics part of Autodesk's Tinkercad: free and easy, to design and simulate circuits with Arduino.
Use it when: you want to learn basic electronics on a simulated breadboard, often at school.
Limits: supports Arduino UNO and a few other boards; it does not design the circuit from a description.
Cirkit Designer
Describes itself as an AI-powered IDE to design, simulate and program Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico and IoT circuits in the browser.
Use it when: you want a full schematic editor with many boards and an assistant.
Limits: its site is in many languages but not Italian.
Schematik
Presents itself as an AI hardware IDE for Arduino, ESP32 and Pico: describe what you want to build and get code, wiring diagrams and step-by-step instructions.
Use it when: you work in English and want C++ code with assembly instructions.
Limits: its site is in English only.
Arduino AI Assistant
The assistant inside the Arduino Cloud Editor, built on Claude: it writes and fixes sketches.
Use it when: you already code in C++ with the Arduino ecosystem and want help with the code.
Limits: it helps with the code; the parts and the wiring are up to you.
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
General assistants can explain a project and write a sketch.
Use it when: you want to understand an idea or a piece of code.
Limits: they do not test the program, do not see your circuit and may name wrong pins or parts: check everything by hand before connecting the board.