Wokwi
What it is
Wokwi is a device simulator for building and debugging firmware for simulated microcontrollers. It supports Arduino (C/C++), MicroPython, CircuitPython, and Rust. Board choices include Arduino Uno, Nano, and Mega, ATtiny85, the ESP32 family, STM32C031, STM32L031, STM32F103C8, and Raspberry Pi Pico. Supported communication protocols include WiFi, HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, MQTT, NTP, CoAP, DNS, TCP, UDP, UART, I2C, and SPI. Simulated targets include AVR, ESP32, STM32, and RP2040 microcontrollers, and firmware can be exported for Raspberry Pi Pico. Wokwi lists Linux, macOS, Windows, and web among its platforms. The Community plan costs nothing and includes unlimited simulations, unlimited public projects, and Virtual WiFi. Paid plans are billed annually: Hobby is €5.60 per month with 100 monthly fast build minutes; Hobby+ is €8.10 per month with 500; Wokwi Pro is €20.00 per month with 1,000 fast build minutes and 2,000 CI minutes monthly.
For and against
For
- Supports four listed programming languages.
- Simulates a broad set of boards and microcontrollers.
- Includes WiFi, MQTT, and serial protocols.
- Community includes unlimited simulations and public projects.
- Firmware export is available for Raspberry Pi Pico.
Against
- Paid plans are billed annually.
- Hobby includes 100 monthly fast build minutes.
- Wokwi Pro costs €20.00 per month.
The verdict
Wokwi offers a free entry point for simulation and public projects, with paid plans adding specified monthly build or CI minutes. Review the included minute allowances against your intended use.
Who it suits
Wokwi may suit people writing or debugging firmware for the listed simulated microcontrollers. Its language, board, and protocol support covers a range of embedded development projects.
Plans and prices
Hobby
100 monthly fast build minutes · Unlisted projects · Custom libraries · Private IoT Gateway
Read 15 Oct 2026 · wokwi.com
Hobby+
500 monthly fast build minutes · Wokwi for VS Code · Unlisted projects · Custom libraries
Read 15 Oct 2026 · wokwi.com
Wokwi Pro
1000 monthly fast build minutes · 2000 monthly CI minutes · VS Code offline plug-in · Team billing and invoices
Read 15 Oct 2026 · wokwi.com
Community
Unlimited simulations · Unlimited public projects · Virtual WiFi
Read 15 Oct 2026 · wokwi.com
Classroom
Institutional subscription with seats and classroom terms set by quotation
Read 15 Oct 2026 · wokwi.com
On the record
- Browser startup
- The documentation says users can begin coding in the browser without downloading large software or waiting for components.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- CI command line
- Wokwi CLI uses a WOKWI_CLI_TOKEN, can initialize wokwi.toml and diagram.json, detects PlatformIO, ESP-IDF and Pico SDK projects, and runs simulations from a terminal.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- CLI licensing
- The public wokwi-cli repository is marked as MIT licensed.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Commercial licensing
- Wokwi for VS Code is free for open-source projects, while commercial use requires a purchased license.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Custom chips
- The beta Chips API lets developers create custom sensors, displays, memories and test instruments using C or other languages compiled to WebAssembly, with experimental Verilog support.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Custom libraries
- Paid plans allow uploading custom Arduino, ESP32 and Pi Pico libraries plus binary files for simulated SD cards.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data-controller change
- The privacy policy states that service operation and data control moved from CodeMagic Ltd. in Israel to Wokwi B.V. in the Netherlands on May 1, 2026.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation includes getting-started guides, supported-hardware tables, project configuration references, CI instructions and detailed GPIO, analog, time, UART, I2C, SPI and framebuffer API references.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Domain history
- Scam Detector reports a wokwi.com domain registration date of October 17, 2019.scam-detector.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Gateway limitation
- The IoT Gateway supports TCP and UDP but does not support ICMP ping.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- GDB debugging
- The CLI and VS Code workflows support starting simulations paused and connecting GDB for breakpoints and debugging.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Legal entity
- Wokwi B.V. is a Dutch private limited company registered at Prof. J.H. Bavincklaan 4, 1183 AT Amstelveen, Netherlands.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: analog fidelity
- Mokxi reports that Wokwi's simulation is digital and does not model resistor-divider behavior like a physical analog circuit.mokxi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: enterprise simulation depth
- Gitnux identifies limited analog SPICE fidelity, mixed-signal and parasitic-extraction workflows, enterprise automation/API breadth and runtime scaling as tradeoffs.gitnux.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: physical validation
- Independent comparison material says simulation cannot replace real-hardware checks for electrical behavior and physical component effects.gitnux.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Logic analyzer
- Wokwi provides a virtual logic analyzer for capturing and examining digital signals such as UART, I2C and SPI.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- MCP integration
- The CLI includes an experimental MCP server that lets AI agents run simulations, tests and serial-log monitoring.docs.wokwi.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Open-source component
- The public avr8js simulator library used by Wokwi is released under the MIT license.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
