{"id":4324,"date":"2026-10-10T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T09:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kahrobot.com\/?p=4324"},"modified":"2026-10-16T14:13:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T11:13:06","slug":"arduino-simulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kahrobot.com\/en\/arduino-simulator\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Free Arduino Simulator: Tinkercad, Wokwi or Proteus?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Short answer:<\/strong> If you're a beginner, the best free Arduino simulator for you is Tinkercad Circuits<\/strong>: it runs in the browser, simulates the Arduino Uno<\/span>\u00a0board, and lets you program with blocks or with code. When you move on to ESP32 and the Internet of Things, use Wokwi<\/strong>, which is free for public projects and simulates Wi-Fi connections. Meanwhile, Proteus<\/strong> is paid professional software for designing circuits and printed circuit boards, better suited to engineering students than to beginners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Comparison<\/th>\nTinkercad Circuits<\/th>\nWokwi<\/th>\nProteus<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Price<\/th>\nFree<\/td>\nFree for public projects, with paid plans for private projects and extra features<\/td>\nPaid (commercial or educational licence)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Where it runs<\/th>\nIn the browser, with a free Autodesk account<\/td>\nIn the browser, plus a VS Code extension on the paid plans<\/td>\nWindows desktop software<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boards<\/th>\nArduino Uno R3<\/span> and basic electronic parts<\/td>\nCommon Arduino boards, the ESP32 family,\u00a0Raspberry Pi Pico<\/span> and more<\/td>\nMany microcontrollers and a huge parts library<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Block programming<\/th>\nYes, with code as an option<\/td>\nCode only<\/td>\nCode, plus a visual design tool for some projects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wi-Fi simulation<\/th>\nNo<\/td>\nYes, with ESP32<\/td>\nNot its main focus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best for<\/th>\nBeginners and school students<\/td>\nAnyone who has finished the basics and wants ESP32 and the Internet of Things<\/td>\nEngineering students and PCB design<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Why do you need an Arduino simulator at all?<\/h2>\n

A simulator lets you build the circuit, write the program and run it on screen before you buy a single part. If you reverse an LED's polarity, forget the resistor or use the wrong pin, you see the mistake without damaging anything. That's why it's the best start for anyone learning Arduino from scratch<\/a>, and an excellent tool for trying out a project idea before you build it.<\/p>\n

Tinkercad Circuits: the best Arduino simulator for beginners<\/h2>\n

Tinkercad Circuits<\/a> is a free tool from Autodesk that runs in the browser. You drag the Arduino board, the breadboard and the parts onto the screen, wire them up as in real life, then write the program and press \u201cStart Simulation\u201d. Its big strength is simplicity: a clear interface, ready-made examples, and block programming that suits young learners before they move on to code.<\/p>\n

Its limit is that it simulates the Arduino Uno R3<\/span> and a limited set of parts and sensors, and it supports neither ESP32 nor internet connections. But it's enough for almost all of the early learning stages.<\/p>\n

Wokwi: an Arduino and ESP32 simulator with Wi-Fi<\/h2>\n

Wokwi<\/a> is another simulator that runs in the browser, but it supports far more boards: Arduino Uno, Nano and Mega, the ESP32 family, and\u00a0Raspberry Pi Pico<\/span>, and it simulates an ESP32 connecting to a virtual Wi-Fi network, so you can try Internet of Things projects before buying any board. The free plan allows unlimited simulations and unlimited public projects, while private projects, the VS Code extension and other features come with the paid plans.<\/p>\n

Its interface is closer to a programmer's environment: you write the code and describe the wiring, and there's no block programming. That makes it a better fit for someone who has finished the basics than for a complete beginner. If you're comparing the two boards, read the difference between Arduino and ESP32<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Proteus: professional software for engineering students<\/h2>\n

Proteus<\/a> from Labcenter is desktop software that combines circuit drawing, simulation and printed circuit board (PCB) design. Many electrical and electronics engineering students use it at university, and it simulates microcontrollers with lots of electronic parts and virtual measuring instruments. But it's paid Windows software, harder to learn, and simulating Arduino in it needs the right licence package. You don't need it at the start, but it's useful later if you move into circuit and PCB design.<\/p>\n

How do you choose the right Arduino simulator for you?<\/h2>\n