Best Beginner ESP32 Kit? ESPHome Starter Kit Reviews Roundup

Eight YouTube channels and five tech outlets have reviewed the ESPHome Starter Kit since launch. Here is every review in one place, plus why this $40 no-solder kit works for classrooms, makerspaces, and tinkerers.

Justin Bunton Updated on Oct 12, 2026

ESPHome Starter Kit Reviews: What YouTubers and Tech Press Are Saying About the $40 No-Solder Electronics Kit

The ESPHome Starter Kit launched on August 12. Since then, eight YouTube channels and five tech outlets have built with it, taken it apart, and pushed it further than we expected. A few more creators covered CAST-1, BTN-1, and the M-1. We wanted to put all of it in one place and say thank you to everyone who made something.

If you are new here, the ESPHome Starter Kit is the first official ESPHome hardware kit, designed by Apollo Automation with the Open Home Foundation. It is a $40 electronics kit built around an ESP32-C6 board and snap-in modules. No soldering, no breadboard, and no coding required. The majority of the profits from our official ESPHome hardware goes back to the foundation, which supports ESPHome, Home Assistant, and the projects around them.

Get the ESPHome Starter Kit for $40

What's in the ESPHome Starter Kit

ESPHome C6 board with an Espressif ESP32-C6-MINI-1, two 14-pin ribbon cable ports, an RGB status LED, USB-C, and support for an optional LiPo battery. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread.
PIR motion module (MH-SR602), detecting motion out to 3.5 m
Temperature and humidity module (AHT20F), accurate to ±0.3 °C and ±2% RH
Button module
ESPHome Casita notification module with 10 RGB LEDs and a piezo buzzer, shaped like the ESPHome logo
Three ribbon cables, one more than any project uses, plus the Casita stand

You set everything up in ESPHome Device Builder, a free visual editor for Mac, Windows, and Linux. No Home Assistant install is needed to start. When you are ready, Home Assistant finds your devices on its own.

An easy electronics kit for schools, makerspaces, and tinkerers

We designed the kit so every lesson ends with something useful, a real device you keep using in your home. That same idea is what makes it work in a classroom.

For classrooms and STEM programs

No soldering irons, no breadboards. Modules click in with a ribbon cable, so there are no loose jumper wires to troubleshoot.
No coding to start. Students build visually in ESPHome Device Builder. The YAML is right there when they are ready to read and edit real configuration.
No student accounts, no cloud, no telemetry. Everything runs on the local network. Nothing to sign up for and no data leaving the room.
Free software on the computers you already have. Device Builder runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. No server or Raspberry Pi needed.
A lesson plan built in. The Apollo Learning Wiki walks through each project and explains why each step works, not only what to click.
Real hardware design to study. Schematics, Gerber files, and default configurations are open source on GitHub.
Ages 13 and up for the programming side, per ESPHome's guidance. That fits middle school, high school, career and technical education, and college intro courses. Younger kids can handle assembly with an adult.

For makerspaces and libraries

$40 per kit, with a spare ribbon cable in every box
Room to grow. The Apollo Breakout Module ($5.99) adds STEMMA QT and Qwiic, Grove, 1-Wire, a Sensirion SEN6x port, and a GPIO header, so the sensors already on your shelves plug in without soldering.
Not locked in. Advanced members can reflash the ESP32-C6 with other firmware, including Arduino projects.

For tinkerers and Home Assistant users

Run any two modules at once for a multisensor
Turn the board into a Bluetooth proxy or a Thread router for your smart home
Add a LiPo battery and put it anywhere
Pair it with the SEN65 air quality sensor for PM, VOC, NOx, temperature, and humidity

Build your first device with the ESPHome Starter Kit for $40

ESPHome Starter Kit video reviews

Here is every creator who made a video, with all of their Apollo videos grouped together. Go subscribe to all of them. They make the community better.

mostlychris

Chris went deeper than anyone. His launch-day ESPHome Starter Kit walkthrough covers the whole kit in 34 minutes, from unboxing to working devices in Home Assistant.

In Part 2: Advanced Projects and Techniques he builds three projects that step up in difficulty: a motion-activated light, an LED that reacts to temperature, and a press-to-check-climate button that ties them together. A bonus project turns the board into a Bluetooth proxy for Home Assistant. If you teach, that progression is a ready-made unit.

Chris also reviewed CAST-1 in This Tiny ESPHome Device Makes Dumb Speakers Smart, plugging it into a speaker for local audio with Home Assistant, Music Assistant, and Sendspin. Subscribe to mostlychris.

Simon Says Home Assistant

Simon's launch video, ESP Home Starter Kit: Build Your Own Home Assistant Devices, builds devices straight into Home Assistant. His follow-up goes past the four included modules. In DIY Air Quality Sensor, he adds the Breakout Module and a SEN65 sensor to build an air quality monitor. The step-by-step guide is on the wiki.

He also showed how to turn any powered speaker into a media player with CAST-1. Subscribe to Simon Says Home Assistant.

Smart Home Solver

Reed's Ridiculously Easy DIY Smart Home Sensor (no soldering) is the best eight minutes to start with if you are brand new. He covers why ESPHome matters, what's in the box, building a device, and where to go next.

Subscribe to Smart Home Solver.

Vaclav Chaloupka

Six years ago, Vaclav made his window shades smart by soldering wires onto a Sonoff board and writing his own firmware. In I Soldered Smart Devices for 10 Years. This $40 Kit Ends That, he does the same kind of build in one evening with no soldering and no code. He spends real time on Device Builder, on-device automations, and the Home Assistant connection, and makes a good point that Device Builder is worth trying even if you never buy the kit.

Subscribe to Vaclav Chaloupka.

digiblur DIY

THIS just made ESPHome Easier! is a 20 minute launch-day video with an unboxing, a close look at the ESP32-C6 board, and ESPHome setup. It is a good fit if you want to see the hardware up close before you buy. Subscribe to digiblur DIY.

Smart Home Circle

Amrut builds a custom smart home device in under 10 minutes without soldering or writing YAML in his ESPHome Starter Kit video. It is a quick, clear look at how fast Device Builder gets you from box to working device. Subscribe to Smart Home Circle.

smarterkram (Olli)

Olli's ESPHome Starter Kit + Device Builder video (in German) unboxes the kit and shows what all four modules can do. He is most excited about ESPHome Device Builder, which reached version 1.0 in ESPHome 2026.6.0 and replaces the old YAML dashboard. His take is that the kit and Device Builder together are one of the easiest ways into ESPHome right now.

He also made a fun CAST-1 video (in German), turning a boombox into a music player for his youngest. A four-button switch starts playlists, a volume limit keeps it from getting too loud, and there's no phone, tablet, or cloud involved. Olli also reviewed TEMP-1 earlier this year. Subscribe to smarterkram.

IT vom kleinem F

At IFA Berlin, Justin from our team sat down for an interview about the ESPHome Starter Kit (in German). He covers what the kit can do, how easy it is to use, and who it is for. More from that week is in our IFA Berlin 2026 recap. Subscribe to IT vom kleinem F.

ESPHome Starter Kit press coverage

Hackster.io

Nick Bild covered the launch as the first official ESPHome starter kit, highlighting the no-solder, no-code setup and the open source hardware, with schematics and Gerber files on GitHub.

CNX Software

Jean-Luc Aufranc's launch article breaks down the full spec sheet module by module, and explains how the Open Home Foundation's commercial partner program works.

SmartHomeScene

SmartHomeScene's first look calls the kit "about as approachable as it gets" for learning ESPHome. It also covers the Breakout Module for people who want to prototype past the included modules.

Matter Alpha

Ward Zhou's hands-on review goes past the basics. He set up the board as a Thread router in his existing Thread network, updated it over the air through Thread, and added a Bluetooth proxy. His point is that the board has a useful second life after the lessons are done.

Howmation

Valentin Goudet wrote the most detailed hands-on guide for French and European readers. It covers Device Builder with the YAML visible underneath, the Breakout Module, Thread, European retailers, and exactly what is and isn't in the box.

HowToGeek's earlier articles by Adam Davidson and Tim Brookes are in our first creator roundup.

What reviewers want you to know

The reviews were positive, and they were also honest. Here is what to know before you buy.

Bring your own USB-C cable. One isn't in the box.
Two modules at a time. The board has two ports. The Breakout Module opens up a lot more.
The battery is optional and sold separately. Check which batteries work on the forum before connecting one.
Thread updates are slower than Wi-Fi. Matter Alpha saw about 15 minutes for an over-the-air update over Thread.
Zigbee isn't supported out of the box. The ESP32-C6 has the hardware, but it is for advanced users only.
The wiki is in English.

Get started

ESPHome Starter Kit, $40 from Apollo Automation in the USA and Canada
Also available from Ameridroid (USA), The Pi Hut (UK), Domadoo (France), Domo-Supply (Switzerland), Slim Huisje (Netherlands), and BerryBase (Germany)
Learning Wiki: Start Here
ESPHome Device Builder
ESPHome Starter Kit on GitHub
ESPHome Starter Kit on esphome.io
Apollo community forum, where you can share what you build

New to ESPHome? Our complete guide to ESPHome covers its history and how it works, and our State of the Open Home recap has the story of how the kit was announced.

Get the ESPHome Starter Kit for $40

ESPHome Starter Kit FAQ

What is the ESPHome Starter Kit?

The ESPHome Starter Kit is the first official ESPHome hardware kit, designed by Apollo Automation with the Open Home Foundation. It includes an ESP32-C6 board, a PIR motion module, a temperature and humidity module, a button module, the ESPHome Casita notification module with 10 RGB LEDs and a buzzer, three ribbon cables, and a stand.

How much does the ESPHome Starter Kit cost?

The ESPHome Starter Kit is $40 from Apollo Automation in the USA and Canada. It is also sold by Ameridroid in the USA, The Pi Hut in the UK, and Domadoo, Domo-Supply, Slim Huisje, and BerryBase in Europe, where prices vary by retailer.

Do I need to solder or know how to code?

No. Modules connect to the board with ribbon cables, so there is no soldering and no breadboard. Devices are set up in the visual ESPHome Device Builder, so no YAML or coding experience is needed. The YAML is still there when you want to learn it.

Is the ESPHome Starter Kit good for schools and classrooms?

Yes. It needs no soldering, no coding to start, and no student accounts or cloud services. The free ESPHome Device Builder runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and the Apollo Learning Wiki explains the reasoning behind each step. Every lesson ends with a working device students can keep using.

What age is the ESPHome Starter Kit for?

ESPHome recommends the programming and configuration side for ages 13 and up, which fits middle school, high school, career and technical education, and college intro courses. Younger kids can enjoy the hands-on assembly with a parent or teacher.

Do I need Home Assistant to use the kit?

No. The kit works on its own over Wi-Fi with ESPHome Device Builder. When you are ready, Home Assistant discovers the devices automatically on your local network.

What can I build with the ESPHome Starter Kit?

Out of the box you can build a motion sensor, a temperature and humidity monitor, a button that triggers automations, and a notification light with sound. Run any two modules together to make a multisensor. Reviewers have also built motion-activated lights, temperature-reactive LEDs, Bluetooth proxies, Thread routers, and an air quality monitor.

How many modules can run at once?

Two. The ESPHome C6 board has two 14-pin ribbon cable ports. The kit includes three ribbon cables, one more than any project uses at once, so there is always a spare.

Is a USB-C cable or battery included?

No. The kit is powered over USB-C, but the cable is not included. The board supports an optional rechargeable 3.7V LiPo battery, which is sold separately.

Can I add more sensors to the kit?

Yes. The Apollo Breakout Module connects with the same ribbon cable and adds STEMMA QT and Qwiic, Grove, 1-Wire, a Sensirion SEN6x air quality port, and a GPIO header, so many off-the-shelf sensors plug right in.

Does the ESPHome Starter Kit support Thread and Zigbee?

The ESP32-C6 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread, and reviewers have used the board as a Thread router. The chip has Zigbee hardware, but Zigbee is not supported out of the box and is only for advanced users.

Does the kit need a cloud account or subscription?

No. Everything runs locally. There is no cloud service, no account, no subscription, and no telemetry.

Where can I watch ESPHome Starter Kit video reviews?

This post links every review, including mostlychris, Simon Says Home Assistant, digiblur DIY, Smart Home Solver, Vaclav Chaloupka, Smart Home Circle, smarterkram, and IT vom kleinem F.

Thank you

To every creator and writer above, thank you for the time you put into these. Reviews like yours are how most people find out a kit like this exists. And to everyone who bought one, build something and show us on the forum. Build, learn, automate.

Apollo Automation designs, engineers, and manufactures privacy-first, locally-controlled smart home sensors in Versailles, Kentucky. Every product features 100% local control with no cloud dependencies or subscriptions required. Apollo is a Works With Home Assistant partner, Made For ESPHome certified, Works With Homey certified, a BBB Accredited Business, and the second official commercial partner of the Open Home Foundation. Learn more at apolloautomation.com.

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Justin Bunton

Updated on Oct 12, 2026