Compared 2026-09-30
Every Flipper Zero alternative, compared.
34 devices that people buy instead of, or alongside, a Flipper Zero. 22 are on sale today. The ticks come from each maker’s own specifications; the prices are what the maker charged on the day we checked. Nothing here is ranked by who pays us.
The short version: nothing matches the Flipper on breadth. Every alternative is either cheaper because it does less, or better because it does one thing far more seriously. Pick by the job.
Closest to a Flipper
Handhelds with a screen, buttons and several radios in one case.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flipper ZeroFlipper Devices | · | · | · | US$169 | Listed by maker | |||||
| KIISU V4BRainwalker OÜ | · | · | · | €95 | Preorder | |||||
| Kode DotKODE DIY | · | · | — | Preorder | ||||||
| High BoyHigh Code | — | In development | ||||||||
| M1MonstaTek | · | · | — | Availability unconfirmed | ||||||
| InterruptInterrupt Tech | · | · | · | — | Preorder | |||||
| CyperPROCyper Device | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | — | Availability unconfirmed |
| POOMPOOM project team | · | · | · | · | — | In development | ||||
| MeowKitwhitecliff / MeowKit | · | · | · | · | · | HK$1,099 | Listed by maker |
- Flipper ZeroLearn RFID, NFC and infrared with one handheld.
Wi-Fi needs an extra board.
- KIISU V4BCarry a wallet-sized Flipper-firmware board for sub-GHz, NFC, RFID and infrared experiments.
It lacks Flipper’s secret keys, so some sub-GHz protocols and U2F may not work, and it is sold as a development board rather than a finished product.
- Kode DotFollow an app-based tool with NFC and infrared.
The current P4/C5 design replaces the campaign prototype.
- High BoyFollow a proposed handheld with several radio types.
The maker page lists inconsistent battery capacities.
- M1Explore RFID, infrared and sub-GHz experiments.
Current stock and some hardware details are unresolved.
- InterruptFollow a keyboard-based Linux radio computer.
The advertised hardware is still a prototype.
- CyperPROFollow an earlier handheld security-tool campaign.
Too little evidence for a buying recommendation.
- POOMExperiment with dual-band Wi-Fi and NFC hardware.
Creator design claims; fulfillment is unconfirmed.
- MeowKitExperiment with apps, infrared and GPIO.
NFC requires a separate internal module.
Sub-GHz first
Built around a CC1101 or similar radio; cheaper, and usually run community firmware such as Bruce.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Embed CC1101LILYGO | · | · | · | From US$49.38 | Listed by maker | |||||
| T-Embed CC1101 PlusLILYGO | · | · | · | · | US$60.65 | Listed by maker | ||||
| Hackbat ESP32The Hackbat | · | · | · | · | — | In development | ||||
| SubRabbitwrait8 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | — | In development | |
| YARD Stick OneGreat Scott Gadgets | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$124.95 | Listed by maker |
- T-Embed CC1101Build a display-based sub-GHz or RFID project.
The base CC1101 model differs from the Plus version.
- T-Embed CC1101 PlusSub-GHz and 2.4 GHz experiments in one pocket device.
No NFC or RFID; battery size not published.
- Hackbat ESP32Build your own sub-GHz and Wi-Fi pentest board from open files.
Not sold assembled; the C6 version is still under test and has no NFC.
- SubRabbitScan, capture, replay and brute-force fixed-code sub-GHz signals from a serial command line.
It is beta: the shipped firmware and the published PCB target different microcontrollers, and it includes jamming which is illegal to transmit in most places.
- YARD Stick OneRun scriptable sub-GHz radio experiments.
Half-duplex transceiver with specific bands; not a wideband SDR.
RFID and NFC specialists
Better than a Flipper at cards and tags, and nothing else.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proxmark3 RDV4RFID Research Group | · | · | · | · | · | €329 standard / €529 complete | Listed by maker | |||
| Proxmark 5RFID Research Group | · | · | · | · | · | · | €325 | Listed by maker | ||
| Chameleon UltraRFID Research Group | · | · | · | · | · | €129 | Listed by maker | |||
| Chameleon LiteRFID Research Group | · | · | · | · | · | €59 | Listed by maker | |||
| iCopy-XSICopyX | · | · | · | · | · | · | €375 | Listed by maker | ||
| Odiinchris marc dailey (cmdwtf) | · | · | · | · | · | · | — | In development |
- Proxmark3 RDV4Study low- and high-frequency RFID in detail.
Wireless and standalone-power accessories are separate.
- Proxmark 5Research LF and HF RFID with the newest Proxmark hardware.
Firmware is still unstable and several features are not yet supported.
- Chameleon UltraExperiment with supported RFID card emulation.
Supported operations depend on firmware and tag type.
- Chameleon LiteCarry a handful of test credentials for authorised access testing.
Emulation only; it cannot read and crack like a Proxmark.
- iCopy-XSClone test badges quickly in the field during an authorised assessment.
Battery capacity and dimensions are not published.
- OdiinEmulate NTAG21x-style NFC-A tags from files on an SD card to learn the nRF52840 NFC peripheral.
It is an early, hand-assembled learning project: emulation is partial, assembly instructions are unfinished and it needs several off-the-shelf parts.
Wi-Fi first
Handhelds built for wireless work rather than radio breadth; no sub-GHz, no RFID.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi Pineapple PagerHak5 | · | · | · | · | · | US$300 | Listed by maker | |||
| M5Shark V8 2.4G/5GM5Shark | · | · | · | · | · | US$120 | Listed by maker | |||
| M5Shark Manta C5M5Shark | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$114.77 | Listed by maker | ||
| M5Stack Cardputer-AdvM5Stack | · | · | · | · | · | US$29.90 | Listed by maker | |||
| T-Dongle C5LILYGO | · | · | · | · | · | US$13.98 | Listed by maker | |||
| BLEShark NanoInfiShark Tech | · | · | · | · | · | US$49.99 | Listed by maker |
- WiFi Pineapple PagerCarry a screen-and-buttons Wi-Fi auditing tool without a laptop.
Mods cost extra; both colours were sold out at review.
- M5Shark V8 2.4G/5GUse a touchscreen for wireless experiments and logs.
Third-party hardware; firmware compatibility is a maker claim.
- M5Shark Manta C5Explore dual-band Wi-Fi with an onboard display.
The current listing calls this the Manta C5; power details are unclear.
- M5Stack Cardputer-AdvBuild a handheld interface with a keyboard, screen and audio.
LoRa, GNSS and sub-GHz radios require separate hardware.
- T-Dongle C5A cheap dual-band Wi-Fi 6 stick for scanning and tool firmware.
Tiny screen; no battery.
- BLEShark NanoTry portable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared experiments.
Some host features require Linux and current firmware.
Run the firmware on a cheap ESP32
Not Flipper-shaped, but Marauder, Bruce and Nemo all run on these, which is how many people actually start.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5StickC Plus SEM5Stack | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$19.00 | Listed by maker | ||
| M5StickS3M5Stack | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$21.50 | Listed by maker | ||
| M5Stack Core2 v1.3M5Stack | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$42.90 | Listed by maker | |
| M5Stack CoreS3 LiteM5Stack | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$44.90 | Listed by maker |
- M5StickC Plus SEA cheap pocket ESP32 to run M5 hacking firmware.
No IMU; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.
- M5StickS3A more powerful S3 stick with audio for custom firmware.
Small battery; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.
- M5Stack Core2 v1.3A touchscreen ESP32 base for M5 firmware and IoT.
No Bluetooth LE on this ESP32; 2.4 GHz only.
- M5Stack CoreS3 LiteA modern S3 touchscreen base for custom firmware.
No camera or proximity sensor.
Keep the Flipper, add a board
Plug-in modules that give a Flipper Zero Wi-Fi, 5 GHz or GPS.
| Device | Sub-GHz | 125 kHz RFID | NFC / 13.56 MHz | Infrared | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | 5 GHz Wi-Fi | LoRa | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout LitePINGEQUA | · | · | · | · | · | · | US$64.98 | Listed by maker | ||
| Apex 5Honey Honey Team | · | · | · | · | · | US$79 | Listed by maker | |||
| Rabbit-Labs C5Rabbit-Labs EU | · | · | · | · | US$140 | Sold out | ||||
| MeshimiBegoonLab | · | · | · | · | · | — | Availability unconfirmed |
- Scout LiteAdd GPS-tagged Wi-Fi surveys to a Flipper Zero.
This is an expansion board; the Flipper is separate.
- Apex 5Add several radio interfaces to a Flipper Zero.
Choose V1 or V2 instructions; the module has no display.
- Rabbit-Labs C5Add wireless interfaces to a Flipper Zero.
A protective case is described as a future accessory.
- MeshimiAdd LoRa mesh radio to a Flipper Zero.
Only a demo Flipper app is published; flashing steps are unfinished.
Questions people ask
Is there a cheaper Flipper Zero?
Not one device. The T-Embed CC1101 covers sub-GHz and infrared for a third of the price; the Chameleon Lite covers card emulation for even less. What no cheaper device has yet is all of it in one case with mature software.
Which alternative is better than a Flipper?
For RFID and NFC research, a Proxmark 3 RDV4 or Proxmark 5 does far more. For Wi-Fi work, an ESP32-C5 handheld does what a Flipper cannot do at all. For everything at once, the Flipper is still the reference.
Can I add Wi-Fi to a Flipper instead of replacing it?
Yes. The Scout Lite, Apex 5 and Rabbit-Labs boards plug into the GPIO header and add Wi-Fi, 5 GHz or GPS. That is usually cheaper than a second device.
Is it legal to own these?
Owning them is legal in most countries; using them on networks, cards or devices you do not own or have permission to test is not. Some countries restrict specific devices, and rules change. Each device page says what is known.
Not sure yet?
Put a few of these in a setup and see what you would own, what you would still need, and what it adds up to.
Plan a setup Browse all 153 devicesSpecifications are read from maker pages and repositories, not tested on our bench. Availability and prices change; each device page shows when it was last checked and links to the source.