A Raspberry Pi is a good fit for five small, always-on jobs: Pi-hole ad blocking, a Home Assistant hub, a light media server or NAS, a retro gaming box, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Whether it is much cheaper than a mini PC depends on what you already own and what the finished build needs. A Pi board is only the start. You also need a power supply, storage, a case or cooling, and sometimes a radio adapter. A used or discounted mini PC arrives with RAM, storage and a power brick included.
How to judge “cheaper” before you buy
No official source gives a reliable like-for-like bill of materials for these projects, and prices and stock change often. So this article gives no dollar figures. Do the sum yourself with current local prices:
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- Pi side: board, official USB-C power supply (Raspberry Pi recommends it for Pi 4 and Pi 5), case or cooler, boot storage, and project extras such as a USB drive, radio dongle or Wi-Fi adapter.
- Mini PC side: one specific model, including the RAM and storage it ships with and its power supply.
- What you already own: a spare Pi, a microSD card or SSD, or an old mini PC changes the answer more than any list price.
Raspberry Pi’s setup guide says it is generally easier to start on a Pi 5, then move a working prototype to a smaller board such as a Pi Zero if size matters. Choose the board for the workload. Raspberry Pi’s own project article describes several of these ideas on a 1GB Pi 5, so the most expensive configuration is not the default.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall1. Network-wide ad blocking with Pi-hole
Raspberry Pi’s home page lists blocking ads at home with Pi-hole, which filters at the network level instead of device by device. This is the clearest Pi win. It is one lightweight service that runs around the clock, so a small board suits it better than a full mini PC.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
- What you need: a Pi, power supply, small boot storage and a wired connection to your router.
- Limit: DNS-level blocking does not remove every ad. Some ads are served from the same domains as the content.
- When a mini PC is better: only if you already have one idle and want to run other services alongside it.
2. A Home Assistant hub
Home Assistant’s hardware FAQ lists a Raspberry Pi, a mini PC, an Intel NUC or a virtual machine as workable hosts. It says existing suitable hardware, or running Home Assistant alongside other services, can tip the choice. Home Assistant also has a dedicated installation page for the Pi 4 and Pi 5.
- Pi is the better choice if Home Assistant is the only job and you do not own another suitable machine.
- Budget for extras: reliable storage, plus any Zigbee, Z-Wave or Thread radio dongle you plan to use. These cost the same on either platform.
- A mini PC is the better choice if you already have one, or you want the same box to host other services.
3. A light media center or NAS
Raspberry Pi’s project roundup includes “media centre/NAS” among uses for a 1GB Pi 5. Keep expectations modest. A basic file share, or playing media directly on a TV, is a very different job from serving several users or transcoding video. No official source establishes performance parity with a mini PC for the heavier tasks.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
- Cost trap: the board is rarely the main expense. The drives, enclosure and power are, and a NAS needs enough capacity and reliability for your data.
- Pi suits: a small home file share, a music library, or direct-play media.
- Choose a mini PC for: many simultaneous streams or transcoding.
4. A retro gaming box
Raspberry Pi’s article lists retro gaming and says Recalbox, Lakka and Batocera should work on a Pi 5. RetroPie can work too, but there is no ready-made Pi 5 image, so you install it manually on Raspberry Pi OS. Check that the emulator and the systems you care about are supported. Do not assume every console or game runs well.
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- Why a Pi fits: the small size, the ready-made emulation distributions, and the low cost for older consoles.
5. A Wi-Fi hotspot or private network
Raspberry Pi’s home page lists a project that joins a guest Wi-Fi network and runs a separate private Wi-Fi network for your own devices. It suits travel, hotels and shared buildings. Software and configuration matter here, and the source does not say the bare board has every component you need. A design that uses Wi-Fi for both the uplink and your private network typically calls for a second wireless adapter. Or you can use Ethernet for one side. Plan that part before you count the cost.
Rank #3
- CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Essentials Starter Kit
This is a network utility, not a mini PC alternative. It is useful because the Pi is small and cheap to leave running.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Quick decision guide
| Project | Pi fits when | Consider a mini PC when |
|---|---|---|
| Pi-hole | It is a dedicated, always-on DNS service | You already have an idle one |
| Home Assistant | It is the only job and you have no spare machine | You own suitable hardware or want to host other services |
| Media center / NAS | Direct play and basic file sharing | Multiple users or transcoding |
| Retro gaming | Supported older systems with a ready-made distribution | Your target emulators are not supported on the Pi |
| Wi-Fi hotspot | Portability matters and you can add the needed adapter | Rarely the right tool |
Sources: Raspberry Pi’s home page, project article, setup guide, product pages, and Home Assistant’s hardware FAQ and Pi installation page (checked October 2026). Re-check software compatibility and prices when you buy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit 45W PD Power Supply for the Raspberry Pi 5
- Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K 60p)
Rank #4
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 16GB with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (16GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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