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Ultimate Buying Guide · Updated October 2026
📡 Best LoRa Modules for Long Range IoT
15 LoRa radio modules for Arduino, ESP32, STM32 and Raspberry Pi: AT-command UART modules, bare SPI transceivers, LoRaWAN modules, Pi HATs and add-ons, with honest notes on chips, interfaces and range.
✅ 15 Modules Reviewed
✅ UART, SPI & LoRaWAN
✅ Re-verified October 2026
✅ Honest Pros & Cons
A LoRa module is the cheapest, simplest way to send small amounts of data over long distances, often kilometers rather than meters, while using so little power that a node can run for months or years on batteries. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth top out at a room or a building; LoRa’s spread-spectrum modulation trades speed for range and robustness, which is exactly what most IoT sensors need. A soil probe, a gate sensor or a tank float doesn’t need megabits; it needs to be heard from across a farm or a town.
This guide focuses on radio modules you add to your own microcontroller or Raspberry Pi: easy UART modules that take AT commands, bare SPI transceivers for custom PCBs, LoRaWAN-capable modules and Pi HATs. If you’d rather buy an all-in-one board with an ESP32 or nRF52840 already built in (Heltec, LILYGO, RAK, Seeed XIAO), see our best LoRa development boards guide, and for ready-made mesh radios see our Meshtastic devices guide.
💡 Reality check before you buy: Headline ranges like “5 km” or “10 km” are line-of-sight, good-antenna, slowest-data-rate figures. In a town with buildings and trees, expect a few hundred meters to a couple of kilometers unless you raise the antenna. Frequency is a legal choice: use 915 MHz in the Americas, 868 MHz in Europe and 433 MHz only where permitted, and both ends of a link must match. Most modules use 3.3 V logic and can be damaged by a 5 V Arduino without level shifting. Modules from different families (REYAX AT firmware, EBYTE transparent firmware, raw SX127x/SX126x) generally won’t talk to each other out of the box. Several listings here have only a handful of reviews, which we note.
📡 Quick Comparison: All 15 LoRa Modules
| Module | Chip / Band | Interface | Best For | Buy |
|---|
| 🥇 REYAX RYLR998 | Semtech LoRa, 868/915 | UART (AT) | Best Overall | Buy Here → |
| 🧰 Adafruit RFM95W Breakout | SX1276, 868/915 | SPI | Best for Makers | Buy Here → |
| 🌐 REYAX RYLR993 Lite | LoRa SoC, 868/915 | UART (AT) | Best LoRaWAN Module | Buy Here → |
| 📻 REYAX RYLR896 | SX1276, 868/915 | UART (AT) | Proven Classic | Buy Here → |
| 🚀 REYAX RYLR999 Lite | LoRa 30 dBm + BLE | UART (AT) | Highest Power | Buy Here → |
| 📶 REYAX RYLR498 | LoRa, 426/433/470 | UART (AT) | 433 MHz Regions | Buy Here → |
| 🔁 EBYTE E32-900T20D | SX1276, 868/915 | UART (transparent) | Point-to-Point | Buy Here → |
| 🔋 SX1276 UART Module (WOR) | SX1276, 862–930 | UART | Low-Power Serial | Buy Here → |
| ⚙️ HopeRF RFM95W (5-Pack) | SX1276-class, 915 | SPI (bare) | Custom PCBs | Buy Here → |
| 💵 Comimark SX1278 (2-Pack) | SX1278, 433 | SPI | Budget Pair | Buy Here → |
| 🍓 Waveshare SX1262 LoRa HAT | SX1262, 915 | Pi HAT (UART) | Best for Raspberry Pi | Buy Here → |
| 🛰️ SX1262 LoRaWAN/GNSS HAT | SX1262 + GNSS, 850–930 | Pi HAT | LoRaWAN + GPS on Pi | Buy Here → |
| 🪶 Adafruit Feather M0 RFM95 | SX127x, 900 MHz | Board + radio | Arduino Ecosystem | Buy Here → |
| ⌨️ M5Stack Cap LoRa 1262 | SX1262 + GNSS | Cardputer add-on | M5Stack Users | Buy Here → |
| 🧪 DX-LR20 Development Kit | LLCC68, 433 | SPI + STM32 board | Learning Kit | Buy Here → |
Chip and band details come from each Amazon listing. Many modules come in several frequency variants; choose the one for your region. Tap Buy Here to see the live price.
🔍 What to Look for in a LoRa Module
📻
Chip Generation
SX1276/77/78 are the classic LoRa chips. The newer SX1262 and LLCC68 use less power and add better receive performance. Newer still, LR11xx chips add multi-band and positioning features.
🔌
UART vs SPI
UART modules (REYAX, EBYTE) run their own firmware and take simple commands, so they’re the fastest to get working. SPI modules give full control through libraries like RadioLib or LMIC but need more wiring and code.
🌐
LoRa vs LoRaWAN
Point-to-point LoRa links two radios directly. LoRaWAN adds gateways and network servers such as The Things Network. Only some modules here ship with a LoRaWAN stack (RYLR993, the GNSS HAT); SPI modules can run one in your own firmware.
📈
Power & Sensitivity
Transmit power (typically +20 to +22 dBm) and receive sensitivity set your link budget. A good, well-placed antenna usually matters more than a few extra dBm.
✅
Certification
If you plan to sell a product, a pre-certified module (FCC/CE/IC) like the RYLR998 can save a lot of compliance work compared with a bare chip.
🏆 Detailed Reviews: All 15 LoRa Modules
🥇 BEST OVERALL
REYAX RYLR998 LoRa Module
⭐ 4.7/5 · The Easiest LoRa Radio to Use
Buy on Amazon →
The REYAX RYLR998 is the best-reviewed standalone LoRa module on Amazon, with about 220 ratings averaging 4.6 stars. It pairs a Nuvoton MCU with a Semtech LoRa engine and hides all the radio complexity behind simple AT commands over UART: set an address, send AT+SEND, and the data appears at the other module. It works with any Arduino, ESP32, STM32 or Raspberry Pi using just TX and RX, ships with an antenna, and carries FCC, CE, NCC and IC certification, which matters if you ever turn a project into a product. It runs LoRa in proprietary point-to-point mode rather than LoRaWAN; for LoRaWAN, see the RYLR993 below.
✅ Pros- Trivial AT-command interface
- Antenna included
- Certified for products
- Strong reviews
❌ Cons- Not LoRaWAN
- 3.3 V logic
- Less low-level control than SPI
🎯 Verdict: The fastest path from box to working long-range link.
👉 Check Price on Amazon →
🧰 BEST FOR MAKERS
Adafruit RFM95W LoRa Radio Breakout (PID 3072)
⭐ 4.6/5 · Best-Documented SPI Radio
Libraries
ARDUINO + CIRCUITPY
Adafruit’s RFM95W breakout takes the popular SX1276-based RFM95W and adds a regulator and logic level shifting, so it’s safe with both 3.3 V and 5 V microcontrollers. Its real advantage is Adafruit’s ready-to-go Arduino and CircuitPython libraries and tutorials, which make it the smoothest SPI on-ramp to raw LoRa and to LoRaWAN with LMIC. Newer units include a protective shield can over the radio. It averages about 4.3 stars from 52 ratings.
✅ Pros- Safe with 5 V boards
- Excellent libraries and guides
- Antenna connector options
- Full radio control
❌ Cons- Older SX1276 chip
- Headers and antenna to solder
- Costs more than bare modules
🎯 Verdict: The friendliest SPI LoRa radio for hobbyists.
👉 Check Price on Amazon →
🌐 BEST LORAWAN MODULE · ⭐ 4.3/53. REYAX RYLR993 Lite
LoRaWAN + proprietary dual mode · AT over UART · 25 ratings
Buy Here →
The RYLR993 Lite keeps REYAX’s easy AT-command interface but adds a LoRaWAN stack alongside proprietary point-to-point mode, built on an industrial LoRa SoC. That makes it the simplest way to put an Arduino or ESP32 sensor on The Things Network without writing LoRaWAN firmware. It averages about 4.1 stars from 25 ratings.
✅ Pros: LoRaWAN via AT commands; dual mode.
❌ Cons: Needs a gateway; fewer reviews.
🎯 Verdict: LoRaWAN without the firmware headache.
📻 PROVEN CLASSIC · ⭐ 4.3/54. REYAX RYLR896
SX1276 · 868/915 MHz · AT commands · 160 ratings
Buy Here →
The RYLR896 is the SX1276-based predecessor of the RYLR998, with the same AT-command approach and FCC/NCC certification. Many tutorials were written for it, and it remains well reviewed at about 4.2 stars from 160 ratings. Check compatibility before mixing it with RYLR998 units.
✅ Pros: Proven; lots of tutorials.
❌ Cons: Older chip than RYLR998.
🎯 Verdict: A reliable, well-documented UART module.
🚀 HIGHEST POWER · ⭐ 4.2/55. REYAX RYLR999 Lite
30 dBm LoRa + 20 dBm BLE · UART · 4 ratings
Buy Here →
REYAX’s newest module combines a 30 dBm LoRa transmitter with a 20 dBm Bluetooth LE radio, so a phone can talk to the module over BLE while it relays data over long-range LoRa. 30 dBm is far above typical modules; make sure your region’s power limits allow it and plan for higher current draw. It’s new, with 4 ratings.
✅ Pros: Very high power; BLE bridge.
❌ Cons: Legal limits; power hungry; new.
🎯 Verdict: For long links where regulations allow high power.
📶 433 MHz REGIONS · ⭐ 4.6/56. REYAX RYLR498
426/433/470 MHz · AT commands · power-saving receive · 14 ratings
Buy Here →
For regions where 433 or 470 MHz is the permitted band, the RYLR498 brings REYAX’s easy AT interface to those frequencies, with a smart power-saving receive mode for battery nodes. It averages about 4.8 stars from 14 ratings.
✅ Pros: Easy AT interface; low-power receive.
❌ Cons: Check 433 MHz legality.
🎯 Verdict: The easy 433 MHz option.
🔁 POINT-TO-POINT · ⭐ 3.9/57. EBYTE E32-900T20D
SX1276 · 868/915 MHz · 20 dBm · transparent UART · 7 ratings
Buy Here →
The E32-900T20D is a “transparent transmission” module: bytes into the UART on one side come out the other, with no protocol to learn. It pushes 20 dBm for a rated 5.5 km and is configured through mode pins. This particular listing averages about 3.5 stars from only 7 ratings, so it’s a value pick rather than a top recommendation. Keep its data pins at 3.3 V.
✅ Pros: Zero-protocol serial link.
❌ Cons: Fiddly mode pins; mixed reviews.
🎯 Verdict: A cheap long-range serial cable replacement.
🔋 LOW-POWER SERIAL · ⭐ 4.1/58. SX1276 UART LoRa Module 915 MHz (Gowoops)
862–930 MHz · wake-on-radio · FEC · antenna included · 29 ratings
Buy Here →
Another serial LoRa option, this SX1276 module adds wake-on-radio (WOR) for battery-powered receivers and forward error correction for more robust links, with an antenna in the box. It averages about 4.1 stars from 29 ratings.
✅ Pros: WOR; FEC; antenna included.
❌ Cons: Generic brand docs.
🎯 Verdict: A battery-friendly serial module.
⚙️ CUSTOM PCBs · ⭐ 4.1/59. HopeRF RFM95W 915 MHz (5-Pack)
Bare SPI module · sold by Anarduino · 16 ratings
Buy Here →
The bare HopeRF RFM95W is the radio inside many breakouts, sold here as a 5-pack for builders designing their own PCBs or wiring several nodes. You handle level shifting, antenna and the fiddly 2 mm-pitch soldering yourself. It averages about 4.0 stars from 16 ratings.
✅ Pros: Five radios; ideal for PCBs.
❌ Cons: Not breadboard-friendly.
🎯 Verdict: The integrator’s choice.
💵 BUDGET PAIR · ⭐ 4.1/510. Comimark SX1278 LoRa Module (2-Pack)
433 MHz · SPI · Arduino-friendly · 52 ratings
Buy Here →
Two SX1278 433 MHz SPI modules in one pack, the cheapest way to get a matched pair talking with the Arduino LoRa or RadioLib libraries. It replaces the single Ra-02 listing from our earlier version of this guide, which no longer has reviews. It averages about 4.0 stars from 52 ratings.
✅ Pros: Matched pair; very cheap.
❌ Cons: 433 MHz only; 3.3 V logic.
🎯 Verdict: The budget learning pair.
🍓 BEST FOR RASPBERRY PI · ⭐ 4.3/511. Waveshare SX1262 915M LoRa HAT
SX1262 · 915 MHz · Pi 40-pin HAT · UART · 21 ratings
Buy Here →
Plug the Waveshare SX1262 HAT onto a Raspberry Pi’s 40-pin header for long-range radio with no soldering. It communicates over UART, also works with Arduino and STM32 boards, and covers the 915 MHz band. It’s raw LoRa, not a LoRaWAN gateway (for that, see our LoRaWAN gateways guide). It averages about 4.2 stars from 21 ratings.
✅ Pros: Plug-on Pi HAT; SX1262.
❌ Cons: Not a LoRaWAN gateway.
🎯 Verdict: The easiest LoRa add-on for a Pi.
🛰️ LORAWAN + GPS ON PI · ⭐ 3.8/512. SX1262 LoRaWAN/GNSS HAT
SX1262 + GNSS · 850–930 MHz · Pi 5/4B/3B+ · 14 ratings
Buy Here →
This Pi HAT pairs an SX1262 radio with a GNSS receiver for building a LoRaWAN end node with geolocation on a Raspberry Pi. It’s the most capable Pi option here, but reviews are mixed at about 3.5 stars from 14 ratings, so expect some setup work.
✅ Pros: LoRaWAN node + GNSS on Pi.
❌ Cons: Mixed reviews; needs a gateway.
🎯 Verdict: For Pi-based LoRaWAN trackers.
🪶 ARDUINO ECOSYSTEM · ⭐ 4.6/513. Adafruit Feather M0 with RFM95 LoRa (900 MHz)
SAMD21 + SX127x radio · Feather format · 18 ratings
Buy Here →
If you want the Adafruit RFM95 radio already wired to a microcontroller, the Feather M0 LoRa combines a SAMD21 with the radio in Adafruit’s Feather format, with ready-to-go Arduino libraries and a battery charger. It’s a long-time favorite for LoRaWAN nodes using LMIC, averaging about 4.8 stars from 18 ratings.
✅ Pros: Radio pre-wired; great docs.
❌ Cons: Older MCU and radio.
🎯 Verdict: The classic Arduino LoRa board.
⌨️ M5STACK USERS · ⭐ 4.7/514. M5Stack Cap LoRa 1262 for Cardputer Adv
SX1262 · +22 dBm · multi-constellation GNSS · 41 ratings
Buy Here →
M5Stack’s official Cap LoRa 1262 adds an SX1262 radio (listed at -147 dBm sensitivity and +22 dBm transmit) and a multi-constellation GNSS receiver to the Cardputer Adv, turning it into a pocket LoRa and GPS terminal. It’s only useful if you own that device. It averages about 4.8 stars from 41 ratings.
✅ Pros: SX1262 + GNSS; top ratings.
❌ Cons: Cardputer Adv only.
🎯 Verdict: A must for Cardputer owners.
🧪 LEARNING KIT · ⭐ 4.2/515. DX-LR20 LoRa Development Kit
LLCC68 · 433 MHz · STM32F103 board included · 25 ratings
Buy Here →
The DX-LR20 kit bundles LoRa modules with an STM32F103 development board for learning SPI LoRa on STM32. The title mentions SX1262, but the listing details describe a Semtech LLCC68, a lower-cost SX126x-family chip; this variant is 433 MHz. It averages about 4.3 stars from 25 ratings.
✅ Pros: Complete STM32 learning kit.
❌ Cons: 433 MHz; chip naming unclear.
🎯 Verdict: A good STM32 LoRa starter kit.
🛒 How to Choose the Right LoRa Module
🔌
Easiest point-to-point link
REYAX RYLR998 (or RYLR896).
🌐
LoRaWAN with minimal code
REYAX RYLR993 Lite.
🧰
Learning SPI LoRa on Arduino
Adafruit RFM95W or Feather M0 LoRa.
🍓
Raspberry Pi project
Waveshare SX1262 HAT, or the GNSS HAT for LoRaWAN.
🏭
Designing your own PCB
HopeRF RFM95W 5-pack.
💵
Tightest budget
Comimark SX1278 2-pack (433 MHz).
⚙️ LoRa Module Types Compared
| Type | Examples | Ease of Use | Control | LoRaWAN |
|---|
| UART AT-command | RYLR998, RYLR896, RYLR498 | Easiest ⭐ | Limited | RYLR993 only |
| UART transparent | EBYTE E32, SX1276 UART | Easy | Limited | No |
| SPI transceiver | RFM95W, SX1278, DX-LR20 | Medium | Full ⭐ | Via LMIC/RadioLib |
| Pi HAT / add-on | Waveshare HAT, GNSS HAT, Cap LoRa | Easy | Medium | GNSS HAT |
General characteristics; check each module’s documentation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between LoRa and LoRaWAN?
LoRa is the radio modulation that carries data over long distances. LoRaWAN is a network protocol built on top of it, adding gateways, device addressing, encryption and network servers like The Things Network. For two devices talking directly, raw LoRa is simpler. Choose LoRaWAN when many sensors report through gateways to a managed network.
Which frequency should I buy?
Regulations decide: 915 MHz in North America and much of the Americas, 868 MHz in Europe and the UK, and 433 MHz only where licence-free for your use. Both radios in a link must use the same band, and LoRaWAN nodes must match their gateway’s frequency plan.
Can different LoRa modules talk to each other?
At the radio level, yes, if frequency, bandwidth, spreading factor, coding rate and sync word match. In practice, modules running their own firmware (REYAX, EBYTE) add framing that other brands don’t understand, so it’s easiest to use the same model on both ends.
Can I connect a LoRa module to a 5 V Arduino Uno?
Usually not directly. Most modules use 3.3 V logic and can be damaged by 5 V signals. Use a level shifter, a 3.3 V board such as an ESP32, or a module with built-in level shifting like the Adafruit RFM95W breakout.
Where did the Heltec and T-Beam boards go?
Earlier versions of this guide included all-in-one boards. We now cover those in dedicated guides: best LoRa development boards (Heltec V4, LILYGO, XIAO, RAK WisBlock) and best Meshtastic devices (T-Beam Supreme, T-Echo, T1000-E). This guide focuses on add-on radio modules.
🏁 Final Verdict: Best LoRa Modules
The right module for every project:
🧰 Best for Makers: Adafruit RFM95W Breakout
Buy Here →🌐 Best LoRaWAN Module: REYAX RYLR993 Lite
Buy Here →🍓 Best for Raspberry Pi: Waveshare SX1262 HAT
Buy Here →⚙️ Best for Custom PCBs: HopeRF RFM95W 5-Pack
Buy Here →For most projects, the REYAX RYLR998 is the module to buy: certified, simple AT commands and strong reviews. Step to the RYLR993 Lite when you need LoRaWAN, the Adafruit RFM95W when you want full SPI control with great libraries, and the Waveshare SX1262 HAT for Raspberry Pi. Add a proper antenna from our LoRa antennas guide, and explore our LoRa development boards, LoRaWAN gateways and Arduino, ESP32 and Raspberry Pi tutorials.
💬 Building a LoRa link? Tell us which module you chose and the range you achieved in the comments below.
All Amazon links above use our affiliate tag (microlab05-20). Purchasing through them supports microcontrollerslab.com at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change frequently, so always confirm the current price and your local band on Amazon before buying.
