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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.