The Raspberry Pi is a fully functional computer the size of a credit card. It was created with the goal of making programming and electronics more accessible to both children and adults, all at the lowest possible cost. When the first Raspberry Pi device launched in 2012, it sold out immediately. Since then, a vibrant community has formed around it, discovering a wide range of uses that go far beyond the original intentions of its creators. Today, the Raspberry Pi is used in smart homes, multimedia systems, robotics, and even in web development. This article will focus specifically on that last use case.
Applications in Web Development
While the Raspberry Pi can serve as a fully capable desktop computer, its primary role in web development lies in its use as a server. It can be deployed for local development environments or used as a publicly accessible on-premise solution for hosting websites, API services, databases, development tools, and more. This makes it an ideal choice for hobby projects or small-scale production deployments — especially in cases where you want full control over your environment and aim to minimize costs compared to commercial cloud services.
Additionally, it’s a great opportunity to build foundational DevOps skills. Developers who are used to relying on out-of-the-box platforms often lack visibility into how things actually work behind the scenes—running your own Raspberry Pi server can bridge that gap.
When Is Raspberry Pi Enough, and When Should You Switch to the Cloud?
When deploying Raspberry Pi in a production setting, questions about scalability and availability inevitably arise. A Raspberry Pi server can reliably handle dozens or even hundreds of requests per second, making it perfectly suited for personal projects or a simple website.
However, if you’re expecting higher demands in terms of uptime, backups, or security—such as for larger SaaS applications with a global user base—cloud infrastructure typically becomes the better option. Cloud platforms offer virtually unlimited horizontal scalability, guaranteed uptime through service-level agreements (SLAs), content delivery networks (CDNs), and built-in security features like web application firewalls (WAFs) and audit certifications.
If you’re struggling to manage traffic spikes, spending too much time on manual system maintenance, or need commercial-grade reliability, it’s probably time to consider migrating to the cloud.
Choosing the Right Raspberry Pi Model
Raspberry Pi devices start at around €5–€20 (for the Pico and Zero series), but as your expectations grow and you add accessories, the final price can surpass that of budget laptops. That’s why choosing the right model and peripherals should be based on both your intended use and future scalability needs.
Raspberry Pico 2 W
Raspberry Pi devices start at around €5–€20 (for the Pico and Zero series), but as your expectations grow and you add accessories, the final price can surpass that of budget laptops. That’s why choosing the right model and peripherals should be based on both your intended use and future scalability needs.
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Priced at around €20, this is the most affordable Raspberry Pi that supports a full Linux environment. Thanks to its energy efficiency (just over half a watt in idle mode), it’s an excellent option for near-free hosting of static websites, React builds, or simple REST APIs. However, for more demanding applications, its limited specs—512 MB RAM and a 1 GHz ARMv8-A CPU—become a bottleneck.
Raspberry Pi 5
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the current flagship model, capable of handling even performance-intensive tasks. Powered by a 2.4 GHz ARMv8.2-A processor, it delivers 2 to 3 times the performance of its predecessor. The addition of a PCI Express interface also enables direct SSD support.
Depending on the selected RAM configuration, the total cost ranges from approximately €55 to €130:
- 2 GB RAM is sufficient for hosting static websites and simple REST APIs.
- 4 GB RAM can handle a small WordPress blog and light databases (SQLite, PostgreSQL, MariaDB).
- 8 GB RAM supports more complex workloads like advanced databases, Next.js/Nuxt.js apps, CI/CD builds, Redis caching, and backups.
- 16 GB RAM offers enough headroom for heavier parallel processing, Kubernetes micro-clusters, or simultaneous CI/CD pipelines across multiple projects.
What About Devices from Alternative Manufacturers?
There are also alternative manufacturers like Orange Pi or Banana Pi, which often offer higher performance at a lower price point. These devices can be a solid choice if your goal is to build a low-budget server. However, it’s important to note that their user community, software ecosystem, and availability of accessories typically don’t match the level of support and resources offered by the Raspberry Pi platform.
What Else Do You Need?
In addition to the Raspberry Pi device itself, you’ll also need to pick up a few accessories—unless you’re buying a pre-assembled kit that includes them. Here’s what to consider:
- Case – For home experimentation, a basic plastic case that costs just a few euros is usually enough. Higher-end cases offer various built-in quality-of-life features like active cooling, SSD slots, or extended connectivity options (full-sized HDMI, audio jack, etc.).
- MicroSD card and/or SSD – You’ll need one to install the operating system and store data. If you opt for an SSD, you’ll also need an NVMe expansion board (HAT) to connect the drive to the Pi—sometimes included with premium cases.
- Power adapter – A standard 5V USB-C adapter is sufficient, or you can use a high-capacity power bank that delivers stable output.
- Cooling – Proper cooling can significantly extend the life of your device. Passive cooling is usually enough, but for more demanding tasks—especially on the Pi 5—investing in active cooling is worth it (sometimes included in higher-end cases).
- Adapters – Depending on your input/output needs, you might need a micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter, and for Pico or Pi Zero, a micro-USB to USB adapter as well.
- Networking – While Raspberry Pi devices support Wi-Fi (note: only “W” models of Pico and Pi Zero), using a wired Ethernet connection is recommended for maximum stability, reliability, and bandwidth.
- USB reader or docking station – If you’re flashing your own operating system onto a microSD or SSD, having a card reader or SSD dock will come in handy. Alternatively, you can buy a preloaded SD card with Raspberry Pi OS, but this limits your ability to perform a clean installation tailored to your needs.
Is It Worth Investing in an SSD?
A standard microSD card is perfectly capable of running a Raspberry Pi for extended periods. However, when dealing with frequent write operations—such as from a database—there’s a higher risk of data corruption. If you plan to run more demanding database systems (like PostgreSQL, MariaDB, or MongoDB), perform frequent application deployments, or operate resource-intensive build pipelines, investing in an external SSD is definitely worth it.
An SSD offers major advantages in access speed, media lifespan, and overall reliability, making it a smart upgrade for serious use cases.
How to Calculate Annual Power Consumption
To accurately compare the cost of running a Raspberry Pi with cloud alternatives, you need to go beyond the initial hardware investment and factor in its annual energy consumption. Luckily, you can calculate this easily using the following formula:
C = (P ÷ 1000) × h × c
C – Total annual electricity cost (€)
P – Average power consumption of the device (watts)
h – Number of operating hours per year
c – Final electricity price (€/kWh)
For devices running 24/7, the operating hours are fixed at 8,760 hours (365 days × 24 hours). Electricity prices vary depending on your provider, region, and tariff, but the current average consumer electricity price in Slovakia is about €0.177 per kWh (source).
The last variable, power consumption, depends on the specific Raspberry Pi model and how intensively it’s used. You can find typical power draw figures in consumer tests or measure it yourself using a wattmeter.
For reference, here are estimated power usage figures for various Raspberry Pi models, both in idle mode (when the system is mostly waiting) and under full load. In practice, unless you’re running intensive computational tasks, your Pi’s actual power usage will usually be close to its idle consumption.
| Model | Power (Idle) | Annual Cost (Idle) | Power (Load) | Annual Cost (Load) |
| Pico 2 W | 0.1 W | 0.12 € | 0.5 W | 0.78 € |
| Pi Zero 2 W | 1.4 W | 2.17 € | 2.9 W | 4.50 € |
| Pi 4 | 2.7 W | 4.19 € | 6.4 W | 9.92 € |
| Pi 5 | 3.2 W | 4.96 € | 9.8 W | 15.20 € |
Where Can I Buy Everything—and What Comes Next?
Once you’ve assessed your needs, you can conveniently order all devices and accessories from RPishop.cz, the official Raspberry Pi distributor for Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Just be sure to double-check accessory compatibility before ordering to avoid surprises!
In the next part of this series, we’ll dive into the technical details of how to get your Raspberry Pi up and running. And in the third installment, we’ll walk through how to use it as a web server and explore ways to improve its security.
Tomáš Bencko
The author is a frontend developer specializing in React, Vue.js, and TypeScript. He develops modern, scalable frontend solutions while balancing development with the finer points of design. Outside of client work, he’s constantly seeking ways to improve team workflows, experimenting with AI and automation, and bringing fresh ideas to advance projects and inspire colleagues.
