Best Tools for Raspberry Pi: The Gear and Software That Actually Matter

The Raspberry Pi is one of those rare pieces of tech that can be almost anything. A media center, a home server, a retro gaming console, a weather station, or just a little Linux box for learning. But whatever you're building, having the right tools makes the difference between a smooth build and hours of troubleshooting.

Here's what's worth having in your Raspberry Pi toolkit.

A Good MicroSD Card (and an Imager)

This might seem obvious, but the microSD card you choose matters more than you'd think. A slow card means slow boot times, sluggish app performance, and a generally frustrating experience. Go for a reputable brand like Samsung EVO or SanDisk Extreme with at least 32GB. Class 10 or A2 rated cards give you the speed you need.

For flashing your OS onto the card, the Raspberry Pi Imager is the official tool and it works great. It lets you pick your OS, configure WiFi and SSH before the first boot, and handles everything in a few clicks. Balena Etcher is another solid alternative if you prefer a simpler interface.

SSH and VNC for Remote Access

Once your Pi is set up, you probably don't want a separate monitor and keyboard plugged into it permanently. SSH gives you terminal access from any other computer on your network. Just enable it during setup (or through raspi-config) and you're in.

For a full desktop view, VNC is the way to go. RealVNC is built right into Raspberry Pi OS and works with their free viewer app on Windows, Mac, and mobile.

A Proper Power Supply

The Pi is picky about power. Underpowering it leads to the dreaded lightning bolt icon and random crashes. Use the official Raspberry Pi power supply for your model, or at minimum a USB-C supply rated at 5V/3A for the Pi 4 and Pi 5. Cheap phone chargers cause more problems than they're worth.

Cases and Cooling

The Pi 4 and Pi 5 run warm under load. A case with a built-in fan or heatsinks keeps things stable during sustained tasks like video encoding or running a server. The official Pi 5 case with active cooler is well designed. For the Pi 4, the Argon ONE and Flirc cases are community favorites since they double as passive heatsinks.

If you're doing a headless server setup, even a basic aluminum heatsink kit helps.

VS Code with Remote SSH

You can write code directly on the Pi, but it's more comfortable to work from your main computer. VS Code with the Remote SSH extension lets you edit files on the Pi as if they were local. You get all the autocomplete, syntax highlighting, and extensions you're used to, but the code runs on the Pi. It's a fantastic workflow.

Docker

If you're running multiple services on your Pi (and most people eventually do), Docker is essential. It keeps each service isolated in its own container, so installing Pi-hole doesn't mess with your Home Assistant setup, for example. Portainer gives you a web-based GUI for managing containers if you don't love the command line.

GPIO Tools and Libraries

For hardware projects, you'll need tools to work with the Pi's GPIO pins. The RPi.GPIO and gpiozero Python libraries are the standard choices. gpiozero is especially nice for beginners since it has a more intuitive API. For more complex work, pigpio offers precise timing and supports I2C, SPI, and serial protocols.

A GPIO reference board that clips onto the pins is a cheap but helpful addition. It labels each pin right on the board so you're not constantly looking up pinout diagrams.

Multimeter and Breadboard

Same advice as with any electronics work: a multimeter and breadboard are must-haves for prototyping. The Pi's GPIO operates at 3.3V logic (not 5V like Arduino), so a multimeter helps you double-check voltage levels before connecting things that could get damaged by the wrong input.

Network Tools

Since the Pi often runs as a networked device, having tools like nmap (for scanning your network), htop (for monitoring system resources), and Cockpit (a web-based admin dashboard) makes management way easier. If you're running a Pi as a server, Webmin is another option that gives you a browser-based control panel.

Backup Tools

There's nothing worse than a corrupted SD card wiping out a setup you spent hours configuring. Regular backups matter. The dd command works for creating full card images, but tools like rpi-clone make it easier to clone your SD card to a backup while the system is running. For individual files and configs, rsync to a NAS or external drive is simple and reliable.

USB to UART Serial Adapter

When things go really wrong and you can't even SSH in, a USB to UART adapter gives you console access through the Pi's serial pins. It's a last-resort debugging tool, but when you need it, nothing else will do. They cost a few dollars and are worth keeping in the drawer.

Final Thoughts

The Raspberry Pi ecosystem is enormous, and you could spend forever collecting tools and accessories. But the core toolkit is pretty straightforward. Good storage, proper power, remote access, and a few software tools will cover the vast majority of projects.

Start lean, add what you need as you go, and don't overthink it. The best Pi setup is the one that lets you get building instead of getting stuck.