Project-piCo is an open-hardware design-file project for Raspberry Pi Pico-family boards that replaces the stock Micro-USB connector with USB Type-C. Its repository provides KiCad files for Pico H and Pico WH designs, plus a preliminary Pico 2 design. It is not established as a retail assembled board, so getting one means using the files to build hardware rather than simply buying a verified USB-C Pico.
What project-piCo is—and what it is not
The project-piCo repository describes reverse-engineered KiCad designs for the Raspberry Pi Pico H and Pico WH, and a preliminary design for the RP2350-based Pico 2. The project’s aims are to replace Micro-USB with USB-C and make the hardware design files more accessible. It also includes boardview files, including one for the original Pico H.
The repository offers design files; the available material does not establish that a finished project-piCo board is sold as a retail product. The project describes its designs as freely available without license restrictions or attribution requirements. If you want the USB-C version, the practical route is to use the files to make a board, not to assume an assembled product is available.
Why the design uses USB-C
Maker Sam Hocevar wanted a Type-C connector on a Pico H. In a report, Hackster says an initial PCB-adapter approach had tight tolerances, so Hocevar recreated the board in KiCad instead. The new design was intended to match the original board’s mechanical layout closely enough to be a drop-in replacement. That is a stated design intention, not a guarantee that it fits every carrier, enclosure, or setup.
#1 Best Overall
- 100% software- and hardeware- compatible with official Raspberry Pi Pico board.
- USB-C Port. *NOTE: Compatible with USB-A to C cable only
- RP2040 ARM Cortex M0+ dual core processor. 133MHz speed. 264K SRAM, 2MByte flash.
- Pre-soldered with headers. Pink color. ENIG finished.
Project-piCo compared with a stock Pico H
| Feature | Project-piCo design | Raspberry Pi Pico H |
|---|---|---|
| USB connector | USB Type-C, according to the project description | Micro-USB |
| Board type | KiCad design files; no retail assembled board is established | Commercial Pico-family board |
| Headers | Not stated in the project description | Pre-soldered headers |
| Wireless | Pico H design: no wireless; Pico WH design: wireless variant | No wireless on Pico H |
| Physical fit | Drop-in replacement is a reported design goal; universal fit is not established | Original reference board |
For context, Raspberry Pi lists the Pico family with an RP2040 microcontroller, 26 multifunction GPIO pins, 264kB SRAM, 2MB onboard QSPI flash, USB 1.1, and drag-and-drop programming over USB. Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.2 belong to the Pico W and WH variants, not the non-wireless Pico H. These are Raspberry Pi family specifications, not independent measurements of a separately tested project-piCo board. See the Raspberry Pi Pico product page.
Which option makes sense for you?
- You want an off-the-shelf header-fitted Pico: The Raspberry Pi Pico H is the familiar physical-board option, but it retains Micro-USB rather than the project’s USB-C connector.
- You want USB-C and can work with hardware design files: Project-piCo provides KiCad designs to inspect and potentially use for fabrication. Confirm the particular variant and board files suit your needs before ordering a build.
- You need wireless: The repository includes a Pico WH design; the standard Pico H is not wireless. Raspberry Pi identifies wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.2 with Pico W and WH models.
- You need guaranteed fit or reliability: The available reports do not establish universal mechanical compatibility, certification, or independent reliability testing.
Raspberry Pi’s page advertised Pico-series boards from $4 and Pico W at $6 when accessed in 2026. Those are time-sensitive advertised figures, not a promise of current local pricing or availability.
Rank #2
- Advanced Dual-Core Processor: Features a 133 MHz ARM Cortex M0+ with 264KB SRAM and 2MB Flash for fast, flexible project development
- Extensive Software Support: Program easily for official Raspberry Pi C/C++ and MicroPython SDKs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi OS
- Rich Hardware Interfaces: Offers 30 GPIO pins, 4 analog inputs, and support for SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, and PWM for versatile connectivity
- USB-C powered and ready for diverse applications in DIY electronics, education, and prototyping
- Compact IoT Starter Kit: Ideal for beginners to experience IoT with the efficient RP2040 processor; robust performance and swift task completion
Design maturity and practical caveats
In the Hackster account, Hocevar characterized his board as “far from the actual Pico” and its routing as “atrocious.” The article reports that the design-rule check for the version discussed had 41 errors and 13 warnings, which he chose to ignore, and that he welcomed pull requests. Those counts describe the article’s project snapshot; they are not a current independent inspection of the repository or a fabrication assessment.
Before building from the files, inspect the current board revision and its design-rule checks, and verify the connector, dimensions, and layout against your intended use. No independent benchmark, certification, or performance comparison for project-piCo is established in the cited sources.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- The RGB light group is added, which is convenient for users to operate the RGB light group to reflect various information through the on-off and brightness of the red, green and blue lights.
- Support micropython, C/C++,
- Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz
- 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels
- It has been designed to be a low-cost, high-performance microcontroller board with flexible digital interfaces.
Rank #4
- Support C/C++, MicroPython, complete SDK, open source materials tutorial, easy to use, can be quickly embedded in applications
- Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz
- 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory;USB-C connector, keeps it up to date, easier to use
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards; USB 1.1 with device and host support
- Low-power sleep and dormant modes; Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB
Rank #3
- 100% software- and hardware-compatible with official Raspberry Pi Pico board.
- USB-C Port. *NOTE: Compatible with USB-A to C cable only
- RP2040 ARM Cortex M0+ dual core processor. 133MHz speed. 264K SRAM, 2MByte flash.
- Pre-soldered with headers. Pink color. ENIG processed.
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