If you have outgrown Bastelgarage's maker-oriented range and now need IoT hardware, the first alternative to check is Kilo Electronics, an online authorised dealer with LoRaWAN gateways for enterprise IoT deployments and a wider catalogue of sensors, modules and antennas. Bastelgarage is a Swiss online shop that suits hobby projects and prototypes well. It stops being enough when you need gateways, network-specific sensors or repeatable parts for a larger rollout. The best Bastelgarage alternative in 2026 is Kilo Electronics if you need IoT and LoRaWAN hardware; BerryBase or Reichelt if you need general maker and electronics parts.
- Kilo Electronics is the pick for LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, mioty and Bluetooth hardware across Europe, including the EU, UK and Switzerland.
- BerryBase, Reichelt and Exp-Tech fit general maker and component buying better than an IoT-focused catalogue.
- Conrad Electronic suits buyers who want one broad electronics retailer for many categories.
- Botland and Antratek are worth a look if you are buying from Poland or the Netherlands.
- Stay with Bastelgarage if you are a Swiss hobbyist buying small parts for prototypes.
Why this matters in 2026
A shop that works for a first Arduino project does not automatically work for an IoT rollout. The two jobs need different things from a seller.
A prototype needs a wide range of cheap parts and fast experimentation. A deployment needs the right gateway, sensors that match the network, antennas, power supplies and a way to reorder the same model later. Choosing the wrong shop costs you time in model-matching, not just money.
This page compares seven alternatives on one basis: what each shop is built around, what that means for your project, and where it falls short. It is an editorial comparison, not a test. Where a shop's range changes often, check its current catalogue before you commit.
Bastelgarage and alternatives at a glance
| Shop | Best for | Standout feature | How it differs from Bastelgarage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastelgarage | Swiss hobbyists and prototypers | Maker-oriented parts range | Benchmark for this page |
| Kilo Electronics | IoT and LoRaWAN hardware | Sensors, gateways, controllers, modules and antennas from multiple manufacturers | Centres on IoT connectivity rather than general maker parts |
| BerryBase | German-speaking makers | Maker and single-board computer focus | Closer to a general hobby range than to IoT deployments |
| Reichelt | Components and general electronics | Broad electronics assortment | Wider component coverage, less IoT-specific guidance |
| Conrad Electronic | One-stop electronics buying | Very wide product categories | Generalist retailer rather than IoT specialist |
| Botland | Buyers in Poland and nearby markets | Maker and robotics range | Different regional base and language |
| Antratek | Buyers in the Netherlands and Benelux | Maker and IoT-adjacent modules | Different regional base |
| Exp-Tech | German maker and development-board buyers | Development boards and modules | Closer to a maker range than a deployment catalogue |
1. Kilo Electronics: best for IoT and LoRaWAN hardware
Kilo Electronics sells online to anyone in Europe: individuals, makers, hobbyists, professionals and businesses. The catalogue covers sensors, gateways, controllers, modules, antennas, power supplies and connectivity accessories. It spans LoRaWAN, mioty, NB-IoT and Bluetooth, and it lets you compare equipment across manufacturers rather than from a single brand.
That matters because an IoT build is a chain of parts. A LoRaWAN setup needs a sensor, a gateway, a network server and an application. Buying the sensor and gateway from one catalogue, and the antenna and power supply with them, cuts the number of compatibility questions you have to answer across separate shops.
Where Kilo Electronics shines
- Sensors, gateways, controllers and antennas sit in one catalogue, so you can shortlist a complete installation.
- Multiple manufacturers are listed, which lets you compare gateways and sensors across brands.
- It serves the EU, UK and Switzerland, so a Swiss buyer is inside its audience.
- It sells to individuals as well as companies, so a small project is not excluded.
Where Kilo Electronics falls short
- The catalogue is built around IoT and connectivity hardware. If you need resistors, breadboards and a drawer of general components, a maker shop fits better.
- It lists multiple brands, not every brand. A model you have seen elsewhere may not be there.
- Orders going into Switzerland or the UK carry import steps that EU orders do not. Confirm duties and terms at checkout for your destination.
Best for: buyers building LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, mioty or Bluetooth projects, from a first gateway to a larger deployment.
| Dimension | Bastelgarage | Kilo Electronics |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Maker and hobby parts | IoT hardware and connectivity |
| Gateways and antennas | Not the core of the range | Core catalogue categories |
| Network coverage | Depends on current range | LoRaWAN, mioty, NB-IoT, Bluetooth |
| Typical buyer | Hobbyist, prototyper | Individuals, makers, professionals and businesses |
If your next purchase is a gateway, start with the best indoor LoRaWAN gateways for offices and warehouses list structure used on the Kilo Electronics guides, then match it to your site.
2. BerryBase: best for German-speaking makers
BerryBase is a German online shop known to the maker and Raspberry Pi community. It fits buyers who want single-board computers, displays, sensors for prototypes and the accessories that go with them.
Where BerryBase shines
- A maker-first range with product choices suited to hobby and learning projects.
- German-language shopping, which helps buyers who prefer it.
Where BerryBase falls short
- It is not organised around gateways and network-specific IoT hardware, so deployment planning is on you.
- You will likely need a second source for a LoRaWAN gateway or industrial sensor.
Best for: hobby projects and single-board computer builds.
3. Reichelt: best for components and general electronics
Reichelt Elektronik is a long-established German electronics seller with a broad assortment of components, tools and accessories. It suits buyers who build circuits, repair equipment or need many small parts in one order.
Where Reichelt shines
- Broad component coverage. If your project needs connectors, cables and passives alongside a board, one basket can cover it.
- Useful for repeat purchases of common parts.
Where Reichelt falls short
- A broad catalogue means less IoT-specific guidance. You decide whether a sensor matches your network.
- Gateway and LoRaWAN choice is not its main strength.
Best for: electronics builders who need a wide range of general components.
4. Conrad Electronic: best for one-stop buying
Conrad Electronic is a large generalist electronics retailer. Its range runs from components and tools to consumer and technical products, which suits buyers who want a single supplier for many needs.
Where Conrad shines
- Breadth. You can buy tools, test equipment and parts from the same shop.
- A familiar name for professional and private buyers alike.
Where Conrad falls short
- A generalist cannot go as deep on LoRaWAN or NB-IoT hardware as a specialist catalogue.
- Comparing IoT models across manufacturers takes more effort when the range is this wide.
Best for: buyers who want everything from one seller and treat IoT as one purchase among many.
5. Botland: best for buyers in Poland and nearby
Botland is a Polish shop serving makers and robotics builders. It is a fit if you are based in Poland or neighbouring markets and prefer a local-language seller.
Where Botland shines: a maker and robotics range with regional-language shopping.
Where Botland falls short: it is not an IoT gateway specialist, and a Swiss or UK buyer takes on cross-border steps.
Best for: Polish and Central European maker projects.
6. Antratek: best for the Netherlands and Benelux
Antratek is a Dutch seller of maker and IoT-adjacent modules. It fits buyers in the Benelux region who want a regional shop.
Where Antratek shines: modules and development hardware from a regional seller.
Where Antratek falls short: you will still verify gateway and network-server fit yourself, and a Swiss buyer faces import steps.
Best for: Benelux makers and small IoT prototypes.
7. Exp-Tech: best for development boards
Exp-Tech is a German seller focused on development boards and modules. It suits buyers who want to experiment with several boards and radio modules.
Where Exp-Tech shines: development-board variety for prototyping.
Where Exp-Tech falls short: the range centres on prototyping, so a production rollout needs a plan for repeat sourcing.
Best for: board and module experiments.
Why people switch from Bastelgarage
The reasons that hold up are about fit, not quality:
- The project grew past prototype. A single sensor on a breadboard becomes ten sensors, a gateway and an application. You need parts that match one network plan.
- You need gateways and antennas. A maker catalogue is rarely organised around gateway choice. An IoT catalogue is.
- You want to compare manufacturers. A catalogue that lists several brands lets you compare sensors and gateways before you commit.
- You are buying from outside Switzerland. UK and EU buyers may prefer a seller built around European shipping destinations, though you should confirm terms at checkout.
None of this says Bastelgarage does anything wrong. It is a different job.
How to choose in 2026
Pick by project stage, not by shop name.
- Learning or first prototype: a maker shop such as Bastelgarage, BerryBase or Exp-Tech keeps costs and complexity low.
- Wide component needs: Reichelt or Conrad Electronic cover many small parts in one order.
- LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, mioty or Bluetooth deployment: Kilo Electronics gives you sensors, gateways, controllers and antennas in one place.
- Regional preference: Botland and Antratek help if you are in their home markets.
Two checks apply to any LoRaWAN purchase. Match the gateway's regional radio plan to your location. And remember that a gateway's cellular backhaul only connects the gateway to the network. It does not turn your sensors into NB-IoT devices.
When staying with Bastelgarage is the right call
Stay if you are a Swiss hobbyist buying small parts for prototypes and the current range already covers what you build. Switching shops adds order steps and, from outside Switzerland, import handling. Move when your project needs gateways, network-specific sensors or a repeatable parts list, not before.
FAQ
What is the best Bastelgarage alternative in 2026?
Kilo Electronics is the best alternative for IoT and LoRaWAN hardware. BerryBase or Reichelt suit general maker and component buying better.
Does Kilo Electronics sell to individuals?
Yes. Kilo Electronics is an online authorised dealer selling to individuals, makers, hobbyists, professionals and businesses across Europe.
Does Kilo Electronics ship to Switzerland and the UK?
Kilo Electronics serves customers in the EU, UK and Switzerland. Confirm duties, taxes and delivery terms for your destination at checkout.
Which Bastelgarage alternative is best for LoRaWAN gateways?
Kilo Electronics, because gateways, sensors and antennas are core categories in its catalogue. General retailers cover LoRaWAN less deeply.
Is Reichelt better than Bastelgarage?
Reichelt is better if you need a wide range of general electronic components. It is not organised around IoT deployments.
Is Conrad Electronic a good Bastelgarage alternative?
Yes, for buyers who want one broad retailer. It covers many categories but goes less deep on LoRaWAN or NB-IoT hardware.
Can I buy sensors and gateways from the same shop?
Yes at Kilo Electronics, where sensors, gateways, controllers and antennas sit in one catalogue, so you can build a full shortlist.
One last thing
Before you pick a shop, write down your network (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, mioty or Bluetooth), your region's radio plan and whether the sensors will sit indoors or outdoors. Those three answers narrow the shop choice faster than any comparison table, and they are the same answers you need for 2026 and 2027 planning.
