Arm Keil MDK vs Wokwi

Arm Keil MDK is a toolchain for embedded software targeting Cortex-M and Ethos-U processors. MDK v6 supports command-line, IDE, and continuous-integration workflows across major operating systems. It includes Keil Studio extensions for Visual Studio Code, Keil μVision, Arm Compiler for Embedded, and Arm Fixed Virtual Platform models. Software packs add device and board support, middleware, components, code templates, and example projects independently of the toolchain. Keil Studio supports CMSIS workflows with an integrated debugger and extensions for creating, building, and testing embedded applications. Listed integrations include CMSIS-FreeRTOS, Keil RTX5, MDK-Middleware, IoT clients, CMSIS-DAP, ULink, and third-party debug adapters. Community is for non-commercial use. The listed MDK v6 Essential plan costs $99 a month per license; Professional costs $199 a month per license and adds Arm Virtual Hardware, functional-safety compiler tools, and legacy tools including Arm Compiler 5. Keil μVision is available only for Windows hosts.

Wokwi is a simulator for building and debugging firmware for simulated microcontrollers. It supports Arduino (C/C++), MicroPython, CircuitPython and Rust, with boards including Arduino Uno, Nano and Mega, ATtiny85, ESP32-family boards, several STM32 models and Raspberry Pi Pico. Supported protocols include WiFi, HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, MQTT, NTP, CoAP, DNS, TCP, UDP, UART, I2C and SPI. The simulated targets are AVR, ESP32, STM32 and RP2040 microcontrollers; firmware can also be exported for Raspberry Pi Pico. Wokwi lists web, Linux, macOS and Windows platforms. Its free Community plan includes unlimited simulations, unlimited public projects and Virtual WiFi. Paid plans are billed annually: Hobby is €5.60 per month with 100 fast build minutes monthly; Hobby+ is €8.10 per month with 500; and Wokwi Pro is €20.00 per month with 1,000 fast build minutes and 2,000 CI minutes monthly.