- Evaluation platforms from the SoC vendor. Usually expensive, but many peripherals are built-in. Generally unsuitable for real products.
- Component on Module, a small board with only CPU/RAM/flash and a few other core components, with connectors to access all other peripherals. Can be used to build end products for small to medium quantities.
- Community development platforms, to make a particular SoC popular and easily available. These are ready-to-use and low cost, but usually have less peripherals than evaluation platforms. To some extent, can also be used for real products.
- Custom platform. Schematics for evaluation boards or development platforms are more and more commonly freely available, making it easier to develop custom platforms.