An Arduino pin can’t drive a motor directly — it can’t supply enough current, and the motor’s electrical noise would damage the board. A motor driver sits in between. The two you’ll meet first are the L293D and the L298N, and the choice comes down to how much current your motors pull.
Side-by-side comparison
| L293D | L298N | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | IC / motor shield | Module with heatsink |
| Current per motor | ~0.6 A (up to ~1 A peak) | ~2 A |
| Motor voltage | 4.5–36 V | 5–35 V |
| Motors driven | 2 (or 4 via shield) | 2 |
| Heat | Runs cool at low load | Gets hot; has a heatsink |
| Best for | Small robot cars, light motors | Geared / higher-current motors |
Current is the deciding factor
The L293D delivers around 0.6 A per motor — fine for the small yellow TT gear motors in most beginner robot cars. The L298N delivers around 2 A per motor, so it handles bigger geared motors, heavier robots and motors under load. If your motors stall, jerk or the driver overheats, you’ve outgrown the L293D.
Form factor: shield vs module
The L293D commonly comes as an Arduino shield that plugs straight onto an Uno and can drive up to four motors plus two servos — ideal for a simple 4-wheel robot car. The L298N is a separate module with screw terminals and a big heatsink; you wire it up, but it takes far more current. There’s also the bare L293D IC if you’re building on a breadboard or a custom PCB.
Heat and efficiency
The L298N is an older design that drops about 2V across itself and gets warm — that’s what the heatsink is for. It works, but your motors see a little less voltage than the supply. The L293D runs cool at the low currents it’s meant for. For very efficient, cool-running drives, newer MOSFET-based drivers exist, but for learning and typical robot cars the L293D and L298N are the standard, affordable choices.
Choose the L293D if…
- You’re building a beginner robot car with small TT motors.
- You want a shield that plugs onto the Uno with no wiring.
- Your motors are light and low-current.
Choose the L298N if…
- Your motors are bigger or geared and pull more current.
- Your robot carries weight or climbs.
- An L293D has been overheating or the motors feel weak.
Frequently asked questions
Can both drive a 4-wheel robot car?
Yes. The L293D shield drives four small motors directly. With the L298N you typically wire the left pair to one channel and the right pair to the other.
Why does my L298N get hot?
That’s normal — it drops about 2V internally. The heatsink handles it. If it’s extremely hot, your motors are pulling more than 2A and you need a bigger driver.
Do I need a separate battery for the motors?
Yes, ideally. Power the motors from a battery through the driver, power the Arduino separately, and join the grounds.
Which is better for a line-following robot?
Either works — small line-followers use TT motors, so the L293D shield is the tidy choice. See our line-following robot guide.
Related guides
Get your motor driver
Everything here is in stock at Smart Home | Arduino Corner — Shaheen Market, DAV College Road, Rawalpindi — with same-day delivery in the twin cities and cash on delivery across Pakistan. Compare the L293D shield, the L293D IC and the L298N Motor Driver Module, or browse all motors & drivers. Tell us your motor type and we’ll match the driver.