Last reviewed

Best PCB design software, ranked

Every tool scored on the same seven criteria, with who it suits, where it falls short and a one-line verdict. How we rank.

  1. 1Cost and licensing
  2. 2Learning curve
  3. 3Library and part support
  4. 4Board complexity
  5. 5Output for fabrication
  6. 6File portability
  7. 7Collaboration

Short answer: KiCad is the best PCB design software for most people: free for any use, no board limits, full fabrication output and open files. Pick Altium Designer for complex professional boards, and EasyEDA for the quickest route to an ordered prototype.

PCB design editors, ranked

#Tool · costBest forVerdictScore
1KiCadFree, open sourceAlmost everyone: hobbyists, students, open hardware and many professional teamsThe best PCB design software for most people: free, complete, and your files stay yours.29/35
2Altium DesignerSubscription; see altium.comProfessional teams designing complex, high-speed or production boardsThe professional standard for complex boards, if you can pay for it and work on Windows.26/35
3EasyEDAFree; Premium $19.9/mo billed yearlyBeginners and quick prototypes ordered from JLCPCBThe fastest way from idea to an ordered prototype, best when you build with JLCPCB and LCSC.25/35
4Autodesk Fusion (Electronics)Subscription; limited personal licenceProduct designers who do the board and the enclosure together, and former EAGLE usersThe best pick when the board and its enclosure are one design; check the licence limits first.24/35
5Cadence OrCAD XPaid, by quoteEngineering teams that use PSpice simulation or will grow into Cadence AllegroA strong professional choice inside the Cadence world; hard to justify outside it.23/35
6FluxPaid plans with free trialPeople who want an AI assistant inside a browser editor and real-time teamworkThe most AI-led editor on this list; weigh that against keeping your design in a vendor's cloud.22/35
7DipTraceLimited free edition; paid editionsFreelancers and small shops who want a straightforward desktop editorEasy to learn and fair to buy, but it stands alone: no built-in collaboration.21/35
8LibrePCBFree, open sourceBeginners who want a free, simple, open-source desktop editorA friendly open-source start; most people outgrow it into KiCad.20/35
9Horizon EDAFree, open sourceExperienced users who want strict, reusable part managementRigorous and capable for its size, but a niche choice.19/35

Separate category · not design editors

Beyond the editor: sharing, versions and review

These tools do not draw boards. They keep the versions, show the board in a browser, control who sees it and give AI assistants permissioned access. They are scored on the same criteria, read for a workspace. Why this is its own category.

#Tool · costBest forVerdictScore
1BoardRepoFree plan; Team by quoteKiCad users and teams who need versions, browser review, access control and AI assistant accessThe best workspace around a KiCad editor: versions, browser review, sharing and AI access in one place, free to start.28/35
2Altium 365With Altium subscriptionsTeams already designing in Altium DesignerThe natural choice if you are all-in on Altium; it does nothing for KiCad users.25/35
3Git hosting with KiCad toolingFree tiersDevelopers comfortable with Git who want full control and automationPowerful and free if you live in Git, but reviewers need tooling to see a board, not text.24/35
4AllSpiceFrom $34,800 a yearLarge hardware organisations that want Git-style review across several CAD toolsBuilt for large organisations; priced beyond most individuals and small teams.23/35

The full ranking: strengths, limits and verdicts

01

KiCad

The KiCad project (open source) · Windows, macOS, Linux

29/35

Verdict The best PCB design software for most people: free, complete, and your files stay yours.

Who it is for
Hobbyists, students, freelancers and teams who want a full desktop editor with no licence cost, open files and no limits on board size or layers.
Cost
Free for every use, including commercial. Open source under the GPL.

Strengths

  • No cost and no board-size, layer or commercial limits; the licence cannot be taken back.
  • Push-and-shove interactive router, differential pairs and length tuning.
  • Exports Gerber, drill, pick-and-place, BOM, IPC-2581 and ODB++.
  • Plain-text native files that work well with Git, and importers for Altium, EAGLE, CADSTAR and EasyEDA projects.
  • Actively maintained: the 10.0 series had its 10.0.8 bug-fix release on 30 October 2026.

Limits

  • Symbols and footprints are separate libraries, which confuses newcomers at first.
  • No built-in cloud sharing, browser viewing or review: history and sharing need Git or a workspace such as BoardRepo.
  • No vendor support contract from the project itself.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →kicad.org ↗

02

Altium Designer

Altium (part of Renesas) · Windows

26/35

Verdict The professional standard for complex boards, if you can pay for it and work on Windows.

Who it is for
Professional hardware teams and consultancies whose clients or employers already standardise on Altium, and anyone designing dense high-speed boards.
Cost
Paid subscription. Check current prices and plans on altium.com; prices depend on plan and region.

Strengths

  • Deep constraint management, high-speed routing and rigid-flex support.
  • Mature libraries and part data with supplier information.
  • Altium 365 adds cloud sharing, comments and review for Altium projects.
  • Common in industry, so files and skills transfer between employers and clients.

Limits

  • Windows only.
  • Subscription cost is high for hobbyists and students.
  • Native files are tied to Altium; other tools import them with varying fidelity.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →altium.com ↗

03

EasyEDA

EasyEDA (linked with JLCPCB and LCSC) · Browser; desktop clients for Windows, macOS and Linux

25/35

Verdict The fastest way from idea to an ordered prototype, best when you build with JLCPCB and LCSC.

Who it is for
Beginners, makers and engineers who want to draw a board in the browser and order it, with parts, from JLCPCB and LCSC in the same flow.
Cost
Core editor free, including commercial use. Paid Premium plan for individuals: $19.9 a month, billed annually (EasyEDA pricing page, November 2026).

Strengths

  • Runs in the browser with nothing to install; Standard and Pro editions are both free.
  • Parts link to LCSC stock, and boards can be sent straight to JLCPCB for fabrication and assembly.
  • Gentle learning curve and many public projects on OSHWLab to learn from.

Limits

  • Libraries are public on the free plan; private libraries need a paid plan.
  • Works best inside the JLCPCB and LCSC ecosystem.
  • Projects live in EasyEDA's cloud by default; KiCad can import them, but check the result.
  • Fewer constraint and high-speed tools than Altium or OrCAD X.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →easyeda.com ↗

04

Autodesk Fusion (Electronics)

Autodesk · Windows, macOS

24/35

Verdict The best pick when the board and its enclosure are one design; check the licence limits first.

Who it is for
Makers and product teams who design the enclosure in Fusion and want the PCB in the same tool, and people moving on from EAGLE, which Autodesk retired in 2026.
Cost
Subscription, with personal-use and education licences that have limits. Check autodesk.com for current prices and limits.

Strengths

  • Electronics and mechanical design in one tool, with the board in the 3D assembly.
  • Continues EAGLE's electronics workflow, so EAGLE files and habits carry over.
  • Cloud data management with versions built in.

Limits

  • Personal-use licences limit electronics features; check Autodesk's current terms.
  • Designs live in Autodesk's cloud; check the export options before committing a long project.
  • No Linux version.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →autodesk.com ↗

05

Cadence OrCAD X

Cadence Design Systems · Windows

23/35

Verdict A strong professional choice inside the Cadence world; hard to justify outside it.

Who it is for
Companies with existing Cadence designs, and engineers who rely on PSpice simulation and want a path to Allegro for the hardest boards.
Cost
Paid. Sold by Cadence and its channel partners; check orcad.com or a reseller for a quote.

Strengths

  • OrCAD Capture is a long-established schematic editor, with PSpice simulation alongside.
  • Shares its technology with Cadence Allegro, so designs can move up to it.
  • Complete constraint management and fabrication outputs.

Limits

  • Windows only.
  • Pricing is by quote rather than published.
  • The toolset is large, and its learning curve is steep.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →orcad.com ↗

06

Flux

Flux · Browser

22/35

Verdict The most AI-led editor on this list; weigh that against keeping your design in a vendor's cloud.

Who it is for
Engineers and small teams who want to design in the browser together and use an AI assistant for part selection, planning and layout tasks.
Cost
Paid plans for individuals and teams, each with a free trial. Check flux.ai/p/pricing for current prices.

Strengths

  • Browser-based with real-time multi-user editing.
  • Built-in AI assistant for design guidance and tasks, priced by usage.
  • Shared team workspaces with centralised billing.

Limits

  • Designs live in Flux's cloud.
  • AI usage is metered: check what each plan includes.
  • Newer and less proven on dense, high-speed boards than the established desktop tools.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →flux.ai ↗

07

DipTrace

Novarm · Windows, macOS

21/35

Verdict Easy to learn and fair to buy, but it stands alone: no built-in collaboration.

Who it is for
Freelancers, small companies and educators who want a simple desktop editor with a one-off licence option.
Cost
Free edition with pin and layer limits, and paid editions. Check diptrace.com for current limits and prices.

Strengths

  • Clean, approachable interface.
  • Free edition for small boards.
  • Imports from several other tools' formats.

Limits

  • The free edition limits pins and layers.
  • No built-in collaboration or cloud review.
  • Smaller community than KiCad.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →diptrace.com ↗

08

LibrePCB

The LibrePCB project (open source) · Windows, macOS, Linux

20/35

Verdict A friendly open-source start; most people outgrow it into KiCad.

Who it is for
Beginners and hobbyists who want an open-source editor that is simpler than KiCad.
Cost
Free and open source.

Strengths

  • Free, open source and cross-platform.
  • Simple, consistent interface.
  • Its library ties each symbol to a specific package, which helps avoid pin-mapping mistakes.

Limits

  • Smaller library, so you will draw more parts yourself.
  • Fewer advanced routing features.
  • Smaller community and fewer importers.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →librepcb.org ↗

09

Horizon EDA

The Horizon EDA project (open source) · Linux, Windows

19/35

Verdict Rigorous and capable for its size, but a niche choice.

Who it is for
Experienced engineers who like a rigorous parts system and an open-source tool, and do not need a large community.
Cost
Free and open source.

Strengths

  • Free and open source.
  • A strict parts pool that keeps symbols, packages and parts consistent.
  • Interactive router based on KiCad's push-and-shove router.

Limits

  • Small community and fewer tutorials.
  • Check horizon-eda.org for supported platforms.
  • Few other tools import its files.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →horizon-eda.org ↗

Beyond the editor

Workspaces around the editor, in full

01

BoardRepo

BoardRepo · Browser; continue editing in desktop KiCad

28/35

Verdict The best workspace around a KiCad editor: versions, browser review, sharing and AI access in one place, free to start.

Who it is for
KiCad users who want a home for their boards: individuals and open-hardware makers who share publicly, and teams that need private boards, roles and review without making everyone install CAD.
Cost
Free plan at $0 a month for individuals, side projects and open hardware. Team and Enterprise plans have custom pricing on request.

Strengths

  • Schematic, PCB, 3D view and BOM open in any browser, with no CAD installed.
  • Saved versions with visual comparison of what changed between them.
  • Share publicly, by link only, or with a password; team plans add member roles and board-level access.
  • Remote MCP server lets assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor read schematics, nets, BOMs and files, and save new versions only with your explicit permission.
  • A public library of more than 9,000 open-hardware boards, searchable by component.
  • Keeps your KiCad project files, so you can download a version and continue in desktop KiCad.

Limits

  • It is not a design editor: you still design in KiCad.
  • KiCad has the most complete support; Altium sources are kept and converted for viewing only.
  • It does not merge simultaneous CAD edits, and has no pull requests.
  • Uploads do not always render fully.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →boardrepo.com ↗

02

Altium 365

Altium (part of Renesas) · Browser, with Altium Designer on Windows

25/35

Verdict The natural choice if you are all-in on Altium; it does nothing for KiCad users.

Who it is for
Teams whose boards are in Altium Designer and who want sharing and review in the same vendor's cloud.
Cost
Tied to Altium subscriptions. Check altium.com for what each plan includes.

Strengths

  • Browser viewing, comments and version history for Altium projects.
  • Sharing with people who do not have Altium Designer.
  • Tightly integrated with the editor.

Limits

  • Built for Altium projects only.
  • Requires an Altium subscription; check what is included.
  • Your designs live in Altium's cloud.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →altium.com ↗

03

Git hosting with KiCad tooling

GitHub or GitLab, with open-source tools such as KiBot and KiRI · Any Git host; tools run on your computer or in CI

24/35

Verdict Powerful and free if you live in Git, but reviewers need tooling to see a board, not text.

Who it is for
Engineers who already use Git for firmware and want the same history, branches and automation for their KiCad boards.
Cost
Free tiers on the main Git hosts; KiBot and KiRI are free and open source.

Strengths

  • Full history, branches and merges on plain-text KiCad files.
  • KiBot can generate fabrication outputs automatically on every commit.
  • KiRI shows visual differences between KiCad revisions.

Limits

  • Git hosts show board files as text, not as a schematic or layout.
  • Setting up the tooling takes Git and scripting skill.
  • No BOM discovery across boards, and nothing for non-technical reviewers.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →github.com ↗

04

AllSpice

AllSpice · Browser; cloud, dedicated or self-hosted

23/35

Verdict Built for large organisations; priced beyond most individuals and small teams.

Who it is for
Enterprise hardware teams that want Git-based design review across several CAD tools, with security and deployment options.
Cost
Enterprise plans; the entry plan is listed as starting at $34,800 a year (AllSpice plans page, November 2026). Free educational access on request.

Strengths

  • Git-based design review for hardware.
  • An AI review agent (DRCY).
  • Cloud, dedicated or self-hosted deployment, SSO and SOC 2 Type II.

Limits

  • Priced for enterprises.
  • Git-based workflow to learn.
  • Check which CAD formats it supports for your boards.
  • Cost
  • Learning
  • Library
  • Complexity
  • Fab output
  • Portability
  • Collaboration

Full verdict and score reasons →allspice.io ↗

Comparison table

Scores from 1 to 5 on each criterion; hover a score, or open a tool’s full verdict, for the reason behind it. The total out of 35 sets the order. Criteria are defined in How we rank.

PCB design editors, scored on the seven criteria.
#ToolCostLearningLibraryComplexityFab outputPortabilityCollaborationTotal
1KiCad534455329
2Altium Designer125553526
3EasyEDA544342325
4Autodesk Fusion (Electronics)334443324
5Cadence OrCAD X224552323
6Flux233342522
7DipTrace343343121
8LibrePCB542232220
9Horizon EDA522332219
Workspaces around the editor, scored on the same criteria, read for a workspace.
#ToolCostLearningLibraryComplexityFab outputPortabilityCollaborationTotal
1BoardRepo554325428
2Altium 365244541525
3Git hosting with KiCad tooling522345324
4AllSpice133434523

Who should pick what

If you…PickBecause
Want one free tool you will not outgrowKiCadNo licence cost or limits, full fabrication output, open files.
Are new to PCB design and want a board this weekEasyEDAIn the browser, parts linked to stock, ordered from JLCPCB in one flow.
Design dense, high-speed boards in a professional teamAltium DesignerThe deepest constraint and high-speed tooling here, with Altium 365 for review.
Design the enclosure and the board togetherAutodesk Fusion (Electronics)Electronics and mechanical design in one model.
Already work in Cadence, or depend on PSpiceCadence OrCAD XSame family as Allegro, with PSpice alongside.
Want an AI assistant inside the editorFluxBrowser editor with an AI assistant and real-time teamwork.
Publish open hardwareKiCadAnyone can open your files for free; add BoardRepo so they can view them in a browser.
Need versions, browser review and access control around KiCadBoardRepoA workspace for KiCad projects: versions, review, sharing and AI access, free to start.

More detail for beginners, open hardware, teams, quick prototypes and students: Best by use case.

Questions people ask when choosing

What is the best PCB design software?

For most people, KiCad: it is free for every use, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, has no board-size or layer limits, and exports everything a fab needs. Altium Designer is the stronger choice for professional teams designing complex, high-speed boards who can pay for a subscription, and EasyEDA is the quickest path from idea to an ordered prototype.

What is the best free PCB design software?

KiCad. It is open source, has no limits on commercial use, layers or board size, and is complete enough for professional work. EasyEDA's editor is also free, including for commercial use, but it is cloud-first and works best with JLCPCB and LCSC.

What PCB design software should a beginner use?

EasyEDA if you want to start in the browser and order your first board from JLCPCB; KiCad if you want to learn a desktop tool you will not outgrow. LibrePCB is a simpler open-source option, but most people move on to KiCad.

Is KiCad good enough for professional work?

Yes, for many teams. It handles multilayer boards, differential pairs and length tuning, and exports Gerber, IPC-2581 and ODB++. Where it falls short is built-in collaboration (no review, comments or access control) and vendor support; teams add a workspace such as BoardRepo for review and access, or choose Altium if they need a single vendor's support contract.

Is EAGLE still available?

Autodesk retired EAGLE in June 2026. Its electronics design continues inside Autodesk Fusion. EAGLE .sch and .brd files can be imported by KiCad, Altium and Fusion.

Can I move a design from one PCB tool to another?

Partly. KiCad imports Altium, EAGLE, CADSTAR and EasyEDA projects, and Altium imports many formats, but every import needs checking: footprints, design rules and polygons rarely come across perfectly. The easiest way to keep options open is a tool with open, documented files, which is why file portability is one of the seven criteria.

Do I need something besides the editor for version control and review?

If anyone else needs to see your board, usually yes. Desktop editors save files; they do not keep a browsable history, show a board to someone without CAD, or control who can see what. Altium users have Altium 365; for KiCad, BoardRepo adds versions, browser review, access control and AI assistant access. See Beyond the editor.

How are these tools scored?

Every tool is scored from 1 to 5 on the same seven criteria: cost and licensing, learning curve, library and part support, board complexity, output for fabrication, file portability and collaboration. The total out of 35 sets the order. Each score has a written reason and a source you can check. See How we rank.

Which PCB design software is best for ordering from JLCPCB?

EasyEDA, because parts link to LCSC stock and boards can be sent to JLCPCB from the editor. KiCad also works well with JLCPCB through its standard Gerber, BOM and position-file outputs.