KiCad AlternativesTop Electronic Design Automation Tools & Circuit Simulators like KiCad

KiCad is described as 'Open source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA) - designing schematics of electronic circuits and printed circuit boards (PCB). KiCad is developed by Jean-Pierre Charras. And features an integrated environment between schematic capture, bill of' and is a very popular circuit simulator in the education & reference category. There are more than 50 alternatives to KiCad for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and Flathub apps. The best KiCad alternative is Fritzing. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try LibrePCB or EasyEDA. Other great apps like KiCad are Autodesk EAGLE, Altium Designer, Square Sketch and Proteus PCB design.

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KiCad alternatives are mainly Circuit Simulators, but if you're looking for Electronic Design Automation Tools or Circuit Designers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android, iPad, Mac and Open Source. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to KiCad.
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Alternatives list

  1. Fritzing icon

    Fritzing

     108 likes
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    Open-source initiative aiding designers, artists, and researchers in transforming prototypes to actual products, documenting circuits, sharing, teaching, and PCB manufacturing.

    57 Fritzing alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Fritzing screenshot 1
     
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    14

    • Most users think Fritzing is a great KiCad alternative.

    • Fritzing is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to KiCad.

    • Fritzing is the most popular Open Source & commercial alternative to KiCad.

    • Fritzing is Paid and Open SourceKiCad is Free and Open Source
  2. Autodesk EAGLE icon

    Autodesk EAGLE

     34 likes
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    EDA software that enables PCB designers to connect schematics, position components, route PCBs, and access extensive libraries, with features like SPICE simulation, drag-and-drop functionality, alignment tools, 3D models for enclosure fit, and direct links to manufacturers for parts replacement.

    47 Autodesk EAGLE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Autodesk EAGLE screenshot 1
     
  4. LibrePCB icon

    LibrePCB

     22 likes
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    LibrePCB is a free EDA software to develop printed circuit boards. It’s currently under heavy development to bring out first stable releases as soon as possible.

    52 LibrePCB alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    LibrePCB screenshot 1
     
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    7

    • Most users think LibrePCB is a great KiCad alternative.

    • LibrePCB is the most popular free alternative to KiCad.

    • LibrePCB is Free and Open SourceKiCad is also Free and Open Source
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    Autodesk EAGLE icon
    Autodesk EAGLE

    EDA software that enables PCB designers to connect schematics, position components, route PCBs, and access extensive libraries, with features like SPICE simulation, drag-and-drop functionality, alignment tools, 3D models for encl...

    https://www.autodesk.com
    Learn More
  6. Altium Designer icon

    Altium Designer

     18 likes
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    Features a unified workflow for schematic capture, PCB layout, mixed analog/digital simulation, signal integrity analysis, real-time 3D editing, ECAD-MCAD collaboration, component libraries, collaborative design tools, BOM generation, routing, and manufacturing outputs.

    51 Altium Designer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Altium Designer screenshot 1
     
  10. EasyEDA icon

    EasyEDA

     20 likes
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    Schematic capture, Ngspice based simulation, PCB layout, custom PCB manufacturing, for electronic engineers, educators, students and hobbyists.

    54 EasyEDA alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    EasyEDA screenshot 1
     

    • EasyEDA is the most popular Web-based alternative to KiCad.

    • EasyEDA is Free and ProprietaryKiCad is Free and Open Source
  12. CR-8000 icon

    CR-8000

     1 like
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    CR-8000 is a comprehensive PCB design suite that enables the development of a product from concept to manufacturing. CR-8000’s fully integrated design flow ranges from initial system planning, where critical design decisions are made about design partitioning, component...

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CR-8000 screenshot 1
     
  14. eSim icon

    eSim

     4 likes
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    eSim (previously known as Oscad / FreeEDA) is an open source EDA tool for circuit design, simulation, analysis and PCB design.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    eSim main window provides frontend to create projects for drawing schematic,PCB layout and doing circuit simulation.
     
  15. CircuitMaker icon

    CircuitMaker

     1 like
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    CircuitMaker is the best free PCB design software by Altium for Open Source Hardware Designers, Hackers, Makers, Students and Hobbyists. From the about page of the website:

    37 CircuitMaker alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CircuitMaker screenshot 1
     
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