KiCad AlternativesTop Circuit Simulators & Electronic Design Automation Tools 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 EasyEDA or LibrePCB. Other great apps like KiCad are Square Sketch, Autodesk EAGLE, Altium Designer 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 CAD Software you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to KiCad.
KiCad iconKiCad
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KiCad is an 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...

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KiCad alternatives page was last updated Sep 9, 2024
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Alternatives
  1. Fritzing icon

    Fritzing

     104 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

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Educational

    Features

    1.  Create UI Components
    2.  Arduino

    Fritzing VS KiCad

     

    • 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. Square Sketch icon

    Square Sketch

     7 likes
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    Digital graph paper.

    102 Square Sketch alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Square Sketch screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No Coding Required
    7.  Sketching
    8.  Export to PDF
    9.  Export to PNG
    10.  Export to SVG

    Square Sketch VS KiCad

     
  4. Autodesk EAGLE icon

    Autodesk EAGLE

     32 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

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Autodesk EAGLE screenshot 1

    Autodesk EAGLE VS KiCad

     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    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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    Altium Designer software is for PCB design. From schematic capture to PCB design as well as FPGA Programmation, signal integrity check, mixed analog/digital simulation, this software is what you need when it comes to PCB design and all aspects of ECAD/ MCAD and team...

    51 Altium Designer alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Altium Designer VS KiCad

     
  7. Proteus PCB design icon

    Proteus PCB design

     17 likes
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    Proteus PCB design combines the schematic capture and ARES PCB layout programs to provide a powerful, integrated and easy to use suite of tools for professional PCB Design.

    51 Proteus PCB design alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Proteus PCB design screenshot 1

    Proteus PCB design VS KiCad

     
  8. EasyEDA icon

    EasyEDA

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

    55 EasyEDA alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

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

    EasyEDA VS KiCad

     

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

    • EasyEDA is the most popular free alternative to KiCad.

    • EasyEDA is Free and ProprietaryKiCad is Free and Open Source
  10. LibrePCB icon

    LibrePCB

     19 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.

    53 LibrePCB alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    LibrePCB screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  3d sketching

    LibrePCB VS KiCad

     
  11. OrCAD (All Products) icon

    OrCAD (All Products)

     8 likes
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    The Cadence OrCAD product line provides affordable, high-performance PCB design tools that boost productivity for smaller design teams and individual PCB designers.

    46 OrCAD (All Products) alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    OrCAD (All Products) screenshot 1

    OrCAD (All Products) VS KiCad

     
  12. 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

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CircuitMaker screenshot 1

    CircuitMaker VS KiCad

     
  13. CR-8000 icon

    CR-8000

     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...

    8 CR-8000 alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CR-8000 screenshot 1

    CR-8000 Features

    1.  PCB editor

    CR-8000 VS KiCad

     
  14. PADS PCB Design icon

    PADS PCB Design

     3 likes
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    The industry-leading, high-productivity, PCB-centric design solution for independent engineers.

    18 PADS PCB Design alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PADS PCB Design screenshot 1

    PADS PCB Design VS KiCad

     
  15. DipTrace icon

    DipTrace

     8 likes
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    DipTrace - Professional Schematic Capture and PCB Design Software

    Are you looking for a professional and easy-to-use PCB Design software with powerful autorouter and reasonable price? Try DipTrace and you will be surprised! DipTrace is a complete state-of-the-art PCB Design Syst.

    36 DipTrace alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    DipTrace PCB Layout program allows you to design circuit boards using auto-placer, powerful automatic and easy-to-use manual routing.

    DipTrace Features

    1.  Layout

    DipTrace VS KiCad

     
12 of 59 KiCad alternatives