PCB Design Software List

Other Hardware General Electronics
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Free & Web-based (Work on any OS)

EasyEDA - An easy to use platform with online and offline application, including SCH and PCB editing, a huge library of symbols and components, project management and collaborative work. There's also ngspice based simulation tool and a community forum. Once the board is done, you can use their Gerber viewer for a last minute check, then go ahead and order the production at EasyEDA, at some very decent rates.


123D Circuits - Created by AutoDesk, 123D Circuits includes 4 modules and is part of a larger family of 3D design software: 123D Apps.


Circuit Maker - Created by Altium for hobbyists who can't afford their professional level product. Focused on sharing designs and knowledge in the community of users.

Upverter - Growing platform with user-friendly interface. Partly focused on building a global library of verified components (symbols and footprints).

Free & Offline

KiCAD - Probably the most popular free EDA software. Many great resources are available on the web. (Windows/Mac/Linux)

DesignSpark PCB - DesignSpark has a suite of free tools for electronic, mechanical and software design. Slightly focused on IoT projects. (Windows and Mac/Linux with "emulation software")

Fritzing - A german open-source hardware initiative that provides EDA tools with a simple interface. It has a nice breadboard-to-PCB transition tool. (Windows/Mac/Linux)

PCB Web - Another good free platform. Focused on the manufacturing process with a BOM tool, Digi-Key part integration, etc. (Windows only)

Proprietary or Paid Software

Altium Designer - Very popular in businesses of all sizes. Costs a few thousand dollars. Made to design any kind of projects (FPGA, flex-board, etc.). (Windows only)

Eagle - the most commonly used PCB Design software as its easy and quite flexible in its features. Eagle has quite a lot of support available online in forums as its quite an old software. (Windows/Mac/Linux)

OrCAD PCB Designer - Comparable to Altium Designer and at a similar price. (Windows only)

DipTrace- The DipTrace software has four modules: Schematic capture, PCB Layout editor, component & pattern editor and 3D modelling of PCB.There are different versions like starter, standard and full with DipTrace full version being the ultimate edition will no restrictions. (Windows/Mac/Linux)

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And www.expresspcb.com also.

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And Sprint Layout,
Macros Arduino Nano and Arduino Pro Mini for Sprint Layout.

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I'd vote... big time... for KiCad. Great package, and at least one place that makes PCBs for hobbyists (OSH Park) will accept the file created by KiCad. No need to fuss with exporting to Gerber, and getting all the options "just right". But KiCad CAN export to Gerber, if that's what you want.

Free (not just "free until you've worked hard and are ready to do something non-trivial"!) Multi-platform. Mature. Very active user community... part of what makes Arduino great, of course!

Extensive "stuff" at... http://kicadhowto.org/

Getting started. Overview. How To's.

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A free version of WinQCAD is hiding out there at some sites, (Now defunct).

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I've used PCB123 for a few designs and found it to be one of the easiest to use and very feature rich. 750k+ parts includes DigiKey. The design files are linked to Sunstone Circuits services. If using another service, need to purchase Gerber files.

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PCBCAD51 a low cost PCB CAD package, around 3000 sold.
Available at www.murtonpikesystems.co.uk
Or on ebay.

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RoyTobby:
Proprietary or Paid Software

Eagle - the most commonly used PCB Design software as its easy and quite flexible in its features. Eagle has quite a lot of support available online in forums as its quite an old software. (Windows/Mac/Linux)

There is a free version.