CircuitLab

Browser-based schematic editor and mixed-mode circuit simulator for students, hobbyists and engineers.

PaidElectronics design software

Updated Nov 7, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Web

Visit CircuitLab See 6 alternatives

Is CircuitLab free?

No, it's a paid product

5 alternatives with a free option

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All 6

Proteus Design Suite
Paid
EveryCircuit
Starting price: $5/month
Qucs-S
Open source

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About CircuitLab

CircuitLab is a schematic capture and circuit simulation tool that runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to install. You draw a circuit with its wiring tools, then run DC, transient and frequency-domain simulations and plot the signals you care about, including expressions such as power dissipation. Analog and digital parts can be simulated side by side, and nonlinear parts use SPICE-like models. Each circuit gets its own URL, which makes it easy to share a design or ask for help in the site's electronics Q&A forum, and the company also publishes a free interactive electronics textbook built around the simulator. Schematics export to PDF, PNG, EPS and SVG for documentation. There is a free trial version; ongoing use and any commercial work need a paid subscription, with discounted plans for hobbyists and a free Student Edition at participating universities. It suits learners and engineers who want quick what-if simulations rather than full PCB layout.

Best for: Students and engineers who want quick circuit simulations and clean schematics without installing software.

What works

Runs entirely in the browser with no installation
Mixed analog and digital simulation with frequency-domain analysis
Shareable circuit links and a free interactive electronics textbook
Exports presentation-quality schematics as PDF, SVG, EPS or PNG

Why people leave

Schematics can't be imported from or exported to other EDA tools
Commercial use requires a Pro or Enterprise subscription
No PCB layout, so real boards need a separate tool

CircuitLab vs Proteus Design Suite, EveryCircuit and Qucs-S

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	CircuitLab	Proteus Design Suite	EveryCircuit	Qucs-S
Pricing	Paid	Paid	Free plan + paid	Open source
Verified price	—	—	$5/month	—
Free plan	No	No	Own circuits limited to 5 components	Free app
Open source	No	No	No	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No	No	No
Platforms	Web	Windows	Web, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux

Top CircuitLab alternatives

See all 6

1
Proteus Design Suite
Desktop suite that adds microcontroller co-simulation and PCB design for professional work.
70.9
2
EveryCircuit
Animated, interactive simulation that also runs on Android and iOS, with a free tier for small circuits.
68.8
3
Qucs-S
Free open-source desktop simulator with SPICE back ends and no limits on commercial use.
61.8
4
EasyEDA
Browser-based EDA that adds PCB layout and ordering on top of schematic simulation.
59.4
5
KiCad
Free open-source suite covering schematics, simulation and PCB layout on the desktop.
57.5

Why people left CircuitLab

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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CircuitLab: common questions

What is CircuitLab?

CircuitLab: Browser-based schematic editor and mixed-mode circuit simulator for students, hobbyists and engineers. Best for students and engineers who want quick circuit simulations and clean schematics without installing software. Available for Web.

Is CircuitLab free?

No, CircuitLab is a paid product.

Is CircuitLab open source?

No, CircuitLab is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Qucs-S and KiCad.

What platforms does CircuitLab run on?

CircuitLab is available for Web.

What are the best alternatives to CircuitLab?

The highest-ranked CircuitLab alternatives right now are Proteus Design Suite, EveryCircuit and Qucs-S. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

CircuitLab vs Proteus Design Suite: what's the difference?

Both CircuitLab and Proteus Design Suite are paid products. Only CircuitLab runs on Web. Only Proteus Design Suite runs on Windows.

See all 6 CircuitLab alternatives

CircuitLab facts

5 of 5 verified

Runs in browser: Yes, no installation; Checked Nov 8, 2026circuitlab.com(opens source in a new tab); “Build and simulate circuits right in your browser.”
Simulation: Mixed analog and digital; Checked Nov 8, 2026circuitlab.com(opens source in a new tab); “Mixed-mode circuit simulation lets you simulate analog and digital components side-by-side.”
Export formats: PDF, PNG, EPS, SVG; Checked Nov 8, 2026circuitlab.com(opens source in a new tab); “export to PNG, EPS, or SVG for including schematics in design documents or deliverables.”
Commercial use: Pro and Enterprise plans; Checked Nov 8, 2026circuitlab.com(opens source in a new tab); “Subscribers of our "CircuitLab Pro" and "CircuitLab Enterprise" plans include licensing authorizing use of the software for commercial activities.”
Offline mode: Via the Chrome Web Store install; Checked Nov 8, 2026circuitlab.com(opens source in a new tab); “CircuitLab can be used offline if it has been installed via the Chrome Web Store.”