Flux

Browser-based schematic and PCB design tool with a built-in AI hardware engineer.

PaidElectronics design software

Updated Nov 7, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Web

Visit Flux See 5 alternatives

Is Flux free?

No, it's a paid product

Free plan:: No; paid plan needed for private projects
Free trial:: Yes, on individual plans

Checked on Flux's site Nov 8, 2026

4 alternatives with a free option

Switch from Flux to

All 5

Altium Designer
Paid
EasyEDA
Free
KiCad
Open source

Verified facts: 7 of 7
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Flux

Flux is an electronics design tool that runs entirely in the browser, covering schematics, PCB layout and design rule checks, with real-time collaboration so several people can work on the same project. Its main selling point is an AI agent that can pick parts, place components and route boards, checking live stock and pricing from distributors such as Digi-Key, Mouser and LCSC, and running circuit and thermal simulations on the design. It handles multi-layer boards up to eight layers and exports Gerbers, BOMs and pick-and-place files for manufacturing. Projects can be imported from KiCad, Altium, Eagle, EasyEDA and other tools. Flux suits hobbyists, startups and small hardware teams who want a cloud tool with no installs. Pricing is subscription-based: individual plans start with a short free trial, and after that a free account can only view public projects, so editing private designs, exporting and using AI require a paid plan. Team plans are billed per editor.

Best for: Small hardware teams who want collaborative, AI-assisted PCB design in the browser..

Flux pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)

Each line is quoted from Flux's own site, with the page it came from.

Plan or term	What it says	Checked	Source
Free trial	Yes, on individual plans	Nov 8, 2026	flux.ai
Free plan	No; paid plan needed for private projects	Nov 8, 2026	flux.ai
Extra AI usage	$2 per ACU on Build and Pro	Nov 8, 2026	docs.flux.ai

What works

Runs in the browser with real-time collaboration and no installs
AI agent can choose parts with live stock and pricing, and route boards
Imports projects from KiCad, Altium, Eagle and EasyEDA
Built-in circuit, thermal and electromagnetic simulation

Why people leave

Editing private projects and exporting require a paid plan after the trial
Boards are limited to eight layers
Cloud-only, so designs live on Flux's servers and need a connection

Flux vs Altium Designer, EasyEDA and KiCad

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

Attribute	Flux	Altium Designer	EasyEDA	KiCad
Pricing	Paid	Paid	Free	Open source
Verified price	—	—	—	—
Free plan	No; paid plan needed for private projects	No	Free app	Free app
Open source	No	No	No	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No	No	No
Platforms	Web	Windows	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux

Top Flux alternatives

See all 5

1
Altium Designer
Industry-standard professional PCB suite for complex, high-layer-count boards.
76.8
2
EasyEDA
Free browser and desktop PCB editor tied to LCSC parts and JLCPCB ordering, with no subscription for most users.
68.8
3
KiCad
Free, open-source desktop EDA suite with no layer limit and files you keep locally.
64.8
4Ci
CircuitMaker
Free schematic and PCB tool from Altium with cloud projects, for hobbyists who don't need Flux's AI copilot.
57.5
5
Autodesk Fusion
Combines electronics and mechanical CAD in one product, useful when enclosure design matters as much as the board.
38.4

Why people left Flux

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

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Flux: common questions

What is Flux?

Flux: Browser-based schematic and PCB design tool with a built-in AI hardware engineer. Best for small hardware teams who want collaborative, AI-assisted PCB design in the browser. Available for Web.

Is Flux free?

No, Flux is a paid product. Free plan: No; paid plan needed for private projects (checked on Flux's own site).

How much does Flux cost?

Flux is a paid product. Free trial: Yes, on individual plans; Free plan: No; paid plan needed for private projects; Extra AI usage: $2 per ACU on Build and Pro. Checked on Flux's own site, November 2026.

Does Flux have a free trial or refund?

Free trial: Yes, on individual plans. Source: Flux's own site.

Is Flux open source?

No, Flux is not open source. Open-source alternatives include KiCad.

What platforms does Flux run on?

Flux is available for Web.

What are the best alternatives to Flux?

The highest-ranked Flux alternatives right now are Altium Designer, EasyEDA and KiCad. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Flux vs Altium Designer: what's the difference?

Both Flux and Altium Designer are paid products. Only Flux runs on Web. Only Altium Designer runs on Windows.

See all 5 Flux alternatives

Flux facts

7 of 7 verified

Free trial: Yes, on individual plans; Checked Nov 8, 2026flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Free Trial Limited trial AI usage, all features”
Free plan: No; paid plan needed for private projects; Checked Nov 8, 2026flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “To maintain the ability to edit private projects, export them, use AI, and more, a paid plan is required.”
Max board layers: 8; Checked Nov 8, 2026flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Flux supports professional multi-layer PCBs up to eight layers used in IoT devices, wearables, and robotics.”
Import from: Altium, KiCad, Eagle, EasyEDA and more; Checked Nov 8, 2026flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Flux imports complete projects from Altium, Cadence OrCAD and Allegro, KiCad, Siemens PADS and Xpedition, Zuken CADSTAR, Eagle, Fusion Electronics, EasyEDA, DipTrace (XML export), and SOLIDWORKS PCB.”
Platforms: Web browser; Checked Nov 8, 2026flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Flux is built to feel like a desktop-class tool without installs”
Extra AI usage: $2 per ACU on Build and Pro; Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Paid ACUs On Build and Pro, each paid ACU costs $2 .”
Included AI usage: Explore 40, Build 120, Pro 400 ACUs a month; Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.flux.ai(opens source in a new tab); “Included ACUs Paid Flux plans include monthly ACUs: Explore: 40 ACUs. Build: 120 ACUs. Pro: 400 ACUs.”