KiCad
Free, open-source suite for drawing schematics and laying out printed circuit boards.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 3
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About KiCad
KiCad is a free, open-source suite for designing printed circuit boards. It covers the whole job: drawing schematics, laying out the board with an interactive router, checking the design against electrical and design rules, viewing the result in 3D, and exporting Gerber and other manufacturing files that any board fab will accept. It includes a SPICE simulator, large official libraries of symbols, footprints and 3D models, and a plugin and content manager. The project began in 1992 and is now run by a core development team, funded by donations and sponsors, and it has grown into a tool that many professionals use alongside hobbyists. There are no licence fees, no seat limits and no cloud account; projects are plain files on your disk. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Compared with Altium Designer, it lacks some high-end features and built-in team data management.
Best for: Hobbyists, startups and engineers who want a capable PCB tool with no licence cost.
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free with no feature limits or seat caps
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Large official libraries and an active community
- Projects are local files you fully control
Why people leave
- Fewer advanced high-speed and team collaboration features than Altium
- Managing custom libraries takes some learning
- No built-in part sourcing like EasyEDA's LCSC link
Top KiCad alternatives
See all 3- 1
EasyEDA66.5Free and browser-based, with live LCSC part stock and one-click ordering from JLCPCB.
- 2
Altium Designer62.6Industry-standard paid tool with stronger high-speed, rigid-flex and team collaboration features.
- 3
Autodesk Fusion39.8Fusion's electronics workspace keeps PCB design and the mechanical enclosure in one subscription.
Why people left KiCad
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Reviews
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KiCad: common questions
Is KiCad free?
Yes. KiCad is free, open-source software.
Is KiCad open source?
Yes.
What platforms does KiCad run on?
KiCad is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to KiCad?
The highest-ranked KiCad alternatives right now are EasyEDA, Altium Designer and Autodesk Fusion. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.