In the field of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design, many software have their own characteristics to meet the needs of different users. You can choose the right tool to enhance your design efficiency according to your needs. Many software offer free versions or trial services, you can first experience these versions to determine the most suitable choice for you.
Altium Designer
is a powerful all-round PCB design tool, covering the schematic design to PCB layout of the full range of processes and other functions, to meet the needs of a variety of projects from simple to complex. It is the tool of choice for many engineers.
Cadence OrCAD
produced by Cadence Design Systems, is the preferred choice for professional electronic design for complex projects and is well suited for high-speed circuit design and complex system design. It supports features such as high-speed signaling optimization, differential pair routing, and impedance matching.
KiCad
open source and free PCB design tool, supports cross-platform operation (Windows, Linux, macOS) and has active community support, provides basic PCB design functions, it is ideal for education, college students hobbyists, etc. It supports up to 16 layers of schematic and circuit board design up to 16 layers.
DesignSpark PCB
Hailed as “the world's easiest-to-use electronic design software”, DesignSpark PCB is easy to learn and easy to use and is designed for beginners and small projects, focusing on rapid prototyping. It supports the import and export of multiple file formats and allows users to create BOMs (bills of materials) on demand.
ExpressPCB
The software is easy to use, suitable for beginners and small projects, can quickly complete the design project, it is worth learning and use, PCB layer layering is very easy, even for first-time users.
FreePCB
is a Windows-based open-source PCB design editor, that supports 1-16 layer design, it is easy to use, can do professional high-quality work, and support import/export PADS-PCB list.
TinyCAD
supports completing projects from the symbol library and can publish drawn circuit diagrams by copying and pasting, helping to realize completing your projects from the symbol library, simplifying work projects and designs.
Osmond PCB
is a very flexible PCB design software that runs on Macintosh, with numerous outstanding features including virtual unlimited board size, number of layers, number of components, and support for through-hole and surface mount components.
Eagle PCB
is suitable for beginners and small projects, and its interface is intuitive and easy to use.
Proteus Design Suite
The software provides schematic and PCB design and also has simulation capabilities for easy testing of designs.
Autodesk Fusion 360
integrated CAD/CAM/CAE software also contains PCB design functions, suitable for multi-disciplinary applications.
CircuitMaker
free software provided by Autodesk, suitable for education and hobbyists, and easy to use.
Mentor Graphics PADS
Professional PCB design software is favored for its advanced layout and routing features.
DipTrace
Designed for rapid prototyping with a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface.
PCBWeb Designer
PCBWeb is a free CAD application for designing and manufacturing electronic hardware, designing multilayer schematics using fast, easy-to-use linear tools, using copper cladding and DRC inspection to plan multilayer boards with an embedded bill of materials.
ZenitPCB
Produce professional circuit boards with flexible and easy-to-use CAD modules for fast realization of design projects. With ZenitPCB you can create projects from the schematic or the layers themselves.
BSch3V
Windows-based schematic design. “BSch” stands for Basic Schematic, and for simplicity, it has only basic functions.
gEDA
software running on Linux for circuit design, schematic acquisition, imitation, reproduction, and production. Currently, the gEDA project provides a mature set of software for free electronic design applications, including schematic acquisition, attribute management, BOM list, layer management, etc.
Fritzing
is an interesting open-source design software for designers, artists, researchers, and hobbyists to creatively design electronic products. It helps to understand electronic circuits, archive projects, and even prepare them for production.
Topfast specializes in providing total electronic manufacturing solutions, from PCB production, PCBA assembly, SMT placement, AOI/ICT/FCT testing, international logistics, after-sales service, and other full-process manufacturing services, 20 years of industry experience, mature quality control program,s and quality awareness, to become a high-quality PCB manufacturing services partner for global customers.