As a professional PCB engineer, how to choose best free pcb design software is a very important thing.
Here are some commonly used pcb design software.
1. DesignSpark PCB
One of the world's most easy-to-understand electronic product design software, easy to learn and use. The software dramatically reduces the time from concept to production, and its software engine enables rapid access to schematics and PCB layer designs
2. ExpressPCB
It's worth learning and using, and layering PCB layers is very easy, even for first-time users.
3. Fritzing
This is an interesting open source design software for designers, artists, researchers and hobbyists to creatively design electronic products. It can help understand electronic circuits, file projects, and even prepare for production.
4. gEDA
This is a software that runs on Linux and is used for circuit design, schematic acquisition, imitation, copying, and production. At present, the gEDA project provides a mature set of software that can be applied for free electronic design, including schematic acquisition, attribute management, BOM list, layer management, etc
5. Kicad
It is software released on the GPL, an open source platform, capable of producing electronic schematics and circuit boards. It is great for everyone working in the electronic design industry and supports up to 16 layers of schematic and board design.
6. Osmond PCB
This is a very flexible PCB design software that runs on a Macintosh. Among the many standouts are virtual unlimited board sizes, number of layers, number of components, support for through-hole and surface-mount components.
best free pcb design software
7. PCBWeb Desinger
PCBWeb is a free CAD application for the design and manufacture of electronic hardware, using fast, easy-to-use linear tools to design multi-layer schematics, planning multi-layer boards using copper pours and DRC inspections, and embedding in bills of materials.
8. ZenitPCB
ZenitPCB is an excellent PCB design software that can make professional circuit boards, and the CAD module is flexible and easy to use, which can quickly realize the design project. ZenitPCB allows you to create a project from the schematic or from the layer itself.
9. FreePCB
FreePCB, as the name suggests, is a fully open-source Windows-based PCB design editor. It is simple and easy to use, and it is competent for professional and high-quality work. It has a number of features: 1-16 layer design, side sizes up to 60 feet, import/export PADS-PCB lists.
10. TinyCAD
This is a software that helps to draw circuit diagrams, and it helps to complete your project from the symbol library, simplifying work projects and designs. It can also be used to publish the drawn circuit diagram by copying, pasting it into a word document, or saving it as a PNG image.
11. Altium Designer(Ptotel)
Most PCB engineers contact the design software is basically from AD, AD as a simple and easy-to-learn basic entry-level hardware design software, it is suitable for drawing simple single and double sided and four or six layer boards, through the perfect integration of schematic design, circuit simulation, PCB drawing, signal integrity analysis and other technologies, so that PCB engineers can easily design, if you can use this software proficiently, it will greatly improve the quality and efficiency of pcb design.
best free pcb design software
12. PADS
There are many people who use this software, easy to use, simple, easy to use, relatively more convenient and easy to operate than Protel, this software is more suitable for low-end design, and can be called the king of low-end design. It is characterized by its ease of interaction with the schematic, unlike Allegro where the schematic is not connected to the PCB, and in addition, it supports real-time modification of the network, which is suitable for small or simple board wiring
13. Cadence allegro
The biggest advantage of this software is that it is very convenient to trim the wire, biased towards intelligence, and can display DRC in real time. In addition, it is also more convenient to attach wires, and it is very convenient to route and wind. Nowadays, the advantages of teamwork are becoming more and more obvious, and Allegro has an advantage over other PCB software in multi-person cooperation.
Have you found your Best Free PCB Design Software by reading this?