The Most Popular PCB Design Software, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the software you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:46
When it comes to printed circuit board (PCB) design, the software one chooses can dramatically affect both the process and the final outcome. Engineers and designers rely on user feedback and general consensus to select tools that streamline their work and enhance their design capabilities. A comprehensive, community-driven ranking of these software tools provides clarity and aids in making informed decisions.
By participating in voting on this collection of PCB design software, users contribute to a dynamic, current guide that reflects the preferences and experiences of a broad user base. This collaborative ranking helps newcomers and seasoned professionals alike to identify which tools are favored in the industry and why, thus influencing their software choices in a meaningful way.
What Is the Most Popular PCB Design Software?
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159votes
Eagle PCB Design Software
AutodeskEagle PCB Design Software is one of the most popular software for designing PCBs. The software is easy to use and comes with a variety of features that make it ideal for both beginners and professionals. The software is also affordable and has a large user community.Eagle PCB Design Software is a widely used software for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). It provides users with a comprehensive set of tools and features to create professional-grade PCB layouts and schematics. The software offers a user-friendly interface, flexible design options, and powerful capabilities for both beginners and advanced users.- User Interface: Intuitive and user-friendly interface for ease of use
- Schematic Design: Ability to create and edit schematic diagrams
- PCB Layout Editor: Advanced tools for PCB layout design
- Component Library: Vast collection of pre-built components for easy integration
- Design Rule Check (DRC): Automatic verification of design rules to ensure accuracy and manufacturability of the PCB
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226votes
Altium Designer
Altium LimitedAltium Designer is a professional PCB design software that is widely used in the industry. The software comes with a variety of features, including advanced routing and schematic capture tools. The software is also known for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.Altium Designer is a leading and widely used PCB design software that provides a comprehensive set of tools for designing electronic circuits and printed circuit boards. It offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced designers. Altium Designer is known for its powerful features and capabilities that enable efficient design workflows.- Schematic Capture: Allows creation and editing of electronic schematics
- PCB Layout: Enables designing and editing of printed circuit boards
- 3D Modeling: Supports the creation of 3D models and integration with mechanical design
- Signal Integrity Analysis: Helps identify and resolve signal integrity issues
- Powerful Routing: Offers advanced routing options for efficient board layout
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321votesKiCAD is an open-source PCB design software that is free to use. The software is ideal for hobbyists and small businesses who are looking for a cost-effective solution for designing PCBs. KiCAD comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization.KiCAD is a popular open-source PCB design software tool used for creating electronic schematics and PCB layouts. It offers a suite of intuitive and powerful features to facilitate the design process.
- Open-Source: Yes
- Cross-Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Schematic Capture: Yes
- PCB Layout Editor: Yes
- Component Libraries: Extensive and customizable
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422votesProteus is a PCB design software that is widely used in the industry. The software is known for its advanced simulation capabilities, which allow designers to test their designs before prototyping. Proteus also comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization.Proteus is a popular PCB design software widely used by engineers, students, and hobbyists. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for designing, simulating, and testing electronic circuits and PCB layouts. With a user-friendly interface and powerful features, Proteus simplifies the design process and ensures accurate and efficient circuit development.
- Simulation: Full-featured SPICE simulation engine
- Schematic Capture: Intuitive schematic editor for circuit design
- PCB Layout: Advanced PCB design capabilities with auto-routing
- Virtual Prototyping: Real-time interactive simulation of designed circuits
- Component Library: Vast collection of pre-modeled electronic components
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513votesDipTrace is a PCB design software that is ideal for both beginners and professionals. The software comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization. DipTrace also has a user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.DipTrace is a professional PCB design software that allows electronic engineers and PCB designers to create high-quality printed circuit boards. It offers a user-friendly interface coupled with a comprehensive set of tools and features for designing schematics, creating PCB layouts, and generating manufacturing files.
- Schematic Capture: Easy-to-use schematic editor for designing circuit diagrams.
- PCB Layout: Powerful PCB design module with advanced routing capabilities.
- Component Editor: Built-in library with over 500,000 components and a component editor for creating custom components.
- 3D Modeling: Realistic 3D modeling and visualization of the designed PCB.
- Rule Check: Design rule checking to ensure compliance with manufacturing standards and constraints.
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67votesCircuitMaker is a free PCB design software that is ideal for hobbyists and small businesses. The software comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization. CircuitMaker also has a large user community and excellent customer support.CircuitMaker is a powerful and popular printed circuit board (PCB) design software that enables users to create professional-quality PCB designs with ease. It offers a range of advanced features and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced designers.
- Easy-to-use Interface: CircuitMaker provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, allowing users to navigate and use the software effortlessly.
- Schematic Capture: It offers a robust schematic editor that allows users to design and create circuit diagrams.
- PCB Layout: CircuitMaker includes a powerful PCB layout editor to design and optimize the physical layout of the circuit board.
- Component Library: It provides a vast library of pre-built components and symbols for easy integration into designs.
- 3D Visualization: Users can visualize their PCB designs in 3D, offering a realistic representation of the final product.
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76votesEasyEDA is an online PCB design software that is free to use. The software is ideal for hobbyists and small businesses who are looking for a cost-effective solution for designing PCBs. EasyEDA comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization.EasyEDA is a cloud-based PCB design software that allows users to design and simulate electronic circuits and create printed circuit board layouts. It is popular for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design tools, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced engineers. With EasyEDA, users can design, edit, and collaborate on PCB designs online, eliminating the need for traditional desktop software.
- Cloud-based Design: EasyEDA can be accessed and used online without the need for software installation.
- User-Friendly Interface: The software features a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
- Circuit Simulation: EasyEDA allows users to simulate circuits to verify their functionality.
- Library of Components: The software provides a vast library of electronic components for users to choose from.
- Schematic Capture: Users can create circuit schematics with EasyEDA's schematic capture tool.
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84votesOrCAD is a professional PCB design software that is widely used in the industry. The software comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and advanced simulation capabilities. OrCAD is also known for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.OrCAD is a popular PCB design software used for designing printed circuit boards. It offers a comprehensive set of tools and features that enable engineers and designers to create highly efficient and reliable PCB layouts. The software includes schematic capture, component library management, PCB layout design, design rule checks, simulation, and manufacturing file generation.
- Schematic Capture: Allows users to create and modify schematic diagrams
- Component Library Management: Includes libraries of commonly used components for easy placement in designs
- PCB Layout Design: Offers flexible and intuitive tools for placing components, routing traces, and defining copper pours
- Design Rule Checks (DRC): Ensures adherence to design rules and standards for electrical and manufacturing constraints
- Simulation: Allows virtual testing of designs to verify functionality and performance
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910votesPADS is a PCB design software that is ideal for both beginners and professionals. The software comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization. PADS is also known for its excellent customer support and user-friendly interface.PADS (PowerPCB Advanced Design System) is a popular PCB design software used for designing and developing electronic circuits. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools and features to create precise and efficient PCB layouts.
- Intuitive Interface: Easy-to-use user interface for smooth and efficient design process
- Advanced Routing Capabilities: Powerful routing features for high-quality PCB designs
- Design Rule Checking: Automated DRC to ensure adherence to design rules and standards
- Integrated Schematic Capture: Ability to create and annotate schematics directly within the software
- Library Management: Robust library management for efficient PCB component selection and usage
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109votesCircuitStudio is a professional PCB design software that is widely used in the industry. The software comes with a variety of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D visualization. CircuitStudio is also known for its advanced simulation capabilities and user-friendly interface.CircuitStudio is a popular electronic design automation (EDA) software specifically designed for professional printed circuit board (PCB) design. It offers users a comprehensive set of tools and features to facilitate the creation, modification, and documentation of PCB layouts.
- Intuitive Interface: Easy-to-use graphical interface for seamless workflow.
- Schematic Capture: Advanced schematic drawing and editing capabilities.
- PCB Layout: Powerful and flexible PCB layout tools for precise design.
- Component Library: Vast component library with thousands of pre-built components.
- Design Rule Checking: Built-in design rule checks for ensuring the integrity of the PCB layout.
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular software
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User Interface and Ease of UseA good PCB design software should have a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and use, even for beginners. Intuitive controls, well-organized toolbars and menus, and clear instructions can significantly improve the user experience.
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Features and FunctionalityConsider the range of features and capabilities that the software offers. This includes schematic capture, board layout, component libraries, design rule checking, auto-routing, simulation, and manufacturing outputs. Make sure that the software has the functionality required for your specific needs and design complexity.
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Compatibility and IntegrationIt is essential for the software to be compatible with your computer's operating system, whether it's Windows, Mac, or Linux. Additionally, look for integration capabilities with other software tools for schematic and PCB design, as well as the ability to import and export various file formats for easy collaboration.
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Scalability and FlexibilityChoose a PCB design software that can grow with your needs and has the ability to handle complex, multi-layer designs or high-speed designs if required. The software should also be flexible enough to adapt to your design process and support customization or scripting.
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Technical Support and CommunityA strong technical support team and a responsive user community are essential for any software tool. Check if the software has active forums, FAQs, tutorials, and other resources to help you learn, troubleshoot, and stay updated with industry trends.
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Cost and LicensingThe cost of the software, as well as the type of licensing, should be considered. Some tools offer perpetual licenses, while others have subscriptions or varying pricing models based on user needs. Make sure to choose a software that fits within your budget and offers the necessary features for your projects.
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Updates and UpgradesRegular updates and consistent release of new features are essential to keeping pace with the evolving industry standards and technologies. Choose a software that has a history of timely updates and improvements to stay ahead of the competition.
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Stability and PerformanceThe software should be stable and able to handle large projects without crashing or freezing. Loading times and response time should be reasonable, and the software should be optimized for performance on your computer's hardware.
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Training and Learning CurveConsider the amount of time and resources required to learn and master the software. Some software programs have steep learning curves, while others are designed to be more user-friendly for beginners. Choose a software that strikes the right balance between advanced features and ease of use.
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Industry Reputation and AdoptionThe popularity and reputation of the software within the industry is an essential factor. A widely-adopted software choice will likely have a larger user base, better support, and more resources available for learning and troubleshooting.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular PCB design software. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or program is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1377 views
- 176 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each program once every 24 hours. The rank of each program is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular pcb design software
PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software is an essential tool for electronics engineers and enthusiasts. It allows users to design, simulate, and test their circuit boards before production, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in the manufacturing process. With the rise of DIY electronics and the increasing demand for custom circuit boards, there are many options available in the market today. In this article, we will explore the most popular PCB design software based on user votes and ratings on StrawPoll.
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