10 Best PCB Design software-2023

Which is the best PCB design software for 2023? Which one I should use! that’s the question in the mind of new aspirant circuit designer as market is flooded with a number of printed circuit board design software. The new engineers find it very difficult to find the best tools for their requirements. In this article, you will eplore the top and most commonly used professional PCB design software available in 2023

List of Best PCB Design Software in 2023

To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of best PCB design software for 2023, available in the market. Here is the list:

1. Altium Designer
2. Autodesk EAGLE
3. KiCad
4. Siemens PADS
5. ORCAD
6. Allegro PCB Designer
7. DipTrace
8. Proteus
9. ExpressPCB Plus
10. CADstar

Now let’s us discuss about the abovementioned software in details below:

1. Altium Designer

Altium Designer software is a powerful and widely-used PCB design software known for its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface. It offers a seamless workflow from schematic capture to PCB layout and beyond. It provides a rich library of components, advanced routing capabilities, and a 3D visualization environment for accurate design representation. Altium Designer is a top choice for professionals in the industry with its intuitive design environment and extensive documentation.

Features:

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• Comprehensive library of components.
• Real-time collaboration features.
• Advanced simulation tools.
• 3D visualization of PCB designs.
• Cross-platform compatibility.

Pros:

• Suitable for both beginners and professionals.
• Excellent technical support.
• Robust component management.
• Seamless integration of PCB design and ECAD/MCAD.
• Regular updates and improvements.
• Active user community.

Cons:

• High pricing for full-feature packages.
• Steeper learning curve for complex projects.

Best Suitable For:

• Professionals and organizations requiring top-tier PCB design capabilities.
• Projects that demand 3D modeling and simulation.
• High-complexity designs and large-scale PCBs.

Free/Paid:

• Altium Designer is a paid software, offers a range of licensing options, including Altium 365 cloud-based licensing and subscription-based pricing. Pricing varies depending on the chosen plan.

2. Autodesk EAGLE

Eagle, developed by Autodesk, is a popular PCB designing software known for its simplicity and versatility. It offers an intuitive interface and a vast component library, making it easy for beginners to get started. Eagle provides powerful schematic capture and layout tools, as well as an integrated simulation environment for testing circuit performance. It supports both single-layer and multi-layer designs, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Features:

• Schematic and PCB layout tools.
• Extensive library of components.
• Integration with Fusion 360.
• Real-time error checking.
• Electrical rule checking (ERC).
• User-friendly interface.

Pros:

• Affordable for students and hobbyists.
• Integration with Autodesk’s ecosystem.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Active user community.
• Cloud-based design synchronization.

Cons:

• Limited features in the free version.
• May not be suitable for complex and large-scale projects.

Best Suitable For:

• Students, hobbyists, and small projects.
• Prototyping and quick design iterations.
• Projects that benefit from Fusion 360 integration.

Free/Paid:

• Autodesk EAGLE offers a free version with limited features. Paid plans are available on a monthly or yearly basis.

3. KiCad

KiCad is an open-source PCB design software that has gained significant popularity among hobbyists and professionals alike. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for schematic capture, PCB layout, and 3D modeling. KiCad’s user-friendly interface, combined with its active community and extensive documentation, makes it a great choice for those looking for a cost-effective solution without compromising on functionality. KiCad supports cross-platform compatibility, allowing users to work seamlessly on different operating systems.

Features:

• Open-source and free.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout.
• 3D viewer and model support.
• Gerber file generation.
• Active open-source community.
• Cross-platform.

Pros:

• Completely free and open-source.
• No limitations on design size.
• Growing library of components.
• Support for custom extensions.
• Ideal for open-source and collaborative projects.
• Continuous updates and improvements.

Cons:

• Less intuitive for beginners.
• Limited advanced simulation features.

Best Suitable For:

• Open-source and community-driven projects.
• Budget-conscious students and hobbyists.
• Prototyping and smaller-scale projects.

Free/Paid:

• KiCad is entirely free and open-source.

4. Siemens PADS

SIEMENS PADS, originally developed by Mentor Graphics, now a part of Siemens, is a robust PCB design software that caters to both beginners and experienced designers. It offers a wide range of features, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and signal integrity analysis. PADS provides advanced routing capabilities and efficient design reuse. With its user-friendly interface and extensive design rule checks, Siemens PADS enables designers to create high-quality PCBs with ease.

Features:

• Part of the Xpedition suite.
• High-speed design capabilities.
• Interactive routing and design rule checks.
• Embedded component libraries.
• Advanced ECAD/MCAD integration.
• Scalable solutions for various project sizes.

Pros:

• Professional-grade software.
• Ideal for complex high-speed PCB designs.
• Efficient design rule checks and error detection.
• Integration with other Siemens tools.
• Strong technical support.

Cons:

• Higher pricing for advanced features.
• Steeper learning curve for beginners.

Best Suitable For:

• Professional engineers and organizations.
• Complex and high-speed PCB designs.
• Projects that require advanced ECAD/MCAD integration.

Free/Paid:

• PADS is a paid software, offers a range of licensing options, with pricing varying based on the selected features and capabilities.

5. OrCAD

OrCAD, developed by Cadence Design Systems, is a comprehensive PCB design software known for its advanced capabilities and extensive libraries. It offers a complete suite of tools for schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and analysis. OrCAD provides an intuitive interface, powerful autorouting features, and real-time design feedback, ensuring efficient and accurate printed circuit board designs. It also offers seamless integration with other Cadence tools, helps maintaining a streamlined design flow.

Features:

• Schematic design and simulation.
• PCB layout and routing tools.
• Advanced analysis features.
• Component management and library.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Integration with other Cadence products.

Pros:

• Professional-grade simulation and analysis capabilities.
• Seamless integration with other Cadence tools.
• Scalable solutions for various project sizes.
• Active user community.
• High-quality technical support.

Cons:

• Pricing can be high for full-featured packages.
• Complex for beginners and smaller projects.

Best Suitable For:

• Professional engineers and organizations.
• Projects requiring advanced simulation and analysis.
• Integration with other Cadence products.

Free/Paid:

• ORCAD is also a paid software which offers different licensing options, with pricing depending on the selected features and capabilities.

6. Allegro PCB Designer

Allegro PCB Designer, also developed by Cadence Design Systems, is a high-performance printed circuit design tool widely used in the industry. It offers advanced features for complex board designs, including high-speed signal routing, constraint-driven layout, and comprehensive design rule checks. Allegro PCB Designer provides a scalable platform suitable for both small and large design teams, offering seamless collaboration and efficient project management.

Features:

• High-performance circuit design.
• Interactive routing and design rule checks.
• Embedded component libraries.
• Advanced ECAD/MCAD integration.
• Scalable solutions for different project sizes.

Pros:

• Professional-grade software.
• Ideal for complex high-speed PCB designs.
• Efficient design rule checks and error detection.
• Integration with other Siemens tools.
• Strong technical support.

Cons:

• Higher pricing for advanced features.
• Steeper learning curve for beginners.

Best Suitable For:

• Professional engineers and organizations.
• Complex and high-performance printed circuit designs.
• Projects that require advanced simulation and analysis.

Free/Paid:

• It is a paid software. It offers various licensing options, and the pricing varies based on the selected features and capabilities.

7. DipTrace

DipTrace is a versatile PCB design software that caters to various levels of expertise. It offers a range of modules, including schematic capture, PCB layout, component creation, and pattern editor. DipTrace’s intuitive interface and extensive library of components make it suitable for both hobbyists and professionals. It supports multi-sheet and multi-level hierarchies, allowing for complex designs, and offers real-time 3D visualization for accurate representation.

Features:

• Schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Customizable component creation.
• Real-time 3D modeling.
• Powerful auto-routing.
• Support for differential pairs.
• Active user community.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface, suitable for beginners.
• Affordable pricing with no subscription required.
• Custom component creation.
• Robust design rule checks.
• High-quality technical support.

Cons:

• May lack some advanced features for complex designs.
• Limited integrated simulation capabilities.

Best Suitable For:

• Hobbyists, students, and small-scale projects.
• Custom component design.
• Projects that need an intuitive and cost-effective solution.

Free/Paid:

• It is a paid tool. It offers various licensing options, including a one-time purchase option, making it a cost-effective choice.

8. Proteus

Proteus is a comprehensive PCB design and simulation tool that offers a seamless workflow from schematic capture to PCB layout and testing. It provides a user-friendly interface and a vast library of components, allowing designers to easily create and modify their circuits. Proteus also includes advanced simulation capabilities, enabling users to test and validate their designs before fabrication. With features like interactive 3D visualization and real-time debugging, Proteus is a popular choice for both educational and professional purposes.

Features:

• Schematic capture and simulation.
• PCB layout and auto-routing.
• Integrated development environment (IDE).
• Extensive library of components.
• Arduino and Raspberry Pi support.
• Cross-platform compatibility.

Pros:

• Excellent simulation capabilities.
• Suitable for educational purposes.
• Arduino and Raspberry Pi integration.
• Robust component library.
• Active user community.

Cons:

• Licensing can be expensive for professional use.
• May not be as feature-rich as some high-end solutions.

Best Suitable For:

• Educational purposes and students.
• Projects that require microcontroller integration.
• Small to medium-scale PCB designs.

Free/Paid:

• Proteus being a paid tool, offers various licensing options, with different pricing based on the chosen package and usage.

9. Express PCB Plus

Express PCB Plus is a user-friendly PCB design software. It enables engineers, hobbyists, and students to create professional printed circuit designs with ease. The software provides a rich library of components. It also offers auto-routing capabilities, simplifying the complex task of connecting traces. Users can ensure their designs meet manufacturing standards with the help of its real-time design rule checks. This board design software is ideal for small to medium-sized projects.

Features:

• User-friendly interface.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Component library.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Custom PCB manufacturing services.

Pros:

• Ideal for quick and simple designs.
• Affordable pricing for hobbyists.
• Integration with custom PCB manufacturing services.
• Straightforward and easy to learn.
• Active user community.

Cons:

• Limited features for complex and advanced projects.
• May not be suitable for large-scale designs.

Best Suitable For:

• Hobbyists and beginners.
• Small-scale and quick-turnaround projects.
• Projects that require custom PCB manufacturing services.

Pricing:

• ExpressPCB Plus is a paid tool, offers affordable pricing, making it accessible to hobbyists and small-scale projects.

10. CADstar

CADstar is a robust and versatile PCB design software solution with extensive component library. CADstar’s advanced tools empower users to intricately define traces, vias, and components, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. It uses interactive 3D visualization, which aids in identifying design flaws before production. It supports collaborative work, allowing multiple users to contribute seamlessly.

Features:

• Schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Integrated simulation and analysis tools.
• Extensive component library.
• Support for custom symbols and footprints.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Scalable solutions for different project sizes.

Pros:

• Comprehensive design and simulation capabilities.
• Scalable solutions for varying project sizes.
• Active user community.
• Integration with other Zuken products.
• High-quality technical support.

Cons:

• Higher pricing for advanced features.
• May have a steeper learning curve for beginners.

Best Suitable For:

• Professional engineers and organizations.
• Complex and high-performance circuit designs.
• Projects that require advanced simulation and analysis.

Pricing:

• CADstar is also a paid PCB design software. It offers various licensing options, with pricing varying based on the selected features and capabilities.

Do you want to explore more about life and career as a PCB Designer? 

Have a look on this article PCB Designing: An Overview

Conclusion

Right PCB design software is essential for achieving efficiency, accuracy, and successful outcomes. Each board design software discussed above offers its own unique features, user-friendly interfaces, and extensive libraries, catering to the diverse needs of professionals, hobbyists, and educational institutions. It’s crucial to carefully assess your specific needs, consider your level of expertise before selecting the best PCB design software for your projects.

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FAQs

Can I use these PCB design software for both personal and commercial projects?

Yes, these PCB design software can be used for both personal and commercial projects. However, it’s important to review the specific licensing terms and usage restrictions for each software tool to ensure compliance.

Are these circuit design software tools suitable for beginners?

Yes, these ECAD PCB design software cater to a wide range of users, including beginners. Tools like Altium, Eagle, KiCad, and DipTrace offer intuitive interfaces and extensive documentation, making them accessible for those new to circuit design. A lot of online tutorials are available to provide valuable resources for beginners to learn and enhance their skills.

Can I import/export designs between different PCB design software?

Most of the PCB design software support standard file formats, allowing import/export of designs between different software tools. However, it is highly advised to double-check compatibility and ensure proper conversion to maintain the integrity of the design.

Do these PCB design software provide technical support?

Yes, most of these PCB design software offer technical support to their users.

Can I try these PCB design software before purchasing?

Yes and you must. Many PCB design tools offer trial versions or free editions that allow users to explore the software’s features and functionality before making a purchase, so one must use it before making any purchase.