- Other interesting Mac alternatives to DesignSpark PCB are Fritzing (Paid, Open Source), QUCS (Free, Open Source), Autodesk EAGLE (Free Personal) and LibrePCB (Free, Open Source). The list of alternatives was last updated Nov 30, 2019. DesignSpark PCB info, screenshots & reviews Alternatives to DesignSpark PCB.
- Printed Circuit Board Layout Tool PCB is a tool for the layout of printed circuit boards. Gerber file viewer Display gerber pcb (RS 273X format) files and drill McCAD Schematics Plus for Mac OS A powerful professional CAD software tool that allows the EAGLE Light The EAGLE is a powerful yet easy-to-use Layout Editor.
Compare the best PCB Design software for Mac of 2021 for your business. Find the highest rated PCB Design software for Mac pricing, reviews, free demos, trials, and more. With PCB designing software, the cost comes down as well as the companies can manufacture their own products. When PCB designing software is used, the development time decreases and the model can be reused and so cost and time is saved. How to Install PCB Design Software? There are different PCB design software.
Are you looking for free PCB design software tools to get your latest electronic project implemented? Look at a list of 12 free PCB software that allows you to build your printed circuit board faster but without several hours of practice. Nearly all of the software packages mentioned here are free, and some software packages require payment. The main aim of these PCB design programs is to automate electronic circuit design and printed circuit boards.
Caption: PCB Design Software Illustration
Contents
1. PCB Artist
1.1 Features
PCB Artist of Advanced Circuits is a powerful software resource for electronics engineers finding a solution that is intuitive and simple to use. Electronics engineers often prefer PCB Artist as it enables them to save money and time.
1.2 Pros and cons
Caption: PCB
1.3 Cost
Free
1.4 Environment
It works with Windows only.
1.5 Suitable for the crowd
For intermediate and advanced users only.
1.6 Reviews
'The software is quite good, except it does not output Gerber files. In the version I used, the PCB file format requires you to use advanced circuits for manufacturing. Despite its deceptively simple-looking toolbars, very great depth is in the right-click menus. It keeps the new user experience from being overwhelming.'—FreewareFiles.
1.7 Download
http://www.4pcb.com/free-pcb-layout-software/
1.8 Social Accounts
1.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
2. Ultiboard
2.1 Features
With its transparent, software-centric platform that leverages modular hardware and an expansive ecosystem, National Instruments accelerates technological performance. Electronics engineers explicitly choose the Utiliboard of National Instruments because it offers a quick PCB prototyping environment for multiple applications.
2.2 Pros and cons
2.3 Cost
- Free evaluation
- Contact for the enterprise edition
2.4 Environment
It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
2.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners, intermediate, and advanced users.
2.6 Reviews
'It's a NI instrument product, and as usual, it's student-centric. Your expectation should not be like the professional tools out there in the market like Altium or Orcad. However, we find it easy to learn.'——G2
2.7 Download
2.8 Social Accounts
2.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
3. Altium Designer 17
3.1 Features
A tech company offering engineering tools for designing electronics based on PCs, Altium presents Designer 17. Many in the industry consider this PCB modeling program to be the gold standard for electronics engineers. Altium Designer 17 is valid, user-friendly, and satisfies the evolving demands of qualified engineers and technicians.
3.2 Pros and cons
3.3 Cost
- Free
- Contact for the enterprise edition
3.4 Environment
It works with Windows only.
3.5 Suitable for the crowd
For intermediate and advanced users only.
3.6 Reviews
'Altium Designer has thousands of advanced features to design PCBs. I like the ability to make files of the PCB to send online PCB manufacturing services. Altium supports a 3D view, and we can see how to fit PCB on my CAD design. Altium has thousands of flexible design rules and auto-routing options.'——Capterra
3.7 Download
3.8 Social Accounts
3.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
4. Solidworks PCB
4.1 Features
SOLIDWORKS provides powerful design technology for an electronic circuit, with the on-demand bi-directional integration with SOLIDWORKS CAD. And their PCB solution incorporates CAD and PCB design for seamless collaboration.
4.2 Pros and cons
4.3 Cost
Contact for price for different editions
4.4 Environment
It works with MAC only.
4.5 Suitable for the crowd
For advanced users only.
4.6 Reviews
'Version control implemented, and it supports with previously designed PCBs using Altium designer. Footprints and the 3d models of the components can easily design. It supports the libraries used in the Altium designer. And also, it supports earlier PCBs that are designed using Altium designer.' ——G2
4.7 Download
4.8 Social Accounts
4.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
5. DipTrace
5.1 Features
DipTrace is an electronics engineering PCB design software tool that includes an interactive design and great functionality. DipTrace offers smart manual routing and a form-based automatic router for PCB layout. Electronics engineers recommend DipTrace with direct circuit-to-board conversion, schematic updating, and back-annotation for its single setting.
5.2 Pros and cons
5.3 Cost
- DipTrace Full: $1,195
- DipTrace Extended: $695
- DipTrace Standard: $395
- DipTrace Lite: $145
- DipTrace Starter: $75
5.4 Environment
It works with Windows, MAC, and Linux.
5.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners and intermediate users only.
5.6 Reviews
'DipTrace is one of the few PCB CAD software which is very user friendly. One can just start working without an event need to learn it. The GUI is designed in such a way that it's straightforward to understand what I have to do for my need.' ——G2
5.7 Download
5.8 Social Accounts
5.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
6. PCBWeb Designer
6.1 Features
PCBWeb is a free CAD program for electronic development and manufacturing. It has a multi-page design schematic shot, multilayer support for the printed circuit board layout, and a broad range of details.
By using this popular PCB program, multi-sheeted schemes can produce with a fast and easy to use wiring tool. Even you can direct multilayer boards with copper fill support and DRC checks. Additionally, you can find an integrated list of Arrow information with a specification manager.
6.2 Pros and cons
6.3 Cost
Free
6.4 Environment
It works with Windows only.
6.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners, intermediate, and advanced users.
6.6 Reviews
'The tool is easy to use. It lets you generate Gerbers, shares your project through Publish, and create custom parts. I think the integration of Digi-key parts in the tool is a big thing. Not all tools have this. Add to that the freedom of the users to choose from different board houses. On the contrary, there are still many areas that need improvement. But, seeing that the tool is still young, it's a nice start. I would love to see the tool to improve in the future. It has a lot of potentials.' ——PCBShopper
6.7 Download
6.8 Social accounts
Caption: Close up computer screen view of PCB design layout routing process in specialized software
6.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
7. BSch3V
7.1 Features
BSch3V is a prominent PCB design computer program for electronics engineers needing a free solution from Suigyodo Online. BSch3V is a schematic capture program for Windows Vista/7/8/10 and has simple operating features.
7.2 Pros and cons
7.3 Cost
Free
7.4 Environment
It works with Windows only.
7.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners only.
7.6 Reviews
'BSch3V is a schematic capture program for Windows Vista/7/8/10. The name 'BSch' is an abbreviation of 'Basic Schematic.' It has only essential functions to simplify operation.'——report
7.7 Download
8. circuits
8.1 Features
Electrical engineer Tim Edwards develops and manages XCircuit, electronic design automation (EDA) tool, and a schematic capture system for presentations. Electronics engineers render XCircuit part of their PCB application software toolbox while drawing worth publishing-quality schematic circuit diagrams and related figures and generating network circuit lists via schematic capture.
8.2 Pros and cons
8.3 Cost
Free
8.4 Environment
It works with Windows and Linux only.
8.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners only.
8.6 Reviews
'Circuit components are kept in and recovered from fully editable libraries. the circuit does not isolate artistic expression from circuit drawing; it maintains flexibility in style without compromising the power of schematic capture.'——wiki.TCL-lang
8.7 Download
8.8 Recommended excellent tutorial
9. Gerbv
9.1 Features
Gerbv is a free software Gerber file viewer, available on Sourceforge only for RS-274X. Electronics engineers may install several files with Gerbv on top of each other.
9.2 Pros and cons
9.3 Cost
Free
9.4 Environment
It works with Linux and MAC only.
9.5 Suitable for the crowd
For beginners only.
9.6 Reviews
'It solves so many issues. Now I can see how screwed my mask and paste layers are! The only thing missing is remembering where I left it, every time you open the viewer, you have to size it to fit your screen, no big.' ——SOURCEFORGE
9.7 Download
9.8 Social Accounts
9.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
10. KiCad
10.1 Features
KiCad is an open-source and cross-platform electronic design automation program that works with Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can build your design with the circuit editor without any limitations. There are no paid networks to access features, as well.
The authorized symbols repository and the built-in symbols editor enable you to work on your projects quickly. Using up to 32 layers of Copper, you will be able to build professional PCB layouts.
This free PCB layout program comes with a push and shoves router that can route differential pairs and change trace lengths dynamically.
10.2 Pros and cons
10.3 Cost
Free
10.4 Environment
It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Free Pcb Software Download
10.5 Suitable for the crowd
Only suitable for intermediate and advanced users.
10.6 Reviews
'The easy to use interface and the comprehensive component library made it a very effective one. All the components can found online, so no need to create a customized.'——G2
10.7 Download
10.8 Social accounts
10.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
11.DesignSpark PCB
11.1 Features
DesignSpark PCB is a typical and straightforward to learn free PCB design tool for circuit capture and electronic design automation arrangement of printed circuit boards. This innovative approach relies on a powerful software engine for capturing circuits, circuit boards, and layouts.
It is indeed popular with numerous users, from students to professionals. It is also the most excellent 3D modeling program that can create 3D views for your design's real-time visualization.
This program offers plenty of video tutorials on different topics related to software design and other useful tips. You can upload the required information using its library to develop your project quickly.
11.2 Pros and cons
11.3 Cost
Free
11.4 Environment
Works with Windows only
11.5 Suitable for the crowd
Only suitable for intermediate and advanced users.
11.6 Reviews
'A very well designed and quite capable once you learn your way around the application. I managed to design a rather dense 4-layer PCB with 0.5 mm pitch QFNs and six mil trace/spacing without encountering any serious issues.'——PCBShopper
11.7 Download
11.8 Social accounts
Caption: The concept of the technology of solid-state microelectronics
11.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
12.Eagle
12.1 Features
EAGLE is an Electronic Structural Automation (EDA) program that enables PCB developers to easily link schematic diagrams, configurations of components, circuit board routing, and extensive library material. It just comes with a subscription to the Fusion 360.
With this PCB board design program, you can use SPICE simulation methods to test ideas quickly and quickly check the circuit output. All changes are synchronized automatically between your layout and the models so that you can focus on the creative process.
12.2 Pros and cons
12.3 Cost
- FREE trial available for a month
- EAGLE Standard Subscription
- $15/month
- $100/year
- EAGLE Premium Subscription
- $65/month
- $500/year
12.4 Environment
It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
12.5 Suitability
Only suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced users.
12.6 Reviews
'Autodesk eagle software best in design for multilayers single-sided and double-sided boards. All tools are simple and easy to know, and products are good for design. We can design a PCB board for simple and medium-size complex boards are fast. Best & faster for the schematic design and board design and component placement.'——G2
12.7 Download
12.8 Social Accounts
12.9 Recommended excellent tutorial
Conclusion
Considering our review, you should now be in a position to make a sensible decision. If you'd like a high-end PCB design solution, then, in this case, Fritzing is one of the best options. In situations where you are focusing on a large project but have a minimal budget, try ZenitPCB.
If you're a student or inexperienced in PCB design and you need an incredibly simple-to-use and very well-documented software, then EAGLE or EasyEDA will be of great assistance. If you are working for an organization but choose not to obtain a license, go to KiCAD.
This article with talk about the 5 Best Free PCB design software’s in the market today. Before not many years, PCB s used to be designed manually with the help of a photo mask on a Mylar sheet. Schematic circuit used to be drawn on a plain paper.
Before going to Best Free PCB design software aware what does PCB stand for?
The solder pads used to be laid out on the Mylar manually.The copper lines were routed to connect the pads. Self-adhesive tape was used for creating the copper traces. Mylar sheets had per-printed and non-reproducing grid points which was an assistance to the board designer. Finally, the board was fabricated with the finished photo mask which was photo lithographically reproduced onto a photo resist. This photo resist was coated on the copper-clad boards.
However, as the complexity of the electronics circuits increased with the advancements in the technology, the manual method was no longer effective and it required a great deal of complex and tedious work.
Nowadays, the Printed Circuit Board Design is done using the special software’s which helps the designer to create the design more efficiently and faster.
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We will look at 5 Best Free PCB design software’s in this article.
To produce a printed circuit board, you need ECAD software which enables you to do following things
- Schematic Capture
- Layout (Placement & Routing)
- Generate manufacturing data
Schematic Capture is the phase in PCB design where you draw the interconnections between the electronic components that are there in your design. There will be symbols depicting the logical structure of an electronic component like an IC, passive devices such as resister, capacitor, connectors and modules, board figures etc.
Layout is where you place the physical symbols also known as Footprints on the work space of the Printed circuit board. The works pace is a boundary of the PCB which depicts the actual dimensions of the board. The footprint is an exact depiction of the physical structure of the component having a definite boundary and solder pads (known as PAD STACKS) on it. A footprint is just a symbol and it can be used for multiple instances or entries on the board. For example, a data buffer and a level translator can a same physical package and can share the same footprint as well.
Generation of manufacturing data is a phase where you create the final files that go to the PCB fabrication house and these files have universal format which is accepted by the majority of the fabrication houses. In the general terms these files are called as GERBER files. Along with manufacturing data, you also create the files which are required by the assembly house for the component assembly on to the bare physical PCB.
Best Free Circuit Design Software
There are several software’s available in the market to perform these things to design the PCB. Some of these software’s available are free for download and use while some of them are paid. We will see some of the best and most popular software’s available and the enthusiasts can choose from these for their PCB design work.
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Note: These free-for-use software’s usually come with a limited functionality and do not support the advanced tasks that are required to design a relatively complex and high-end PCB’s. Some of them do not generate the exact manufacturing data that is required by the manufacturing house to produce a PCB.
Manufacturing house sometimes charges you to compensate for the incompatible formats. We will see in other article some of the best known PCB design software’s which cost you millions of dollars on purchase but gives you much more than that of the free software like more advanced features, customized and highly accurate error checking features (known as DRC – Design rule Check), auto-routing features, automated tasks, design reuse options, multiple user environment and mush more.
The comfort level of working with these software’s is incomparable with that of free ones and these also reduce the time-to-market by its highly advanced efficiency.
Some of these advanced software’s include Cadence’s Design Entry HDL and Allegro, Mentor Graphics’s Expedition, Altium’s Altium Designer, Zuken CR-5000.
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List of 5 best free PCB design software
CAD-SOFT EAGLE
EAGLE is available from Cad-soft and it is very user-friendly, relatively advanced and easy to work with. EAGLE is available for Windows and well as Linux and MAC platforms. It also provides an auto router which helps you to route the signals automatically for you. More and more hobbyists and enthusiasts find EAGLE as one of the best available best free PCB design software’s.
Express PCB
Express-PCB is available to download from the link express PCB official site. It is a good tool for schematic and layout if you are working on smaller designs. Express PCB is supported on major windows versions such as Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7 etc. It is one of the best free PCB design software.
Free Pcb Design Software For Mac
PCB123
PCB123 is from Sunstone Circuits. It can be downloaded from the Sunstone’s official website. Due to high efficiency and simplicity, users considered PCB123 is one of the best free PCB design software’s. It also comes with a very good documentation which helps the beginners to learn it quickly.
TINA
TINA is available from Design Soft and very popular software among the designers. It gives you the simulation software which is complements the PCB design tool very efficiently. TINA provides built-in symbol and footprint library which makes the designer’s job much simpler. It also enables you to view the 3D view of the PCB and helps you efficiently place you components as per you mechanical constraints and requirements. The support for Flexible PCB design also adds to the overall marks and it scores more in this area over the others.
KiCAD
KiCAD is the next and the final one in our list of best Free PCB design software’s. It is open source software developed by Jean-Pierre Charras. The current revisions of the software’s are being developed by KiCad Developers Team. KiCAD suite has 5 major parts which are divided in the project manager, schematic, footprint, layout and Gerber programs. KiCAD also provides the 3D viewer along with the editor. It also helps user visualize the placement of the components more clearly.
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With this last software, we come to an end of the article. 5 Best Free PCB design software’s in the market today. There are several other PCB Circuit Design Software available which can do the job for you.
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Free Pcb Design Software Mac Free
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However, the best free PCB design software’s out of them is chosen based on, the individual’s preferences and the comfort level to work with them. Even the each of the more advanced software’s has its own strong and weak points. The preference is again based on the individual’s liking and the needs.