Best PCB design software, ranked

KiCad is the best PCB design software for most people: free for any use, no board or layer limits, complete fab outputs, on every desktop. Below, six tools are scored 0–2 on each of seven criteria, with who each suits, where it falls short and what it costs.

Last reviewed: Maximum score: 14Every score links to where you can check it

Each criterion scores 0, 1 or 2 against rules set out on How we rank. Ties go to the better cost and licensing score, then board limits. Where we couldn't confirm a fact, the tool gets 1 and the score says so.

The ranking

  1. 1. KiCad

    Best overallWindows, macOS, Linux

    The best PCB design software for most people: complete, unlimited and free for good.

    11/14
    Who it's for
    Anyone who wants a full desktop PCB suite with no licence cost or limits: hobbyists, students, open-source hardware makers and small teams who are happy to use Git.
    Strengths
    • Free for any use under an open-source licence, with no caps on board size or layers.
    • Complete outputs: Gerber, drill, BOM, pick-and-place, STEP, plus IPC-2581 and ODB++ in recent releases.
    • Runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its plain-text files work well with Git.
    Limits
    • More to learn than browser tools: separate schematic, PCB, symbol and footprint editors.
    • No live stock or price data in the editor without plugins.
    • No built-in shared workspace or design review; you bring your own (see After you pick).
    Cost
    Free for any use, including commercial. Open source (GPL). Donations are optional. Check: kicad.org
    Cost 2Learning 1Library 1Limits 2Outputs 2Platform 2Collab 1Full KiCad review →

  2. 2. EasyEDA

    Web browser; desktop clients for Windows, macOS and Linux

    The easiest way to get a first board made cheaply, as long as you're happy ordering from JLCPCB.

    11/14
    Who it's for
    Beginners and budget builds that will order boards and assembly from JLCPCB with parts from LCSC.
    Strengths
    • The quickest start here: open the browser, place parts, order boards.
    • LCSC's parts catalogue, with stock and price, is built into the library.
    • Ordering boards and assembly from JLCPCB is a few clicks from the editor.
    Limits
    • Closed source, and the smoothest path runs through one fab and one parts supplier.
    • User-contributed library parts vary in quality: check footprints against the datasheet.
    • Projects are saved in EasyEDA's cloud by default; local files and offline mode take a deliberate step.
    Cost
    Free to use, in Standard and Pro editions. Check easyeda.com for current terms. Check: easyeda.com
    Cost 1Learning 2Library 2Limits 1Outputs 2Platform 2Collab 1Full EasyEDA review →

  3. 3. Flux

    Web browser

    The best browser-based pick for teams that edit together and will pay for it.

    11/14
    Who it's for
    Small teams with a budget who want to design in the browser, edit together in real time and lean on an AI assistant.
    Strengths
    • Runs in the browser with real-time co-editing and comments, like a shared document.
    • A shared parts library with supplier data alongside the parts.
    • Complete exports: Gerber, BOM, pick-and-place, IPC-2581, ODB++ and STEP.
    Limits
    • No free way to make boards: exporting needs a paid plan after the trial.
    • Closed source and cloud only: your designs live in Flux's service.
    • Board size and layer limits not stated on Flux's pricing page.
    Cost
    Paid plans, each with a 7-day trial. Without a plan you can view public projects, but editing private projects and exporting need a paid plan. Prices are on Flux's pricing page. Check: flux.ai/pricing
    Cost 0Learning 2Library 2Limits 1Outputs 2Platform 2Collab 2Full Flux review →

  4. 4. CircuitMaker

    Windows

    A capable free tool for Windows users happy to design in public; KiCad is freer.

    9/14
    Who it's for
    Hobbyists and open-source makers on Windows who want an Altium-style editor for free and are happy to share their designs.
    Strengths
    • Free, including commercial use, with an editor built on Altium Designer technology.
    • A community parts library with supplier data.
    • Up to 16 signal and 16 plane layers, no board-size restriction, and ODB++ output.
    Limits
    • Windows only, and you need an account and an internet connection.
    • Designed for public sharing: up to 5 private projects.
    • No live co-editing or built-in design review.
    Cost
    Free, with an Altium account, and commercial use is allowed. Up to 5 private projects; the rest are shared with the community. Check: altium.com/circuitmaker
    Cost 1Learning 1Library 2Limits 2Outputs 2Platform 0Collab 1Full CircuitMaker review →

  5. 5. Autodesk Fusion (Electronics)

    Windows, macOS

    Pick it if you design the box as well as the board; otherwise KiCad does more for less.

    8/14
    Who it's for
    People who also design the enclosure: electronics and mechanical CAD in one tool. Also the path Autodesk offers former EAGLE users.
    Strengths
    • PCB, enclosure and 3D in one product, so mechanical fit is checked as you design.
    • Cloud projects with version history and sharing built in.
    • Where Autodesk points EAGLE users now that EAGLE is retired.
    Limits
    • The free licence is for non-commercial personal use and caps schematic sheets, layers and board area.
    • No Linux version.
    • Closed source and subscription-priced; Autodesk stopped selling and supporting EAGLE on June 7, 2026.
    Cost
    Paid subscription, with a free licence for non-commercial personal use that limits schematic sheets, signal layers and board area. Prices and current limits are on Autodesk's pages. Check: Fusion for personal use
    Cost 1Learning 1Library 1Limits 1Outputs 1Platform 1Collab 2Full Autodesk Fusion (Electronics) review →

  6. 6. Altium Designer

    Windows

    The professional standard, worth it when the boards and the team need it; overkill otherwise.

    8/14
    Who it's for
    Professional teams doing complex, high-speed or rigid-flex boards, who need managed libraries, supplier data and cloud review.
    Strengths
    • Deep professional features: high-speed routing, rigid-flex, managed component libraries.
    • Supplier data inside the editor through Manufacturer Part Search.
    • Altium 365 adds cloud projects, version history, browser viewing and comments.
    Limits
    • No free version for ongoing work outside the Student Lab.
    • Windows only.
    • The steepest learning curve on this list.
    Cost
    Annual subscription through Altium Develop (extra design authors are listed at $995 a year each; see Altium's pricing page for the base price). Free 30-day trial; free for students through the Student Lab. Check: Altium Develop
    Cost 0Learning 0Library 2Limits 2Outputs 2Platform 0Collab 2Full Altium Designer review →

Quick picks by who you are

  • Beginners

    EasyEDA

    You've never laid out a board and want one made this month.

  • Students

    KiCad

    You're learning electronics on a course, often on a Mac or Linux laptop.

  • Open-source hardware makers

    KiCad

    You publish your designs so others can build, fork and improve them.

  • Professional teams

    Altium Designer

    Several engineers, complex or high-speed boards, release processes and reviewers outside the design team.

  • Budget builds

    KiCad

    You want the lowest total cost: software, boards and parts.

Why each pick, and the runner-up for each →

Comparison table

Every tool against every criterion. The full comparison gives the reason behind each score and a link to check it.

Scores out of 2 per criterion, 14 in total. Reviewed November 10, 2026.
ToolCost and licensingLearning curveLibrary and component supportBoard size and layer limitsOutput filesPlatform supportCollaborationTotal
KiCadRank #1 2 1 1 2 2 2 111/14
EasyEDARank #2 1 2 2 1 2 2 111/14
FluxRank #3 0 2 2 1 2 2 211/14
CircuitMakerRank #4 1 1 2 2 2 0 19/14
Autodesk Fusion (Electronics)Rank #5 1 1 1 1 1 1 28/14
Altium DesignerRank #6 0 0 2 2 2 0 28/14

Questions people ask when choosing PCB design software

What is the best PCB design software?

For most people, KiCad. It scores 11 of 14 on our seven criteria: free for any use under an open-source licence, no caps on board size or layers, complete fab outputs and native builds for Windows, macOS and Linux. EasyEDA and Flux also score 11; KiCad ranks first on the tie-break because its licence is the most open. Read the KiCad review →

What is the best free PCB design software?

KiCad, because it's free for any use, including commercial, with no layer or size caps. EasyEDA is also free and is easier to start with, but it's closed source and built around ordering from JLCPCB. CircuitMaker is free with up to 5 private projects and runs on Windows only.

What PCB design software should a beginner use?

EasyEDA if you want a board made fast with the least to learn: it runs in the browser and links to JLCPCB for ordering. KiCad if you'd rather spend a weekend learning a tool you can keep for good, at no cost and with no supplier tie-in. Picks by use case →

Is KiCad good enough for professional work?

Its licence allows commercial use, it has no caps on board size or layers (up to 32 copper layers), and it exports Gerber, IPC-2581 and ODB++. What it lacks out of the box is built-in team review and live part pricing, which teams add with plugins and a review workspace.

Do I need Altium Designer?

Only if your boards or your team need what it does best: complex high-speed or rigid-flex layouts, managed libraries with supplier data, and Altium 365 review. It's a paid subscription after a 30-day trial (free for students through the Student Lab) and runs on Windows only.

What happened to EAGLE?

Autodesk stopped selling and supporting EAGLE on June 7, 2026 and points users to the electronics workspace in Autodesk Fusion. KiCad can import EAGLE projects if you'd rather move to an open-source tool.

Can I switch tools later?

Usually, with some cleanup. KiCad imports projects from Altium, EAGLE, CADSTAR and EasyEDA, and EasyEDA Pro imports Altium and KiCad files. Expect to check footprints and design rules after any import.

How do I share, version and review a board once I've picked a tool?

Most editors leave this to you. For KiCad projects, BoardRepo keeps the files, saved versions and a browser view of the schematic, PCB, 3D model and BOM together; Git works too if your team already uses it. After you pick: sharing, versions and review →

How often is this ranking checked?

Every fact is checked against the vendor's own pages on the date shown at the top. Where we couldn't confirm a fact, the score says so and links to where you can check it. How we rank →

Picked a tool? What to use alongside it

Editors design boards; most leave sharing, version history and review to you. Our After you pick guide covers Git, purpose-built hardware repositories and publishing a board safely.