KiCad
also: KiCad EDA
Free, open-source electronics design suite for schematics, PCB layout, and 3D viewing; capable enough for professional multilayer boards.
KiCad is a free, open-source EDA suite (GPL) with schematic capture, PCB layout with an interactive router, design rule checking, a 3D viewer, and fabrication outputs. Recent versions have made it a credible choice for professional products, and its text-based file formats are easy to keep under version control.
Where it bites: library parts must be checked against datasheets, some advanced capabilities found in commercial suites (enterprise library management, deep signal-integrity analysis) are more limited, and an occasional supplier or client will ask for another tool's format.
Outside help is worth it for schematic and layout reviews, building reliable libraries, generating clean manufacturing outputs, and migrating designs from EAGLE or other tools.
Common requests
- Schematic and PCB layout reviews
- Libraries, footprints, and 3D models
- Manufacturing outputs (Gerber, BOM, pick-and-place)
- Migrating designs from EAGLE or other tools
- Design rule setup for your fabricator
our team works in KiCad
Founder takeaway
Set KiCad's design rules from your fabricator's capabilities before routing, and keep the project in version control.
official site: kicad.org · Open-source project (GPL)
sources
engineer review pending