LTspice
also: LT Spice · SPICE
Free SPICE circuit simulator from Analog Devices, widely used for power supplies, switching converters, filters, and analog circuits.
LTspice simulates analog and power circuits (switching regulators, filters, amplifiers, motor drives) and includes models for many of the vendor's parts while accepting third-party SPICE models. It is free, fast, and widely taught.
Where it bites: results are only as good as the models, and many parts lack accurate ones; PCB layout parasitics aren't captured unless modeled; and a stable simulation doesn't replace bench measurements of loop stability and transients.
Outside help is worth it for power-supply and converter design, analog front ends, importing and checking third-party models, and reconciling simulation with bench results.
Common requests
- Power supply and converter simulation
- Filter and analog front-end design
- Importing third-party SPICE models
- Checking stability and transient behavior
Founder takeaway
Use LTspice to narrow options quickly, then confirm on the bench with real layout and components.
official site: analog.com/en/resources/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html · Analog Devices
engineer review pending