The Best PCB Artist Alternatives for Circuit Board Design
PCB Artist, developed by "Advanced Circuits," has long been a go-to choice for aspiring and professional circuit board designers. Its appeal stems from its user-friendly interface, comprehensive component library, and the fact that it's completely free. It's an intuitive tool that makes creating circuit boards accessible even to beginners, while still offering powerful features like "Multi-Page Schematic" and "Netlist Import." Despite its strengths, including its lightweight and resource-friendly nature, users often seek out PCB Artist alternatives for various reasons, whether it's for different feature sets, cross-platform compatibility, or simply to explore new design workflows.
Top PCB Artist Alternatives
If you're looking to broaden your horizons beyond PCB Artist, or simply need a different set of tools for your next circuit design project, here are some of the best alternatives available that offer unique advantages for every kind of user.
Fritzing
Fritzing is an excellent PCB Artist alternative for those who need to design circuits, layouts (PCB, stripboard, or breadboard) with a very user-friendly approach. It's a commercial and open-source tool available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it highly versatile. Fritzing particularly shines with its focus on Education and Prototyping, ideal for hobbyists and students transitioning from breadboards to permanent PCBs.
KiCad
KiCad is a powerful, free, and open-source software suite for Electronic Design Automation (EDA), making it a formidable PCB Artist alternative for designing schematics and printed circuit boards. Available across Mac, Windows, and Linux, KiCad offers advanced features like a 3D renderer and 3D sketching, alongside a vast component library, appealing to professional engineers and advanced hobbyists.
QUCS
The Quite Universal Circuit Simulator (QUCS) is a free and open-source integrated circuit simulator available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. While not a direct PCB layout tool like PCB Artist, QUCS excels in simulating and graphically presenting results of large-signal circuits, making it an excellent companion tool or alternative for those whose primary need is circuit simulation before PCB design.
LibrePCB
LibrePCB is a free and open-source EDA software focused on developing printed circuit boards. It's under active development and aims to provide a stable, feature-rich platform. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, LibrePCB includes 3D sketching capabilities, positioning it as a promising PCB Artist alternative for users seeking a modern, community-driven solution.
LTspice
LTspice IV is a high-performance Spice III simulator, schematic capture, and waveform viewer, offered for free on Mac and Windows. While primarily a circuit simulator rather than a PCB layout tool, LTspice's enhancements and models for switching regulators make it an invaluable PCB Artist alternative for detailed circuit analysis and validation before the physical layout phase.
Ktechlab
KTechLab is a free and open-source IDE for microcontrollers and electronics, primarily available on Linux. It offers circuit simulation and program development for microcontrollers, including simulating the programmed device. As a PCB Artist alternative, KTechLab is ideal for users focused on embedded systems design, where integrated simulation and microcontroller programming are key.
Autodesk EAGLE
Autodesk EAGLE is a widely recognized electronic design automation (EDA) software that enables seamless connection of schematic diagrams, components, and PCB layout. Available with free personal licenses and commercial options, and running on Mac, Windows, and Linux, EAGLE is a robust PCB Artist alternative that offers a comprehensive IDE for professional PCB designers.
gEDA Project
The gEDA Project provides a full suite of GPL'd (free and open-source) Electronic Design Automation tools, primarily for Linux users. These tools are used for electrical design, offering a modular and flexible approach. As a PCB Artist alternative, the gEDA Project is well-suited for users who prefer a highly customizable, open-source environment for their PCB design workflow.
Proteus PCB design
Proteus PCB design is a powerful, integrated, and easy-to-use commercial suite of tools for professional PCB design, combining schematic capture and ARES PCB layout programs. Available for Windows, Proteus PCB design offers a comprehensive solution for those looking for a feature-rich PCB Artist alternative that can handle complex professional projects.
iCircuit
iCircuit is an easy-to-use commercial electronic circuit simulator and designer available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Windows Phone, and iPad. It's an excellent PCB Artist alternative for students, hobbyists, and engineers who prioritize intuitive circuit simulation and design, especially on mobile platforms. While more focused on simulation, it provides valuable tools for pre-layout validation.
Ultimately, the best PCB Artist alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, operating system, budget, and the complexity of your projects. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your next circuit board design endeavor.