7 Greatest PCB Design Software program I Suggest

My high 7 finest PCB design software program suggestions for 2025

What I search for in PCB design software program

The record under incorporates real consumer critiques from our greatest PCB design software program class web page. To qualify for inclusion within the class, a product should:

• Modify PCB layouts and PCB circuitry
• Embody a parts library so customers can simply implement high-quality PCB footprints
• Present schematic modifying instruments for modification {of electrical} properties and different attributes of parts, wires, nets, and pins.

This information has been pulled from G2 in 2025. Some critiques have been edited for readability.

Altium Designer provides a unified platform that integrates totally different design instruments, together with schematic seize, format routing, documentation, and simulation, into one surroundings. What I recognize most is the power to seamlessly transfer between these phases. For instance, as soon as I create the schematic diagram, I can simply transition to the layout-routing part, adjusting the design whereas visualizing the ultimate product. This clean workflow saves me time and helps me maintain every thing organized without having to modify between a number of instruments or fear about integration points.

A function that basically impressed me is design for manufacturing (DFM). This ensures that designs should not solely purposeful but additionally simple to provide. The DFM instruments assist establish potential points early within the course of, decreasing errors and saving time in the course of the manufacturing part. It’s reassuring to know that my design is optimized for manufacturing earlier than transferring on to precise fabrication.

With the 3D flex-rigid design, I used to be capable of visualize how the totally different layers of a PCB interacted, together with each versatile and inflexible elements. This was particularly helpful when testing extra complicated, multi-layered designs. I can see how seeing how every element interacts in 3D may give producers higher perception and assist them make extra knowledgeable selections whereas routing the format.

Its in depth element library provides an enormous number of elements, parts, and templates, which allowed me to shortly discover what I wanted. This function reduces the necessity to manually design parts from scratch, and I used to be in a position to make use of pre-validated elements that helped decrease errors. The large choice made the method sooner and extra dependable, which is at all times a plus.

The largest concern I confronted was the system necessities. Altium Designer requires lots of reminiscence and processing energy. On high-end machines, the software program runs easily, however on much less highly effective computer systems, I skilled noticeable slowdowns, particularly when coping with bigger, extra complicated initiatives.

Making an attempt to run a number of instruments without delay typically resulted in lag, which made the expertise irritating. For customers with much less highly effective programs, this might actually influence workflow and productiveness.

One other ache level for me was including footprints to units. Whereas Altium provides a big number of footprints, the method felt a bit cumbersome. Discovering the fitting footprint requires navigating by a number of libraries, and there isn’t a easy method to view all out there choices for a element in a single place.

Linking the footprint to the schematic image additionally felt disjointed, because it wasn’t at all times clear if the right one was chosen. There wasn’t a straightforward method to confirm the accuracy of the footprint after it was added, which led to some further steps to make sure every thing was appropriately aligned. I discovered this to be time-consuming and a bit irritating, particularly when making an attempt to work effectively.

The studying curve can be one thing to remember. Altium Designer is filled with options, which is nice for knowledgeable customers however could be overwhelming for newbies like me. The interface is stuffed with choices, and it took me a major period of time to familiarize myself with all of the instruments.

What I dislike about Altium Designer:

• The system necessities for Altium Designer had been difficult for me, because it requires lots of reminiscence and processing energy. On much less highly effective computer systems, I skilled slowdowns and lag, which considerably impacted my workflow, particularly with bigger, extra complicated initiatives.
• Including footprints to units was a irritating course of for me. Navigating by a number of libraries and linking the footprint to the schematic image wasn’t simple, and I discovered myself spending further time verifying every thing was right, which slowed me down.

What G2 customers dislike about Altium Designer:

“One space for enchancment is including extra options to the “Producer Half Search.” Moreover, navigating the software program and not using a mouse could be difficult, particularly when utilizing a laptop computer. Proper-clicking and dragging on a trackpad could be irritating, although that’s partly because of the laptop computer design. One other suggestion pertains to defining board dimension; for example, once I wanted a board that was precisely 50mm x 50mm, it was exhausting to attract exact strains. I ended up setting the grid dimension to 1mm and estimating the scale. It will be useful to have a function that shows the size of line drawings or the scale of the shapes being created.”

– Altium Designer Evaluation, Trevor M.

One of many standout options of Altium 365 is its real-time collaboration capabilities. It helped me join with circuit groups on the identical designs concurrently. Whether or not I used to be reviewing schematics or making PCB format changes, it ensured everybody was on the identical web page. The platform’s model management system ensured that each change is tracked, which allowed me to view revision histories or roll again to earlier variations with ease.

It has extremely environment friendly mission administration instruments which have made dealing with complicated designs a lot simpler, particularly once I’m engaged on intricate designs. I discovered the method of making and modifying parts to be each intuitive and highly effective, permitting for detailed work with out feeling overwhelming. I can see how this flexibility could be an enormous asset for groups, enabling them to handle large-scale initiatives with ease.

I’ve additionally actually loved working with the PCB format editor. It’s extremely customizable, which permits me to make changes to designs shortly and seamlessly. I actually appreciated the power to effortlessly transition between schematic and PCB. It saved me lots of time, as I might shortly modify and export designs. For groups that must combine these modifications into their bigger platform-based initiatives, this function would make the complete course of way more environment friendly, significantly when speedy changes are required.

The 3D visualization function was one other space the place Altium 365 impressed me. I used to be capable of visualize how parts match on the board with ease, particularly in tight areas. The software program’s help for .step 3D our bodies made it simple to see how every thing would match collectively. What stood out was the 3D rendering velocity – even when working with complicated parts, they rendered shortly with none noticeable lag. I discovered the “snap factors” function significantly helpful, because it helped me place even essentially the most awkward 3D our bodies with nice precision.

Lastly, the draftsman instrument has been an absolute spotlight. Producing high-quality meeting drawings was a breeze with just some clicks. This instrument allowed me to create detailed and visually interesting drawings, which I might think about could be very useful for manufacturing groups that want clear documentation for meeting.

Nonetheless, regardless of these constructive experiences, there are just a few areas the place I feel Altium 365 might enhance. One of many challenges I confronted was with establishing PCB routing guidelines. It required a little bit of programming data, which could not be beginner-friendly. Whereas I ultimately turned proficient, I might see how somebody new to this sort of design software program would possibly discover this function a bit difficult. A extra user-friendly interface for setting these guidelines will surely make the method smoother for newbies.

One other concern I encountered was with the design rule system. Some customized queries didn’t work as anticipated, significantly when making an attempt to arrange guidelines to disregard interfering parts. For instance, I created a “element clearance” rule with particular settings for vertical and horizontal clearance, however the rule didn’t persistently ignore collisions. Regardless of prioritizing the rule appropriately, it did not work on some events, which was irritating.

I additionally bumped into a difficulty with observe size calculation. There have been instances when Altium appeared to disregard small segments of the observe on sure layers, which might be problematic when making an attempt to exactly match observe lengths, particularly for impedance-controlled designs. This led to inaccuracies within the format, requiring me to manually modify and double-check sure areas.

On just a few events, Altium 365 additionally skilled reminiscence violation errors, which had been a bit regarding given the software program’s complexity. Whereas it labored nicely for many of my initiatives, bigger and extra complicated designs prompted the instrument to decelerate, particularly when working over a community. This resulted in longer load instances and delays in accessing information, which might be irritating throughout tight mission timelines.

Lastly, the Invoice of Supplies (BOM) function took longer than anticipated to generate. Moreover, it wanted to be up to date each time I made modifications to the schematic, which added delays to the workflow, particularly when working with frequent design revisions.

What I dislike about Altium 365:

• The setup of PCB routing guidelines required some programming data, which wasn’t very beginner-friendly, making the educational curve steeper for brand spanking new customers. A extra user-friendly interface for these guidelines would enhance the expertise for these simply beginning out.
• I encountered points with the design rule system. Customized queries typically didn’t work as anticipated, particularly with element clearance guidelines, inflicting frustration when the principles did not persistently forestall collisions.

What G2 customers dislike about Altium 365:

“The software program could be sluggish to begin and entry information, particularly over a community. Some default settings, just like the connection matrix, generate pointless warnings that make it tougher to establish actual points. The Invoice of Supplies function takes time to generate and requires updates when modifications are made to the schematic. Moreover, the software program slows down with bigger designs, and whereas it integrates nicely with third-party parts, occasional points with mismatched footprints or image requirements can come up.”

– Altium 365 Evaluation, Hemant A.

What I dislike about PADS Skilled:

• The outdated GUI felt much less partaking and lacked intuitiveness, making it tougher for me to navigate and totally benefit from the consumer expertise in comparison with trendy PCB design instruments.
• Because of its complexity, establishing the instrument initially was overwhelming, and a extra streamlined method would have saved me time and decreased frustration in the course of the onboarding course of.

What G2 customers dislike about PADS Skilled:

“One draw back of utilizing PADS Skilled is that it takes a major period of time to course of and compute analyses, even for one thing so simple as the dashboard, which could be fairly irritating.”

– PADS Skilled Evaluation, Souvik G.

I just lately explored Allegro X PCB Designer, and I discovered it distinctive for creating CPU motherboards and dealing with high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB designs.

Its capacity to develop compact, space-efficient electronics whereas sustaining superior performance is spectacular. The instrument makes it potential to pack intricate parts into smaller areas, a function that basically stood out to me and felt like a major benefit for contemporary electronics design.

Considered one of my favourite options was the error correction system for schematic design. With its three-step course of, it made guaranteeing schematic accuracy really feel intuitive and easy. It flagged errors early, corrected them logically, and validated the outcomes systematically, streamlining the design course of and minimizing potential errors.

I additionally appreciated the pre-analysis and post-analysis capabilities, which allowed me to catch and resolve points each earlier than and after the design part, making the complete workflow extra environment friendly and dependable.

The AI-based element automated the method of arranging parts on the PCB, saving me appreciable time. This automation additionally ensured exact and optimized placements that might sometimes require meticulous handbook changes. It felt just like the instrument was doing the heavy lifting, leaving me free to give attention to different points of the design.

I used to be additionally impressed by Allegro’s versatile workspace, which allowed me to customise the interface, instructions, and workflows to suit my private preferences. This adaptability was an enormous plus, because it made staying organized and productive a lot simpler. Aligning the instrument’s setup with my design habits felt like a good way to enhance effectivity and luxury.

Nonetheless, the lengthy load instances, particularly throughout resource-heavy operations, had been irritating. Whether or not it was beginning the appliance, creating library symbols, or working with parts, I seen important lag. This concern turned significantly noticeable when dealing with a number of 3D fashions or board mapping, which took for much longer than anticipated and felt like a bottleneck within the workflow.

One other limitation I noticed was the dearth of complete design for manufacturing (DFM) experiences. Whereas the instrument excels at creating PCBs, it doesn’t generate the detailed DFM experiences wanted to make sure a design is prepared for manufacturing. I had to make use of exterior instruments to fill this hole, which added an additional step and a few inconvenience.

Safety issues additionally stood out. The cadence.pcb information aren’t protected nicely and could be simply reverse-engineered. For these working with delicate designs, this lack of sturdy safety might pose important dangers.

Moreover, the absence of a direct VBScript interface means customers would possibly must be taught a brand new scripting language unique to Allegro. Whereas this may be useful for superior customization, the educational curve felt unnecessarily steep, particularly for many who aren’t accustomed to Allegro’s scripting surroundings.

What I dislike about Allegro X PCB Designer:

• Throughout my testing, I seen important delays when performing resource-heavy duties like dealing with 3D fashions or board mapping. These lengthy load instances made the workflow really feel much less environment friendly.
• I discovered the absence of complete DFM experiences limiting. To totally assess my take a look at designs for manufacturing readiness, I needed to discover exterior instruments, which added pointless complexity.

What G2 customers dislike about Allegro X PCB Designer:

“The software program must be backward appropriate with older revisions. It requires switching between totally different toolsets, and the complete workflow is not simply built-in. STEP export information do not work nicely with SolidWorks, and managing libraries and variants could be tough.”

– Allegro X PCB Designer Evaluation, Vijay P.

Throughout my testing of Autodesk Fusion, I explored a wide range of options, and it is clear that the software program has rather a lot to supply manufacturing groups.

One side that stood out to me was the 3D design and modeling instruments. These instruments are extremely highly effective and permit for the creation of each easy elements and sophisticated buildings.

A function I discovered significantly useful is manufacturing integration. Fusion permits designs to be taken straight by to manufacturing, which simplifies the method. As an alternative of switching between a number of platforms for design and manufacturing, every thing is consolidated in a single place. For manufacturing groups, this function is invaluable because it reduces the probabilities of errors and ensures all elements of the method are streamlined.

Fusion’s simulation and evaluation instruments permit for simulations like stress exams and movement evaluation, serving to manufacturing groups take a look at designs digitally earlier than transferring to manufacturing. By figuring out potential points, these instruments saved me time, at the same time as a newbie. 

One of the vital modern options I examined was generative design. This instrument permits me to enter design objectives and constraints, and Fusion then generates a number of design choices that meet these standards. For manufacturing groups, this may be extremely helpful for exploring new design prospects and optimizing effectivity, because the software program suggests design options which may not have been thought of in any other case.

Nonetheless, I did encounter just a few challenges throughout testing. Assemblies in Fusion could be tough to handle, particularly when coping with bigger designs. Organizing and navigating by the totally different elements can turn out to be cumbersome, and it may be exhausting to shortly find particular parts when changes are wanted. 

One other space the place I encountered some issue was with 2D drawings. Whereas Fusion does supply primary instruments for creating 2D drawings from 3D fashions, I discovered that the choices out there for detailed 2D designs had been restricted. For extra intricate drawings, I needed to export the design to AutoCAD to reap the benefits of extra superior instruments. This lack of flexibility within the 2D instruments might be improved for manufacturing groups that want detailed and sophisticated 2D representations.

Lastly, I bumped into some points with file conversion when exporting designs. Regardless of Fusion supporting many file codecs, I seen that some intricate particulars and geometries had been misplaced when the designs had been imported into different software program. This might be an issue for manufacturing groups that want exact, detailed designs preserved throughout totally different instruments.

What I dislike about Autodesk Fusion:

• Throughout my testing, I discovered it difficult to handle assemblies, particularly with bigger designs. Organizing and navigating by elements turned cumbersome, and finding particular parts shortly was tough.
• I encountered limitations with 2D drawings, the place Fusion’s primary instruments weren’t sufficient for creating detailed 2D representations. I needed to export designs to AutoCAD for extra superior choices, which added an additional step to the method.

What G2 customers dislike about Autodesk Fusion:

“Two points of Autodesk Fusion 360 that I discover much less favorable are its reliance on an web connection and its CAD file compatibility. Whereas being cloud-based provides important advantages, options like real-time collaboration and automated saving could be difficult in areas with restricted connectivity. Moreover, though Fusion 360 helps many file codecs, the conversion course of throughout export is commonly restricted, resulting in the lack of particulars or geometries when importing information into different software program.”

– Autodesk Fusion Evaluation, Juan M.

After testing Altium CircuitMaker, I can confidently say that this instrument has rather a lot to supply, significantly for these engaged on circuit design. I discovered a number of options that basically stood out, though I additionally encountered just a few challenges alongside the way in which.

One of many options I appreciated essentially the most was the cloud integration. This allowed me to retailer all designs securely within the cloud, making them accessible from wherever. It was extremely handy, as I did not have to fret about dropping my work or managing cupboard space on my native machine. Moreover, the power to collaborate simply with others is a big plus. Whether or not you are working remotely or on a team-based mission, this cloud function makes it seamless to share and work on designs collectively. The cloud-based nature additionally means I did not should manually again up my information, which saved a major period of time.

One other function that basically made a distinction was the Fusion 360 plugin. This plugin allowed me to effortlessly bridge the hole between digital and mechanical designs. I might work on my circuit design in CircuitMaker after which seamlessly transfer to Fusion 360 to tweak the mechanical parts or vice versa. This fluid integration between the 2 platforms saved me hours of transforming and resolving alignment points, guaranteeing that my digital and mechanical designs aligned completely.

The 3D know-how for visualizing schematics was additionally a game-changer. Seeing designs in 3D helped me perceive how the circuits would work together as soon as they had been bodily constructed. It offered me with a a lot clearer image than conventional 2D views, and I used to be capable of spot potential errors early on which may have been missed in a 2D surroundings.

I additionally actually appreciated the power to simply assign properties to parts. Including feedback or particular attributes to elements helped me keep organized and maintain observe of modifications all through the design course of. It was significantly helpful for leaving reminders to myself or others about sure design selections or particular elements, guaranteeing nothing was missed.

The library that comes pre-loaded with Altium CircuitMaker is in depth and a real-time-saver. It contains a variety of symbols, footprints, and 3D fashions, so I didn’t should go looking for elements. I might entry not solely the elements themselves but additionally essential particulars like costing, stock info, and even distributor options. This made the designal course of a lot simpler, particularly once I didn’t have a pre-defined elements record. I might shortly pull up related parts and begin designing with out losing time on analysis or stock checks.

Nonetheless, there have been some challenges. Whereas the simulator mannequin works nicely for primary simulations, I discovered that the accuracy wasn’t at all times dependable for extra complicated circuits. The simulations typically didn’t precisely mirror real-world conduct, which made me query whether or not among the designs would operate as anticipated as soon as constructed. This might be problematic for extra intricate designs the place exact conduct is crucial.

One other concern I confronted was the lack to avoid wasting my initiatives offline. Because the mission file needed to be saved within the cloud, I couldn’t work with out an web connection. This was significantly inconvenient once I was in an space with poor connectivity or once I simply needed the flexibleness to work offline. Whereas the cloud integration is nice general, I’d have most popular the choice to avoid wasting initiatives regionally for added flexibility and safety.

Moreover, I discovered the heavy reliance on neighborhood sharing to be a little bit of a downside. Whereas the concept of sharing work with a big consumer base may be interesting to some, I personally choose extra management over my initiatives. The community-driven side felt a bit limiting, and I’d have favored extra independence in how my work is shared or stored non-public. For many who take pleasure in working independently, this might be a deal-breaker.

Lastly, as a Linux and MacOS consumer, I discovered the expertise lower than supreme. Since CircuitMaker is primarily designed for Home windows, I hadvert to arrange a digital machine to run the software program. Whereas it labored wonderful inside the digital machine, it added an additional layer of complexity to the setup. It wasn’t as seamless as utilizing a local utility, and I might see how this might be irritating for customers exterior of the Home windows ecosystem.

What I dislike about Altium CircuitMaker:

• I encountered points with simulation accuracy for complicated circuits. The simulator typically didn’t precisely mirror real-world conduct, which raised issues in regards to the reliability of designs for extra intricate initiatives.
• The lack to avoid wasting initiatives offline was a significant inconvenience. Because the information needed to be saved within the cloud, I couldn’t work with out an web connection, which restricted my flexibility in sure conditions.

What G2 customers dislike about Altium CircuitMaker:

“CircuitMaker enforces cloud saving and permits solely two non-public initiatives, which could be limiting. The neighborhood element library is unmoderated, containing many unusable footprints (although it is advisable to create your individual, because the element wizard makes it simple). The software program could be considerably unstable, so saving incessantly is essential. Moreover, the keyboard shortcuts differ from these in Altium Designer, which can take a while to regulate to.”

– Altium CircuitMaker Evaluation, Alberto V.

One function of Autodesk EAGLE that stood out to me virtually instantly was the consumer language packages (ULP), the built-in programming language. It helped me save time by automating repetitive processes, which might be useful when engaged on a number of designs or making frequent changes. I might create customized scripts tailor-made to my wants, giving me larger management over the workflow. For manufacturing groups trying to velocity up manufacturing, this function could be a real-time-saver.

The autoroute operate is one other instrument that simplifies the design course of. In a producing context, the place time is crucial, the power to shortly route paths with minimal handbook effort was invaluable. It allowed me to generate fast prototypes and focus extra on refining the core design fairly than coping with routing points.

The instrument labored easily for schematic seize, which is essential in manufacturing for guaranteeing accuracy. It helped me spot potential points early, decreasing the probability of errors throughout manufacturing.

On the library administration facet, Autodesk EAGLE impressed me with its in depth number of pre-loaded CAD packages. This meant much less time spent looking for parts, permitting for sooner meeting and prototyping in manufacturing.

One draw back I encountered was with the 3D visualizer. Whereas purposeful, it didn’t supply the extent of accuracy I anticipated when visualizing how a PCB would look as soon as produced. In manufacturing, this degree of precision is crucial to make sure every thing suits collectively appropriately, and EAGLE’s 3D instrument didn’t fairly meet these expectations.

I additionally had points with the internet itemizing function, particularly when working with complicated energy PCBs. It didn’t at all times operate as anticipated, which led to delays and potential errors within the design part. Dependable internet listings are important for guaranteeing correct electrical connections within the last product.

One other limitation was the restriction within the downloaded model of EAGLE, which limits designs to simply two layers. This turns into a difficulty when working with extra complicated, multi-layer boards. For manufacturing groups engaged on high-density designs, this restriction could cause delays, forcing groups to discover different options or go for costlier variations of the software program.

Lastly, I really feel that routing intelligence might be improved. At the moment, EAGLE makes use of customary routing paths, however integrating AI-based routing algorithms would considerably enhance effectivity. This could lead to extra compact, optimized designs, velocity up manufacturing instances, and decrease routing-related errors.

What I dislike about Autodesk EAGLE:

• I discovered the 3D visualizer to be a bit missing in accuracy. It didn’t present the extent of precision I wanted to visualise how the PCB would look as soon as produced, which might result in potential fitment points within the manufacturing part.
• I encountered points with the online itemizing function, significantly when working with complicated energy PCBs. It didn’t at all times work as anticipated, which prompted delays and will have led to errors in guaranteeing correct electrical connections for the ultimate product.

What G2 customers dislike about Autodesk EAGLE:

“The system’s session timeout is sort of restrictive, because the platform prompts session expiration after a brief interval. It will be useful if there have been an possibility to increase the session period, giving customers extra flexibility to finish duties with out the priority of dropping their progress.” 

– Autodesk EAGLE Evaluation, Aryan Ok.

Most high-quality PCB design software program instruments are paid, however many supply free trials that will help you get began. Altium Designer, for instance, is extensively considered among the best instruments within the {industry}, providing highly effective options for complicated designs. Its free trial could be a good start line. Discover extra free PCB design software program that provides primary options, which could be helpful for less complicated initiatives or newbies.

Preserve issues grounded

Choosing the proper PCB design software program could be a game-changer to your initiatives. When evaluating these instruments, it’s important to think about elements like usability, efficiency, and options that finest align along with your particular wants—whether or not that’s dealing with complicated designs, bettering sign integrity, or guaranteeing clean collaboration.

Based mostly on my testing and consumer suggestions, I’ve outlined the highest instruments that provide one of the best mixture of effectivity, flexibility, and energy. One of the best instrument is the one which works for you and helps you deliver your PCB designs to life with none hiccups.

Don’t be afraid to dive in, experiment with totally different choices, and see what clicks. Bear in mind, even essentially the most refined software program can’t assist when you don’t press the fitting buttons (until you’ve acquired a “design wizard” in your group, through which case, please share their contact information with me).

Scale back errors by utilizing simulation and take a look at suites earlier than transferring your PCB design to manufacturing.