7 Greatest PCB Design Software program I Advocate

My high 7 finest PCB design software program suggestions for 2025

What I search for in PCB design software program

The listing 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 elements library so customers can simply implement high-quality PCB footprints
• Present schematic modifying instruments for modification {of electrical} properties and different attributes of elements, wires, nets, and pins.

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

Altium Designer provides a unified platform that integrates completely different design instruments, together with schematic seize, format routing, documentation, and simulation, into one surroundings. What I respect most is the flexibility to seamlessly transfer between these phases. For instance, as soon as I create the schematic diagram, I can simply transition to the layout-routing section, adjusting the design whereas visualizing the ultimate product. This easy workflow saves me time and helps me maintain every thing organized while not having to change between a number of instruments or fear about integration points.

A characteristic that actually impressed me is design for manufacturing (DFM). This ensures that designs aren’t solely useful but in addition straightforward to supply. The DFM instruments assist establish potential points early within the course of, decreasing errors and saving time through the manufacturing section. It’s reassuring to know that my design is optimized for manufacturing earlier than shifting on to precise fabrication.

With the 3D flex-rigid design, I used to be capable of visualize how the completely 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 part interacts in 3D can provide producers higher perception and assist them make extra knowledgeable choices whereas routing the format.

Its in depth part library provides an enormous collection of elements, elements, and templates, which allowed me to shortly discover what I wanted. This characteristic reduces the necessity to manually design elements from scratch, and I used to be ready to make use of pre-validated elements that helped decrease errors. The big range made the method sooner and extra dependable, which is all the time a plus.

The largest concern I confronted was the system necessities. Altium Designer requires quite a lot 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.

Attempting to run a number of instruments directly typically resulted in lag, which made the expertise irritating. For customers with much less highly effective methods, this might actually affect workflow and productiveness.

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

Linking the footprint to the schematic image additionally felt disjointed, because it wasn’t all the time clear if the right one was chosen. There wasn’t a simple approach 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 attempting to work effectively.

The studying curve can also be one thing to bear in mind. Altium Designer is filled with options, which is nice for knowledgeable customers however might be overwhelming for rookies like me. The interface is stuffed with choices, and it took me a big period of time to familiarize myself with all of the instruments.

What I dislike about Altium Designer:

• The system necessities for Altium Designer have been difficult for me, because it requires quite a lot 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 gadgets was a irritating course of for me. Navigating by a number of libraries and linking the footprint to the schematic image wasn’t easy, 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 with out a mouse might be difficult, particularly when utilizing a laptop computer. Proper-clicking and dragging on a trackpad might be irritating, although that’s partly because of the laptop computer design. One other suggestion pertains to defining board dimension; as an example, after I wanted a board that was precisely 50mm x 50mm, it was arduous to attract exact strains. I ended up setting the grid dimension to 1mm and estimating the size. It could be useful to have a characteristic that shows the size of line drawings or the size of the shapes being created.”

– Altium Designer Assessment, 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 undertaking administration instruments which have made dealing with complicated designs a lot simpler, particularly after I’m engaged on intricate designs. I discovered the method of making and modifying elements to be each intuitive and highly effective, permitting for detailed work with out feeling overwhelming. I can see how this flexibility can 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 flexibility to effortlessly transition between schematic and PCB. It saved me quite a lot of time, as I might shortly modify and export designs. For groups that have to combine these modifications into their bigger platform-based initiatives, this characteristic would make the whole course of way more environment friendly, notably when speedy changes are required.

The 3D visualization characteristic was one other space the place Altium 365 impressed me. I used to be capable of visualize how elements match on the board with ease, particularly in tight areas. The software program’s assist for .step 3D our bodies made it easy to see how every thing would match collectively. What stood out was the 3D rendering pace – even when working with complicated elements, they rendered shortly with none noticeable lag. I discovered the “snap factors” characteristic notably helpful, because it helped me place even probably 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 only a few clicks. This instrument allowed me to create detailed and visually interesting drawings, which I might think about can be very useful for manufacturing groups that want clear documentation for meeting.

Nonetheless, regardless of these constructive experiences, there are a couple of areas the place I believe 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 finally turned proficient, I might see how somebody new to any such design software program may discover this characteristic a bit difficult. A extra user-friendly interface for setting these guidelines will surely make the method smoother for rookies.

One other concern I encountered was with the design rule system. Some customized queries didn’t work as anticipated, notably when attempting to arrange guidelines to disregard interfering elements. For instance, I created a “part 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 occasions when Altium appeared to disregard small segments of the observe on sure layers, which might be problematic when attempting to exactly match observe lengths, particularly for impedance-controlled designs. This led to inaccuracies within the format, requiring me to manually regulate and double-check sure areas.

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

Lastly, the Invoice of Supplies (BOM) characteristic 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 part clearance guidelines, inflicting frustration when the foundations did not persistently stop collisions.

What G2 customers dislike about Altium 365:

“The software program might be gradual to begin and entry information, particularly over a community. Some default settings, just like the connection matrix, generate pointless warnings that make it more durable to establish actual points. The Invoice of Supplies characteristic 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 effectively with third-party elements, occasional points with mismatched footprints or image requirements can come up.”

– Altium 365 Assessment, Hemant A.

What I dislike about PADS Skilled:

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

What G2 customers dislike about PADS Skilled:

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

– PADS Skilled Assessment, Souvik G.

I not too long ago explored Allegro X PCB Designer, and I discovered it distinctive for creating CPU motherboards and dealing with high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB designs.

Its potential to develop compact, space-efficient electronics whereas sustaining superior performance is spectacular. The instrument makes it doable to pack intricate elements into smaller areas, a characteristic that actually stood out to me and felt like a big benefit for contemporary electronics design.

One in every of my favourite options was the error correction system for schematic design. With its three-step course of, it made making certain 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 section, making the whole workflow extra environment friendly and dependable.

The AI-based part automated the method of arranging components on the PCB, saving me appreciable time. This automation additionally ensured exact and optimized placements that will sometimes require meticulous handbook changes. It felt just like the instrument was doing the heavy lifting, leaving me free to give attention to different facets 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 occasions, particularly throughout resource-heavy operations, have been irritating. Whether or not it was beginning the applying, creating library symbols, or working with elements, I observed vital lag. This concern turned notably 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 considerations additionally stood out. The cadence.pcb information aren’t protected effectively and might be simply reverse-engineered. For these working with delicate designs, this lack of sturdy safety might pose vital dangers.

Moreover, the absence of a direct VBScript interface means customers may have to study a brand new scripting language unique to Allegro. Whereas this could be useful for superior customization, the educational curve felt unnecessarily steep, particularly for individuals who aren’t acquainted with Allegro’s scripting surroundings.

What I dislike about Allegro X PCB Designer:

• Throughout my testing, I observed vital delays when performing resource-heavy duties like dealing with 3D fashions or board mapping. These lengthy load occasions made the workflow really feel much less environment friendly.
• I discovered the absence of complete DFM experiences limiting. To completely assess my check 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 suitable with older revisions. It requires switching between completely different toolsets, and the whole workflow is not simply built-in. STEP export information do not work effectively with SolidWorks, and managing libraries and variants might be tough.”

– Allegro X PCB Designer Assessment, Vijay P.

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

One facet 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 complicated constructions.

A characteristic I discovered notably useful is manufacturing integration. Fusion permits designs to be taken immediately by to manufacturing, which simplifies the method. As a substitute of switching between a number of platforms for design and manufacturing, every thing is consolidated in a single place. For manufacturing groups, this characteristic 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 checks and movement evaluation, serving to manufacturing groups check designs digitally earlier than shifting to manufacturing. By figuring out potential points, these instruments saved me time, at the same time as a newbie. 

One of the modern options I examined was generative design. This instrument permits me to enter design targets 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 that may not have been thought of in any other case.

Nonetheless, I did encounter a couple of challenges throughout testing. Assemblies in Fusion might be tough to handle, particularly when coping with bigger designs. Organizing and navigating by the completely different elements can develop into cumbersome, and it may be arduous to shortly find particular elements when changes are wanted. 

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

Lastly, I bumped into some points with file conversion when exporting designs. Regardless of Fusion supporting many file codecs, I observed that some intricate particulars and geometries have been misplaced when the designs have been imported into different software program. This might be an issue for manufacturing groups that want exact, detailed designs preserved throughout completely 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 elements shortly was tough.
• I encountered limitations with 2D drawings, the place Fusion’s fundamental 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 facets 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 vital advantages, options like real-time collaboration and computerized saving might be difficult in areas with restricted connectivity. Moreover, though Fusion 360 helps many file codecs, the conversion course of throughout export is usually restricted, resulting in the lack of particulars or geometries when importing information into different software program.”

– Autodesk Fusion Assessment, Juan M.

After testing Altium CircuitMaker, I can confidently say that this instrument has lots to supply, notably for these engaged on circuit design. I discovered a number of options that actually stood out, though I additionally encountered a couple of challenges alongside the way in which.

One of many options I appreciated probably 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 space for storing on my native machine. Moreover, the flexibility to collaborate simply with others is a big plus. Whether or not you are working remotely or on a team-based undertaking, this cloud characteristic makes it seamless to share and work on designs collectively. The cloud-based nature additionally means I did not must manually again up my information, which saved a big period of time.

One other characteristic that actually 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 elements or vice versa. This fluid integration between the 2 platforms saved me hours of transforming and resolving alignment points, making certain that my digital and mechanical designs aligned completely.

The 3D expertise 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 have 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 that may have been missed in a 2D surroundings.

I additionally actually appreciated the flexibility to simply assign properties to elements. Including feedback or particular attributes to elements helped me keep organized and maintain observe of modifications all through the design course of. It was notably helpful for leaving reminders to myself or others about sure design choices or particular elements, making certain nothing was ignored.

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 must go trying to find elements. I might entry not solely the elements themselves but in addition essential particulars like costing, stock data, and even distributor recommendations. This made the designal course of a lot simpler, particularly after I didn’t have a pre-defined elements listing. I might shortly pull up related elements and begin designing with out losing time on analysis or stock checks.

Nonetheless, there have been some challenges. Whereas the simulator mannequin works effectively for fundamental simulations, I discovered that the accuracy wasn’t all the time dependable for extra complicated circuits. The simulations typically didn’t precisely replicate real-world conduct, which made me query whether or not a number of the designs would perform 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. For the reason that undertaking file needed to be saved within the cloud, I couldn’t work with out an web connection. This was notably inconvenient after I was in an space with poor connectivity or after I simply wished the flexibleness to work offline. Whereas the cloud integration is nice general, I might have most popular the choice to avoid wasting initiatives domestically 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 could be interesting to some, I personally desire extra management over my initiatives. The community-driven facet felt a bit limiting, and I might have preferred extra independence in how my work is shared or stored personal. 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 best. Since CircuitMaker is primarily designed for Home windows, I hadvert to arrange a digital machine to run the software program. Whereas it labored advantageous 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 outdoors 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 replicate real-world conduct, which raised considerations in regards to the reliability of designs for extra intricate initiatives.
• The lack to avoid wasting initiatives offline was a serious inconvenience. For the reason that 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 personal initiatives, which might be limiting. The neighborhood part library is unmoderated, containing many unusable footprints (although it is beneficial to create your personal, because the part wizard makes it straightforward). The software program might be considerably unstable, so saving continuously is essential. Moreover, the keyboard shortcuts differ from these in Altium Designer, which can take a while to regulate to.”

– Altium CircuitMaker Assessment, Alberto V.

One characteristic of Autodesk EAGLE that stood out to me nearly 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 higher management over the workflow. For manufacturing groups seeking to pace up manufacturing, this characteristic is usually a real-time-saver.

The autoroute perform is one other instrument that simplifies the design course of. In a producing context, the place time is important, the flexibility 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 relatively than coping with routing points.

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

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

One draw back I encountered was with the 3D visualizer. Whereas useful, it didn’t provide the extent of accuracy I anticipated when visualizing how a PCB would look as soon as produced. In manufacturing, this stage 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 web itemizing characteristic, particularly when working with complicated energy PCBs. It didn’t all the time perform as anticipated, which led to delays and potential errors within the design section. Dependable web listings are important for making certain correct electrical connections within the remaining product.

One other limitation was the restriction within the downloaded model of EAGLE, which limits designs to only 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 dearer variations of the software program.

Lastly, I really feel that routing intelligence might be improved. At present, EAGLE makes use of commonplace routing paths, however integrating AI-based routing algorithms would considerably enhance effectivity. This might end in extra compact, optimized designs, pace up manufacturing occasions, 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 section.
• I encountered points with the web itemizing characteristic, notably when working with complicated energy PCBs. It didn’t all the time work as anticipated, which precipitated delays and will have led to errors in making certain correct electrical connections for the ultimate product.

What G2 customers dislike about Autodesk EAGLE:

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

– Autodesk EAGLE Assessment, Aryan Okay.

Most high-quality PCB design software program instruments are paid, however many provide free trials that can assist you get began. Altium Designer, for instance, is broadly thought to be top-of-the-line instruments within the {industry}, providing highly effective options for complicated designs. Its free trial is usually a good start line. Discover extra free PCB design software program that provides fundamental options, which might be helpful for less complicated initiatives or rookies.

Maintain issues grounded

Choosing the proper PCB design software program is usually a game-changer to your initiatives. When evaluating these instruments, it’s important to contemplate 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 making certain easy collaboration.

Primarily based on my testing and consumer suggestions, I’ve outlined the highest instruments that supply the most effective mixture of effectivity, flexibility, and energy. The most effective instrument is the one which works for you and helps you convey your PCB designs to life with none hiccups.

Don’t be afraid to dive in, experiment with completely different choices, and see what clicks. Bear in mind, even probably the most subtle software program can’t assist if you happen to don’t press the proper buttons (until you’ve received a “design wizard” in your group, through which case, please share their contact data with me).

Cut back errors by utilizing simulation and check suites earlier than shifting your PCB design to manufacturing.