When it comes to designing printed circuit boards (PCBs), the days of sketching layouts on paper are long gone. Today, PCB designers and makers have a plethora of software options at their disposal, catering to beginners, experts, and budget-conscious individuals. In this article, we'll provide a list of top PCB design software for 2023:
1. Altium Designer (formerly known as PROTEL):
Altium Designer, a product of Altium Limited, boasts a rich history dating back to the late 1980s. It's considered one of the pioneers in the industry and continues to be a preferred choice among circuit designers. Altium's PROTEL software has garnered acclaim for its user-friendly interface and extensive features. Notably, many universities offer dedicated PROTEL courses, allowing students to seamlessly transition into the workforce.
Altium Designer's latest version, 2.0, has significantly enhanced the overall user experience. It introduces new features, improving both functionality and efficiency. Notable additions include the ability to route at any angle, handling dense BGA packages' escape routing, refining the routing optimization process, and incorporating a DirectX-accelerated schematic editing engine. However, it's important to note that while Altium Designer is suitable for one or two-layer boards, it may pose challenges for designs exceeding four layers, especially for high-frequency and high-speed digital signal transmission.
Advanced reading: What is Altium Designer?
2. PADS (Power PCB):
PADS, including PADS Logic, PADS Layout, and PADS Router, is renowned as the reigning champion in the realm of low-end CAD software. It offers an ideal solution for beginners, thanks to its ease of use and short learning curve. Despite its beginner-friendly nature, PADS does not compromise on design quality, rivaling more advanced software like wg and allegro. It remains one of the most widely adopted EDA tools on the market, catering even to small companies.
PADS Layout/Router supports the complete PCB design process, encompassing functions from importing schematic netlists to generating final production files (Gerber), assembly files, and bill of materials (BOM).
3. ORCAD:
ORCAD, born around the same time as Protel, enjoys a favorable reputation in the industry. While it may not outshine some competitors, ORCAD is recognized for its user-friendly interface, straightforward functionality, and robust simulation capabilities. It incorporates a potent component information system that simplifies component creation, tracking, and verification, promoting the reuse of optimized libraries and existing components. However, when compared head-to-head, TechSparks gives its vote to Protel.
4. Working Groups (WG):
Part of WG Mentor, they introduced WG 2005, a Windows-based platform, to the mid-to-high-end market. In evaluating PCB design software, layout capabilities play a pivotal role. WG2005 stands out for its exceptional typesetting abilities, earning it the title of the "king of typesetting." The automatic typesetting functionality is robust, and the software adheres to professional typesetting rules. ExpeditionPCB serves as the core of WG, with WG 2005 encompassing DX, DC, DV, LIB, and EXP.
5. Allegro:
Allegro, a PCB design and routing tool from Cadence, is a powerhouse of features. It finds favor, especially among large enterprises, particularly those involved in manufacturing computer motherboards. Allegro excels in designing large boards, making it a dominant player in markets like computer motherboards, extensive industrial control boards, and server motherboards. It is also adopted by select companies working on tablet and mobile phone motherboards.
6. Eagle (Easy-to-Use Graphical Layout Editor):
Eagle stands out for its friendly user interface and potent schematic capabilities. While it's not free, its pricing remains reasonable. Offering features like online positive and negative marking functions, batch command execution scripts, copper pouring, and interactive routing, Eagle is a versatile option. It operates seamlessly on three platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac. Additionally, the software boasts a rich library, scripting capabilities, and built-in CAM tools.
7. KiCad:
KiCad is an open-source software that adheres to the GNU GPL copyright agreement. It boasts a user-friendly graphical interface, making it highly convenient for mouse and keyboard navigation. KiCad is compatible with both Windows and Linux operating systems.
KiCad's comprehensive suite of applications includes schematic drawing, PCB layout design, Gerber file viewing, 3D solid model visualization, and more. Additionally, there's a vast library of symbols, packages, and 3D models readily available for download.
8. EasyEDA:
EasyEDA is a cloud-based EDA tool suite that's not only free but also requires zero installation. It seamlessly integrates robust features such as schematic capture, mixed-mode circuit simulation, and PCB layout within a cross-platform browser environment. This web-based solution simplifies the design process by eliminating the need for software installation.
9. Fritzing:
Fritzing is an open-source initiative aimed at developing CAD software tailored for electronics hardware design. It primarily supports amateur designers and artists as they progress from prototyping experiments to constructing more permanent circuits. Fritzing was developed in collaboration with the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences.
These diverse PCB design software options cater to a wide range of preferences and project requirements. Whether you opt for open-source solutions like KiCad and Fritzing or the user-friendly cloud-based platform of EasyEDA, your choice can significantly impact the success of your electronic design endeavors.
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