Best PCB Layout Software in 2023

Selecting the right PCB layout software can dramatically impact your design productivity and quality. This guide covers the leading options for every skill level and budget.

Professional-Grade Software

Altium Designer

Altium Designer is the industry standard for professional PCB design. It offers a unified environment with schematic capture, PCB layout, 3D visualization, and manufacturing output all in one application.

Best for: Professional engineers, companies requiring collaboration, complex multi-layer designs.

Price: Subscription-based, approximately $300-400/month.

OrCAD

Cadence OrCAD combines excellent schematic capture with powerful PSpice simulation. It's particularly strong for analog and mixed-signal designs.

Best for: Engineers prioritizing simulation, organizations using Cadence tools.

Price: Varies by configuration, typically $500-3000+ for perpetual license.

Mentor PADS

PADS from Siemens offers a complete design flow with strong manufacturing integration. Known for reliability in production environments.

Best for: Mid-size companies, production-focused teams.

Free and Open-Source Options

KiCad

KiCad is a fully-featured, free, and open-source PCB design suite. It has dramatically improved in recent versions and now rivals commercial software.

Best for: Hobbyists, students, startups, open-source hardware projects.

Features: Schematic capture, multi-layer PCB layout, 3D viewer, Gerber output, growing component libraries.

EasyEDA

EasyEDA is a cloud-based design tool with integrated component sourcing through LCSC. It's browser-based, requiring no installation.

Best for: Beginners, quick prototypes, integration with JLCPCB manufacturing.

Features: Free cloud storage, extensive component library, built-in PCB ordering.

LibrePCB

A newer open-source option with a focus on library management and a modern interface. Still maturing but promising.

Budget-Friendly Commercial Options

Eagle (Autodesk)

Eagle offers a free tier for small boards and hobbyist use, with paid tiers for larger designs. Well-documented with extensive community support.

Best for: Hobbyists upgrading from free tools, small commercial projects.

Diptrace

Affordable commercial software with perpetual licensing. Clean interface and reasonable learning curve.

Best for: Budget-conscious professionals, small companies.

Choosing the Right Software

Skill Level	Recommended	Alternative
Beginner	EasyEDA	Fritzing
Hobbyist	KiCad	Eagle Free
Student	KiCad	Eagle Educational
Professional	Altium	OrCAD
Enterprise	Altium/Cadence	Mentor

Manufacturing Integration

Once your design is complete, French engineers can utilize services de PCB for local manufacturing, while Spanish-speaking regions benefit from fabricantes de PCB specializing in rapid turnaround.

Tips for Getting Started

Start simple: Begin with a tool matching your current skill level
Use tutorials: Most software has excellent learning resources
Join communities: Forums and Discord servers provide valuable support
Build projects: Practical experience teaches more than reading
Consider migration path: Some designs import into other tools

Conclusion

For most beginners, KiCad or EasyEDA provides everything needed without cost. Professionals should evaluate Altium Designer and OrCAD based on their specific requirements. The best software is the one that helps you complete your designs efficiently while producing manufacturable output.