Top 10 PCB Design Software Tools for Engineers      

Printed circuit board (PCB) design is an essential part of product development for electronics. Engineers need powerful yet user-friendly PCB design software to efficiently create circuit boards and develop hardware board design. This article will explore the top 10 PCB design software tools based on features, capabilities, and popularity among engineers. 

Tessolve PCB Design Software 

Tessolve is a cloud-based PCB design tool that allows for real-time collaboration on schematic and layout designs from any browser. It features an intuitive schematic capture interface with a large library of components that can be easily dragged and dropped. Designers can take advantage of automatic routing capabilities to quickly route traces with a few clicks using advanced algorithms. Tessolve can generate industry-standard Gerber and drill files directly for fabrication. Any changes made to the design are synced automatically across collaborators’ browsers. Earlier revisions are accessible through integrated version control, allowing designers to track changes across different design iterations. With its affordable monthly or annual pricing, tight integrations with other tools and accessible interface, Tessolve is well-suited for rapid prototyping projects that require real-time collaboration between globally distributed team members. 

Altium Designer

Altium Designer is a powerful high-end PCB design software used by electronics professionals. It offers advanced schematic capture, PCB layout with 3D views and DFM analysis, integrated SPICE simulation, automated documentation generation, and version control. Teams can collaborate simultaneously on projects in real time. Outputs include Gerber, drill and BOM files needed for PCB fabrication. Additional features include 3D mechanical design integration and one of the largest component libraries for complex schematic design. While expensive, Altium Designer is the industry standard for complex, professional PCB designs requiring high-end features for electronics manufacturing. 

KiCad 

KiCad is a free and open-source pcb hardware design software that is widely used by electronics hobbyists and professionals worldwide to design both simple and complex circuit boards. It offers full-featured schematic capture using a graphical interface, PCB layout functionality to precisely place components and route traces between them, as well as a footprint editor to create customized 3D models of integrated circuits and other devices. Additional features include circuit simulation capabilities to test circuit designs before building prototypes, automated documentation generation from projects, and version control to track changes across revisions. Despite being completely free to use with no licensing fees, KiCad remains a production-ready and professionally capable solution, making it a cost-effective choice for electronics design. 

EAGLE 

EAGLE is a widely use PCB design software from Autodesk. It offers an intuitive schematic editor and PCB layout functionality for placing components and routing traces. Built-in features include automatic routing, a library editor for custom footprints and symbols, SPICE-based simulation, and documentation generation. Designs can be version controll and outputs generate for fabrication. With a large active user community and multiple license options, EAGLE provides an easy-to-use, full-featured solution for both professional and hobbyist electronic projects. 

Diptrace

Diptrace is an affordable yet full-feature PCB design software that provides value for both occasional and regular users. It offers schematic capture using a graphical interface, PCB layout functionality for component placement and trace routing, along with an automatic router. Additional features include SPICE-based circuit simulation, documentation generation, and version control. Designers have access to an online component library. Diptrace outputs Gerber files and offers low one-time purchase pricing plans, making it a cost-effective option. Overall, it delivers great capabilities for the price. 

Autodesk CircuitStudio

Autodesk CircuitStudio is a beginner-friendly PCB design software focus on ease of use. It provides schematic capture using an intuitive editor as well as PCB layout functionality for placing components and routing traces. Additional features include automatic routing, basic circuit simulation, and documentation generation. Designs can be access from any web browser via cloud access and share with collaborators. While the basic version is free to use, more advanced paid plans are available. Overall, CircuitStudio offers an accessible way to design circuits for those new to PCB design, yet remains capable enough for professional prototyping as well. 

DesignSpark PCB 

DesignSpark PCB is a fully-featured free PCB design software provided by components supplier RS Components. It allows users to design schematics graphically and layout printed circuit boards, with features such as an automatic router to lay out traces and basic circuit simulation. Additional capabilities include documentation generation and output of files for fabrication. An online library provides a wide range of components. Since DesignSpark PCB can be use without cost limitations, it delivers great value as a high-quality, professional-grade tool accessible to beginners and experts alike for basic to complex electronic design projects. 

PCB123

PCB123 is an affordable PCB design software that offers good value for occasional users. It provides schematic capture using a graphical interface as well as manual PCB layout capabilities. Basic features include circuit simulation and documentation generation from designs. Outputs such as Gerber files can be produced. Users have access to an online component library. A key advantage is the ability to access designs from any web browser through cloud access. PCB123 offers this full set of standard features at a low cost through monthly or annual subscriptions, making it a budget-friendly option for those with infrequent PCB design needs. 

EasyEDA

EasyEDA is a free and intuitive browser-base PCB design software that is well-suite for beginners. It allows schematic capture and PCB layout design directly in the web browser without requiring any software installation. EasyEDA offers basic circuit simulation and documentation generation from schematic files. Engineers can access a large online component library to design circuits. The tool generates Gerber output files for fabrication. As a completely free and web-based solution, EasyEDA removes barriers to entry for those just starting out with PCB design or looking for a simple online prototyping tool. 

PCBWay Designer 

PCBWay Designer is a free browser-base PCB design tool provide by fabrication vendor PCBWay. It allows schematic capture and manual PCB layout directly in the browser without requiring software installation. Basic circuit simulation and documentation generation capabilities are provided. Outputs include Gerber files and access to an online component library is available. As a completely free and web-based solution, it can be access from any browser. A streamlined workflow also allows users to directly order PCB fabrication from within the same tool. This makes PCBWay Designer very suitable for budget-conscious makers and prototypers. 

Conclusion 

These are ten of the top PCB designing embedded system based on features, capabilities, user base, and popularity among engineers. Choosing the right tool depends on factors like required features, collaboration needs, and budget. This will help engineers select the software best suited to their specific PCB design projects and workflows.