6+ Best PCB Design Software Download Reviews

PCB Design software is used to create schematic designs. This prepares a sketch of the electrical connections and is used to create various projects in a relatively short period of time. These programs benefit hobbyists as well as those who require it for a profession.

• Circuit Design Software
• CAD Designing Software

It is used to route different number of layer boards and integrated digital key parts can be created along with the bill of materials manager.

CadSoft Eagle PCB Design Software

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Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

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This is one where there is high level of functionality which is offered for commercial circuit boards to be designed. These usually are extremely expensive and so using this software the design can be created at a fraction of the cost. This allows to create schematic designs, layouts and autorouters. It even allows for simulation, importing and exporting of data as well as creating of commands using User Language Programs.

PCBWeb

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Rating: 4.4/5

Price: Free

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This is a free CAD application and is used for designing and for the manufacture of electronics hardware. It supports XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1. It’s integrated component catalog allows the user to find, filter or place parts. It allows for wires to be created or pinned or even the moving of existing wire segments.

TinyCAD

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Rating: 4/5

Price: Free

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TinyCAD helps in drawing of electrical circuit diagrams as well as it supports the custom symbols as well as standard libraries. It supports PCB layout programs and different netlist formats. It also produces SPICE simulation netlists. TinyCAD is used to create one-line diagrams, presentation drawings as well as block diagrams.

Other PCB Software For Different Platforms

Osmond PCB runs on Macintosh and supports various features like different board sizes, board layers, parts, through-hole as well as surface mount parts and much more.

Free Windows Electronics Design software

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Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Free

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KiCAD EDA is open source and a cross platform supporting software. It allows for automation and using the schematic editor, the user can create their own designs in addition to the schematic symbols and built in schematic editor for symbols.

Free Android DWF Viewer software

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Rating: 4/5

Price: Free

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PCB Droid is used to design PCBs. These can be used by users who want to create their DIY projects. This can be also used as an extension for the raspberry PI or for arduino panels. It can also be used for 3D printers or drones.

Free Mac DWF Viewer software

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Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Free

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The McCAD PCB-ST Lite can be used for small projects. It can be used by designers who do layout work and need edit tools at their finger tips. It allows for forward and backward annotations of components attributes and allows for cross checking as well.

Most popular PCB Design software for 2016

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Rating: 5/5

Price: Free

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This tool creates professional printed circuit boards. This is flexible and easy to use. It is a freeware and can be used by both semi-professionals as well as persons who do this for DIY projects. It supports various features such as multisheets, place, adding of attributes, customizable colors, ASCII reports and more.

What is PCB software?

When manufacturing as well as engineering firms want to increase the manufacturing as well as produce more products, they either inhouse manufacture the products or else they outsource it. Small businesses have a tough choice to make as both these are expensive propositions.

With PCB designing software, the cost comes down as well as the companies can manufacture their own products. When PCB designing software is used, the development time decreases and the model can be reused and so cost and time is saved.

How to Install PCB Design Software?

There are different PCB design software. Some are paid and others are open source. There is another differentiator. Some can be run online and for that the user just needs to log in to the software and start working. The other needs the software to be downloaded first before use. Some even support exporting to different formats.

Benefits of PCB Design Software

These software are used by people who do projects as a hobby. It is used by small enterprises to increase the products or to increase the functionality of the products so as to offer superior products. It is also used by people who want to start a business. These help to decrease their costs, time spent on designing and reusing of designs that are already there.

New features can be tested quickly and with ease. Manufacturing partners based on this can create prototypes and the testing can be done at each stage of the process.Thus everyone can use these software to their benefit and advantage.