Choosing hobbyist PCB software in 2023

[SiliconWizard]

Yes, KiCad is pretty much the de facto answer to this at the moment.

Eagle was another option if you could live with the limitations of the free version, or could shell out the cash for a full license, but now it's basically dead, so look elsewhere.

There sure are other options, such as DipTrace. But I'm not sure at this point they really have anything significant to offer compared to KiCad, and one important point is that with KiCad, you'll have a much easier time sharing your designs with others. It also runs on all major OSs.

[aeberbach]

I had to install Altium yesterday to look at Einsy Rambo 3D printer controller schematics/board. It is surprisingly bulky and slow to do anything much on a decent i7/32GB RAM PC. It doesn't look bad but even if it was free, KiCad is my choice, I don't need the extra capabilities Altium might offer. 

[SiliconWizard]

I had to install Altium yesterday to look at Einsy Rambo 3D printer controller schematics/board. It is surprisingly bulky and slow to do anything much on a decent i7/32GB RAM PC. It doesn't look bad but even if it was free, KiCad is my choice, I don't need the extra capabilities Altium might offer.

If you only need to occasionally view Altium files, rather than install anything, you can use their online viewer: https://www.altium.com/viewer/
I'm not a huge fan of online tools, but in this case it's certainly an option for viewing purposes.

[markietas]

Absolutely, I don't know how it's even a contest at this point. KiCad trades blows with multi thousand dollar paid packages like Altium and is constantly improving, and tons of people use it which makes finding tutorials and solutions easy.

[markietas]

Asking about an alternative to KiCAD these days is like asking for an open-source alternative to the Linux kernel

Absolutely, I don't know how it's even a contest at this point. KiCad trades blows with multi thousand dollar paid packages like Altium and is constantly improving, and tons of people use it which makes finding tutorials and solutions easy.

[SiliconWizard]

Asking about an alternative to KiCAD these days is like asking for an open-source alternative to the Linux kernel

Absolutely, I don't know how it's even a contest at this point. KiCad trades blows with multi thousand dollar paid packages like Altium and is constantly improving, and tons of people use it which makes finding tutorials and solutions easy.

Well, while that is true, I don't think asking for alternatives is a bad idea in general. Even if open-source, more options is always better.
There are certainly open-source alternatives to the Linux kernel, btw.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I once considered that program. And the main limitation I found (before buying it luckily) is that it does not have schematic entry at all. Attempting to draw a PCB without a schematic and netlist, is sheer madness for anything more complicated then a NE555 blinkinglight. For me that was an instant game stopper.

Yeah, I can't even imagine doing any of my projects without schematics. For anything but the very simplest breakout boards this is going to be a total disaster.

I never start  from a schematic - it commits connections too early in the process ( e.g. deciding which I/O pins to use etc.).
I do have  netlist, but this is created within the PCB software as I go along.  I use PCAD2006, which can create netlists when you do rubberband connections between pads, and can also create them from copper traces, pads and component patterns you've previously placed.
This is very handy for things like LED matrices, where  you can just place 1 LED, do a "copy matrix" to replicate them in X/Y, draw one line connecting a row, copy that, add vias and column lines, and then tell it to create nets from  everything that's physically touching.
I'm not sure how common this functionality is in other packages but I couldn't imagine doing some of the stuff I regularly do without it.

[Smokey]

Asking about an alternative to KiCAD these days is like asking for an open-source alternative to the Linux kernel

FreeBSD ?

[Nominal Animal]

Asking about an alternative to KiCAD these days is like asking for an open-source alternative to the Linux kernel

Absolutely, I don't know how it's even a contest at this point. KiCad trades blows with multi thousand dollar paid packages like Altium and is constantly improving, and tons of people use it which makes finding tutorials and solutions easy.

Well, while that is true, I don't think asking for alternatives is a bad idea in general. Even if open-source, more options is always better.
There are certainly open-source alternatives to the Linux kernel, btw.

Fully seconded; and I use Tux the Linux Penguin as a mascot.

In particular, I personally am very happy that FreeBSD and OpenBSD exist and are alive.  I would not want to live in a world where Linux was the only open source fully-featured OS kernel, at all.  (I also would not want to live in a world where all Linux distributions used the same configuration, even though that would make software distribution much easier for some.  My reasoning for these is solid, for both end user and even proprietary development, even though some disagree; so let's leave that flamewar for a separate thread, and not derail this one.)


I am now slowly shifting to KiCAD 7, but have done most of my designs in EasyEDA online, because of how easy it makes everything (the huge component library with official footprints from the component vendor, LCSC, and board and board assembly vendor JLCPCB), and especially because all my designs are in Public Domain, and EasyEDA can directly publish OSHW projects at oshwlab.com.  Of course, I am only a hobbyist with no "real" design experience.

(Some of my projects are so old they date back to when EasyEDA published projects on the same site.  In the transfer, the images of the schematic and board didn't transfer properly, so I should go through them and fix.  When opened in EasyEDA, the projects are in their correct state, however; no information has been lost, only the published page lacks the proper project image description.)

Right now, I'd really love to design a Teensy 4.1 derivative, with a 50mm×50mm/2"×2" square board having 1.27mm pitch single row of pins on the outer edge except at corners, double-sided load, on a JLCPCB-assembled 6-layer board.  JLCPCB does have a small number of suitable NXP i.MX RT1062 processors in 10x10mm BGA-196 package available for assembly, with really cheap 6-layer manufacturing options, but bugger me if I can route such a board myself.  For the assembly, soldering the BGA, and the tiny passives in sub-0603 packages, would suffice; the rest I could handle.  (PJRC does sell the pre-programmed bootloader IC, which would make it easily programmed in Teensyduino, or even bare metal, and that has to be soldered separately anyway.)
Idea would be to either route a hole for the board in any carrier, or use SIL 1.27mm pitch SMT headers (like Harwin M50-3142045R) that have pads in alternating sides, centered on each edge, leaving corners free for perhaps M2.5 mounting holes or (3D-printed) slotted corner stands/holders.

[Joel_l]

I'm late to this game but here are my thoughts.

At work I use Cadence products ( Allegro )

For my personal use I have,

Circuit Studio - I have pretty much abandoned this and will never give Altium another penny.

Diptrace - Non commercial license are reasonable and I like the program. Some say it has an "old" feel. I actually like this. There is also a free version.

Kicad - This has gotten so much better over the years and I actually like it. Years ago I was not a fan, but now I am and have donated to the cause.

The original version of PCB - kind of liked it, would design circuits while doing the layout. This was the first layout tool I used.

Before that, mylar sheets and tape.

[asmi]

Diptrace - Non commercial license are reasonable and I like the program. Some say it has an "old" feel. I actually like this. There is also a free version.

Just in case you don't know - Diptrace also has an "extended non-commercial" license with higher limits, which is also free. If you contact them and ask for that, they will give it to you. At least that's the way it was some years ago when I was using it.

[Joel_l]

They do have a limited free version, I have the extended non-profit license, it's not free, at least not any more.

[Doctorandus_P]

All KiCad versions are free and without artificial limits such as PCB size or pin count. You don't even have to mess with serial numbers or licensing files during installation.

[analityk]

EasyEDA Pro - just not standard online, PC locally installed Pro version. It is really good and more than enough for hobbyist.
OrCad in my opinion is far more pro and also cost a lot.
Currently I working with Altium and it is hard to switch from OrCad. Class view ordering and philosophy is precious in OrCad. Also differentiate between track, part of track, line, part of line and net is gold. There are possible to place text on different layers and show/hide it for example you can left visible only references of components and any other text left invisible, for example board name and other pictures. Next nice behaviour is left visible only components silk, pads, vias and refdes, so correct placing of refdes are easy. Many other nice stuff is hide in OrCad. Best EDA but it is a bit hard to learnt.

[remyh]

Definitely Kicad for hobby use. If you gow out of that, skip Altium and go for a 'big boys' package like Orcad (which is also more affordable compared to Altium).

I had Altium for 3 years, for an acceptable (discount) price... But to renew or buy it would have been too much for the hobby... I really regret Altium doesn't have a reasonable hobbyist solution, would be amazing. Last week I decided to check out Orcad (X/23.1), it has a more steep learning path, but feels very powerful. I could buy the standard with two years of service (and after that perpetual) for 1200 euro. It is a special hobbyist price, not mentioned on the Orcad website as far as I know.