# Best PCB Design Software

  *By [Daniel Rivera](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/daniel-rivera)*

   PCB (printed circuit board) design software is a set of tools electronic engineers use to assemble, fabricate, and design circuits. PCB design software adjusts electronic components like netlists, wires, witches, and signals and arranges them in a 3D layout.

PCB design software serves as an electronic mechanism to check the functioning of components assembled within electronic devices. It contains features for signal integrity, thermal stress and pressure, power, and schematic layout to build reliable circuits that are resistant to outages.

The [best PCB design software](https://learn.g2.com/best-pcb-design-software) can also be integrated into [mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [general-purpose CAD software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), and [CAD and PLM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-plm) to optimize design and testing workflows for manufacturing and production teams.

PCB design is a virtual simulation of an electronic device on a digital screen. It is used for 2D or 3D visualization of circuits for engineers to edit, modify, and recheck components and circuitry before final assembly and voltage input.

To qualify for inclusion in the PCB category, a product must:

- -Modify PCB layouts and PCB circuitry
- Include a components library so users can easily implement high-quality PCB footprints  
-Provide schematic editing tools for modification of electrical properties and other attributes of components, wires, nets, and pins. 

  




## Category Overview

**Total Products under this Category:** 68


## Trust & Credibility Stats

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 3,600+ Authentic Reviews
- 68+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.


## Best PCB Design Software At A Glance

- **Leader:** [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)
- **Highest Performer:** [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews)
- **Easiest to Use:** [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)
- **Top Trending:** [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews)
- **Best Free Software:** [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)


## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score)
### 1. [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)
  Altium Develop is a shared environment that brings every stage of electronic product development together - from requirements and design to supply chain and manufacturing. Built on the trusted foundation of Altium Designer and Altium 365, it enables real-time collaboration across disciplines, eliminating delays from file transfers and disconnected tools. With built-in access to live component data, contextual requirements, and integrated reviews, teams can work as one and avoid late-stage surprises. Altium Develop turns collaboration into true co-creation, helping engineers and partners build better products faster.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 970

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Altium](https://www.g2.com/sellers/altium-caf10713-ff96-44ab-90af-cc9c6c9ef346)
- **Company Website:** https://www.altium.com/
- **Year Founded:** 1985
- **HQ Location:** La Jolla, CA
- **Twitter:** @altium (9,824 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/11855/ (1,248 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Electrical Engineer, Student
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Automotive
  - **Company Size:** 58% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (272 reviews)
- Features (218 reviews)
- PCB Design (145 reviews)
- Collaboration (136 reviews)
- Efficiency (101 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Curve (93 reviews)
- Expensive (91 reviews)
- Missing Features (65 reviews)
- Complex Interface (57 reviews)
- Slow Performance (51 reviews)

### 2. [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews)
  Altium CircuitMaker is the best free-to-use schematic and PCB design tool for the Open Source Hardware community of designers, makers, hobbyists, students and professionals. CircuitMaker delivers powerful autorouting capabilities, hierarchical schematic entry, and Native 3D™ technology that's easily accessible and free to use.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 110

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Altium](https://www.g2.com/sellers/altium-caf10713-ff96-44ab-90af-cc9c6c9ef346)
- **Company Website:** https://www.altium.com/
- **Year Founded:** 1985
- **HQ Location:** La Jolla, CA
- **Twitter:** @altium (9,824 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/11855/ (1,248 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics
  - **Company Size:** 68% Small-Business, 16% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- PCB Design (9 reviews)
- Features (7 reviews)
- Ease of Learning (6 reviews)
- Ease of Use (5 reviews)
- Library Management (5 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Slow Rendering (4 reviews)
- Complex Interface (3 reviews)
- Difficult Learning Process (2 reviews)
- Limited Features (2 reviews)
- Missing Features (2 reviews)

### 3. [Sigrity X Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/sigrity-x-platform/reviews)
  With Sigrity X, you're not just working with another tool; you're unlocking seamless in-design analysis synergy within the Allegro X PCB and IC Package platforms. Dive into a comprehensive suite of SI/PI analysis, in-design interconnect modeling, and PDN analysis tools designed to supercharge your performance, ensuring your projects not only meet but exceed deadlines and budgets.


  **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 34

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Cadence Design Systems](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cadence-design-systems)
- **Company Website:** https://www.cadence.com/
- **Year Founded:** 1988
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, California
- **Twitter:** @Cadence (19,988 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2157/ (10,784 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 32% Small-Business, 24% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Features (15 reviews)
- Ease of Use (14 reviews)
- Simulation (12 reviews)
- Setup Ease (10 reviews)
- Simulation Tools (10 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Complex Interface (12 reviews)
- Learning Curve (12 reviews)
- Complex Setup (5 reviews)
- Expensive Licensing (5 reviews)
- High Subscription Cost (5 reviews)

### 4. [Allegro X PCB Designer](https://www.g2.com/products/allegro-x-pcb-designer/reviews)
  Allegro X PCB Designer is a comprehensive and scalable PCB design solution developed by Cadence Design Systems. It integrates schematic capture, PCB layout, and in-design analysis within a unified platform, facilitating efficient and collaborative design processes for complex electronic systems. The platform is engineered to address the challenges of modern PCB design, offering advanced automation and high-performance capabilities to streamline workflows and reduce time-to-market. Key Features and Functionality: - Advanced High-Speed Design: Allegro X PCB Designer provides sophisticated constraint management and signal integrity analysis tools tailored for complex, high-speed designs. Engineers can manage differential pairs, impedance control, and advanced routing requirements with precision, supporting demanding applications in telecommunications, aerospace, and computing hardware. - Automated HDI and Miniaturization: The platform supports a rules-driven High-Density Interconnect (HDI) design flow, enabling the creation of reliable, compact designs. It includes parameters for HDI spacing, stacking, and micro-via insertion, along with manufacturing rules for embedded package components, ensuring overall design success and reliability. - Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Integrated DFM rules allow designers to verify PCB designs against manufacturing capabilities during the layout process. This real-time manufacturability validation reduces rework and shortens design cycles, enhancing first-pass manufacturing success. - Real-Time Collaboration: Allegro X PCB Designer enables concurrent collaboration among team members within a single design database. Access restrictions and real-time updates eliminate the need to merge revisions, reducing errors and improving productivity. - AI-Enabled Automation: The platform incorporates AI-driven automation for placement and routing tasks, significantly reducing design turnaround times. This generative AI technology automates component placement, power plane creation, and critical net routing, allowing engineers to explore alternative design solutions efficiently. Primary Value and User Solutions: Allegro X PCB Designer addresses the complexities of modern PCB design by providing a unified, high-performance environment that enhances productivity and design quality. Its advanced features and automation capabilities reduce manual effort, minimize errors, and accelerate design cycles. By integrating real-time collaboration and AI-driven automation, the platform empowers design teams to tackle complex projects efficiently, ensuring designs are both electrically correct and manufacturable. This comprehensive approach enables organizations to bring innovative products to market faster while maintaining high standards of quality and reliability.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 30

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Cadence Design Systems](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cadence-design-systems)
- **Year Founded:** 1988
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, California
- **Twitter:** @Cadence (19,988 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2157/ (10,784 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** CDNS

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 57% Small-Business, 50% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (4 reviews)
- PCB Design (3 reviews)
- Circuit Design (2 reviews)
- Features (2 reviews)
- Layout Design (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Poor Customer Support (2 reviews)
- Software Bugs (2 reviews)
- Complex Design Process (1 reviews)
- Expensive (1 reviews)
- Performance Issues (1 reviews)

### 5. [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews)
  Autodesk Fusion connects capabilities, data, and people across the entire product development lifecycle. Fusion provides you with CAD, CAM, CAE and PCB tools along with PLM/PDM and MES (manufacturing execution system) capabilities to facilitate seamless workflows across your entire organization. Key features: - 3D Design and Modeling: Autodesk Fusion offers a robust set of tools for creating 3D models and designs, making it ideal for product development and industrial design. - Manufacturing Integration: With Autodesk Fusion, you can design and manufacture products using the same platform, streamlining the process from concept to production. - Electronics Design: PCB design capabilities are integrated into the Autodesk Fusion platform, allowing for the creation of electronic components as part of the overall product design process. - Simulation and Analysis: Autodesk Fusion includes simulation tools to test and optimize designs before manufacturing, reducing the need for physical prototypes. - Cloud Collaboration: As a cloud-based platform, Autodesk Fusion enables seamless collaboration among design and engineering teams, regardless of location. - Generative Design: This feature allows you to input design goals and constraints, and Autodesk Fusion will generate multiple design options that meet these criteria. By integrating the entire product development process into one platform, Autodesk Fusion allows users to bring products to market faster and more efficiently.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 505

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk)
- **Company Website:** https://www.autodesk.com
- **Year Founded:** 1982
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco
- **Twitter:** @autodesk (275,060 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ (15,679 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Owner, Design Engineer
  - **Top Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design
  - **Company Size:** 69% Small-Business, 22% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (33 reviews)
- Features (23 reviews)
- Design Efficiency (17 reviews)
- Easy Learning (17 reviews)
- Features Functionality (16 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Difficult Learning (12 reviews)
- Learning Curve (12 reviews)
- Assembly Difficulties (9 reviews)
- Missing Features (9 reviews)
- Performance Issues (9 reviews)

### 6. [PADS Professional](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/reviews)
  PADS Professional PCB software is a comprehensive electronic design automation (EDA) software suite developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software, formerly Mentor Graphics. It provides advanced tools for designing, simulating, verifying, and manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic systems.


  **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 63

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Siemens Digital Industries Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/siemens-digital-industries-software)
- **Year Founded:** 1980
- **HQ Location:** Plano, Texas
- **Twitter:** @siemenssoftware (36,936 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/28423178/ (20,658 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Design
  - **Company Size:** 58% Small-Business, 34% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Features (6 reviews)
- Simulation Tools (5 reviews)
- PCB Design (4 reviews)
- Accuracy (3 reviews)
- Circuit Design (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Complex Interface (2 reviews)
- Difficult Learning Process (2 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Complex Design Process (1 reviews)
- Component Management (1 reviews)

### 7. [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews)
  Onshape by PTC is the leading cloud-native CAD & PDM platform that runs on any device, anywhere-requiring zero IT. Onshape is for product design companies who are fed up with the errors, time waste, and hidden costs of outdated file-based CAD & PDM. Only Onshape: - Eliminates CAD crashes and never loses data - Enables secure, real-time collaboration - Tracks all activity and provides infinite restore - Has built-in PDM with branching and merging


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 682

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 1.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 2.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [PTC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ptc)
- **Company Website:** https://www.ptc.com
- **Year Founded:** 1985
- **HQ Location:** Boston, Massachusetts
- **Twitter:** @PTC (37,608 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1935/ (8,226 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Mechanical Engineer, Owner
  - **Top Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design
  - **Company Size:** 79% Small-Business, 17% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (28 reviews)
- Collaboration (22 reviews)
- Online Accessibility (21 reviews)
- Features (15 reviews)
- Sharing (15 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Missing Features (18 reviews)
- Lack of Features (10 reviews)
- Drawing Issues (7 reviews)
- Internet Dependency (7 reviews)
- Limited CAD Features (7 reviews)

### 8. [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews)
  SOLIDWORKS delivers connected, easy-to-use tools that help you innovate and accelerate every aspect of your product development process.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 624

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Solidworks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/solidworks)
- **Year Founded:** 1993
- **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA
- **Twitter:** @SOLIDWORKS (178,743 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/solidworks/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** EPA: DSY

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Design Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer
  - **Top Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design
  - **Company Size:** 51% Small-Business, 39% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (37 reviews)
- Features (29 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (27 reviews)
- User Interface (21 reviews)
- Simulation Tools (16 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Performance Issues (17 reviews)
- Slow Performance (15 reviews)
- High System Requirements (14 reviews)
- Complexity (11 reviews)
- Expensive (11 reviews)

### 9. [Autodesk EAGLE](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews)
  Autodesk EAGLE is an electronic design automation (EDA) software. Enabling printed circuit board (PCB) designers to seamlessly connect schematic diagrams, component placement, PCB routing, and comprehensive library content.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 75

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk)
- **Year Founded:** 1982
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco
- **Twitter:** @autodesk (275,060 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ (15,679 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ:ADSK

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics
  - **Company Size:** 75% Small-Business, 16% Mid-Market


### 10. [NI Multisim](https://www.g2.com/products/ni-multisim/reviews)
  Multisim is industry standard SPICE simulation and circuit design software for analog, digital, and power electronics in education and research. Multisim integrates industry standard SPICE simulation with an interactive schematic environment to instantly visualize and analyze electronic circuit behavior. Multisim has an intuitive interface that helps educators reinforce circuit theory and improve retention of theory throughout engineering curriculum. Researchers and designers use Multisim to reduce PCB prototype iterations and save development costs by adding powerful circuit simulation and analyses to the design flow.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 42

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [NI](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ni)
- **Year Founded:** 1976
- **HQ Location:** Austin, TX
- **Twitter:** @NIglobal (26,273 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3433 (8,003 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ: NATI

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 48% Small-Business, 26% Enterprise


### 11. [Ultiboard](https://www.g2.com/products/ultiboard/reviews)
  Ultiboard is printed circuit board design and layout software that integrates seamlessly with Multisim to accelerate PCB prototype development. Ultiboard software offers efficient PCB design layout and routing with a customizable environment. You can use its flexible tools to place parts and copper with manual precision to define critical board elements. With its automated functionality, you can quickly complete a design. The advanced spreadsheet view, toolbox, and design wizards help you easily manage, control, and define any board layout. Seamless integration with Multisim software provides simple schematic transfer to PCB, and forward and backward annotation ensures design iteration management. You can easily export industry-standard file formats such as Gerber and DXF to complete the design flow from schematic to layout


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 21

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.4/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [NI](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ni)
- **Year Founded:** 1976
- **HQ Location:** Austin, TX
- **Twitter:** @NIglobal (26,273 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3433 (8,003 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ: NATI

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Higher Education
  - **Company Size:** 68% Small-Business, 18% Mid-Market


### 12. [Cadence PSpice](https://www.g2.com/products/cadence-pspice/reviews)
  The CadenceAllegroPSpiceSimulator provides complete pre- and post-layout testing for analog and mixed-signal designs with powerful simulation, debugging, design, and analysis utilities. The Allegro PSpice Simulator includes Cadence PSpice technology at the core, providing fast and accurate simulations. This advanced analysis package includes utilities for sensitivity analysis, goal-based multi-parameter optimization, component stress and reliability analysis, and Monte Carlo analysis for yield estimation. The parametric plotter analyzes interdependence among parameters and converts simulation data into meaningful results. When combined with Allegro Design Entry HDL, the schematics drawn in Allegro PSpice Simulator can also drive PCB layout, significantly reducing design time and eliminating redrawing errors. It includes a large library of known models and behavioral modeling techniques that make refining the analog/digital interface a straightforward task.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 11

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Cadence Design Systems](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cadence-design-systems)
- **Year Founded:** 1988
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, California
- **Twitter:** @Cadence (19,988 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2157/ (10,784 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** CDNS

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 55% Mid-Market, 27% Enterprise


### 13. [OrCAD Capture](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-capture/reviews)
  OrCAD Capture is a schematic design solution widely utilized by electronic design engineers and technicians for creating and documenting electrical circuits. It offers a comprehensive environment for schematic entry, facilitating the design of complex circuits with efficiency and precision. Key Features and Functionality: - Hierarchical Design Support: Enables the creation of complex designs through hierarchical structures, promoting modularity and ease of management. - Variant Design Capabilities: Allows for the development of multiple design variants within a single project, streamlining the process of accommodating different requirements. - Extensive Component Library: Provides access to a vast library of schematic symbols and components, including discretes, FPGAs, operational amplifiers, and microcontrollers, enhancing design flexibility. - Component Information System (CIS) Integration: Facilitates seamless integration with company component databases, ensuring the use of preferred and current parts, thereby accelerating the design process and reducing project costs. - Bi-Directional PCB Integration: Offers seamless integration with PCB design tools, enabling data synchronization and cross-probing between schematic and board designs, ensuring consistency and reducing errors. - Simulation Integration: Supports integration with simulation tools like PSpice, allowing for early analysis and verification of circuit behavior directly within the schematic environment. Primary Value and User Solutions: OrCAD Capture streamlines the schematic design process by providing a user-friendly interface combined with powerful features that enhance productivity and accuracy. Its integration with component databases and simulation tools ensures that designs are both efficient and reliable. By supporting hierarchical and variant designs, it accommodates complex projects and multiple design requirements, reducing time-to-market and development costs. The extensive component library and seamless PCB integration further simplify the design workflow, making OrCAD Capture an essential tool for modern electronic design.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 33

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [OrCAD](https://www.g2.com/sellers/orcad)
- **Year Founded:** 1985
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, California
- **Twitter:** @OrCAD (34 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cadencepcb/ (133 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** CDNS

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 41% Small-Business, 35% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Intuitive (1 reviews)


### 14. [DipTrace](https://www.g2.com/products/diptrace/reviews)
  PCB Layout is a high-level engineering tool for board design featuring smart manual routing of high-speed and differential signals, shape-based autorouter, advanced verification, and wide import/export capabilities. Design requirements are defined by net classes, class-to-class rules, and detailed settings by object types for each class or layer. DipTrace features design process with real-time DRC, which reports errors on the fly before actually making them. The board can be previewed in 3D and exported for mechanical CAD modeling. Design Rule Check with in-depth detailing, Net Connectivity verification, and comparing to source schematic ensure maximum quality of the final product.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 43

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [DipTrace](https://www.g2.com/sellers/diptrace)
- **Year Founded:** 2010
- **HQ Location:** Timbó, Santa Catarina
- **Twitter:** @DipTrace (261 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Automotive
  - **Company Size:** 60% Small-Business, 22% Mid-Market


### 15. [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews)
  KiCad is an open source software suite for Electronic Design Automation (EDA). KiCad handles schematic capture, symbol and footprint library management, PCB Layout with Gerber output and 3d model generation. KiCad runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. KiCad is the most used EDA tool in the world.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 62

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 6.6/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [KiCad Project](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kicad-project-aedb39d3-e17a-4434-b9c6-f9ba27bace9d)
- **Year Founded:** 2019
- **HQ Location:** Long Beach, US
- **Twitter:** @kicad_pcb (29,749 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicadservices/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Electrical Engineer
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Consumer Electronics
  - **Company Size:** 82% Small-Business, 15% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Library Management (2 reviews)
- Cross-Platform Compatibility (1 reviews)
- Customer Support (1 reviews)
- Ease of Learning (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Cloud Issues (1 reviews)
- Inefficient Autorouting (1 reviews)
- Library Management (1 reviews)
- Limited Customization (1 reviews)
- Limited Features (1 reviews)

### 16. [Microwave Office](https://www.g2.com/products/microwave-office/reviews)
  Microwave Office software is known for its intuitive interface, innovative design automation, and powerful harmonic balance circuit simulation. Microwave Office along with Visual System Simulator, AXIEM and Analyst software tools form the NI AWR Design Environment platform. Together they offer design engineers a complete RF and microwave circuit, system, and EM co-simulation environment, supporting successful product development for today's most challenging communications and aerospace/defense applications.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 16

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [NI](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ni)
- **Year Founded:** 1976
- **HQ Location:** Austin, TX
- **Twitter:** @NIglobal (26,273 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3433 (8,003 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ: NATI

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 53% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market


### 17. [CAM350](https://www.g2.com/products/cam350/reviews)
  CAM350 is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline the transition from PCB design to fabrication. It serves as the industry standard for verification, optimization, and output generation, ensuring that complex PCB designs are thoroughly inspected and validated before manufacturing. By identifying and addressing potential issues early, CAM350 helps prevent costly design re-spins and production delays, ultimately leading to faster and more efficient PCB fabrication. Key Features and Functionality: - Data Import and Export: Supports a wide range of file formats, including Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, and NC Drill & Mill files, facilitating seamless integration with various PCB design tools. - Design Rule Checking (DRC): Performs comprehensive checks for spacing violations, annular ring issues, and other design anomalies to ensure compliance with manufacturing standards. - Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Analysis: Identifies and rectifies potential fabrication problems such as acid traps, copper slivers, and solder mask slivers, enhancing manufacturability and yield. - 3D Visualization: Provides a virtual model of the PCB, allowing designers to inspect and validate manufacturing data in a three-dimensional environment, including inter-layer views. - CAM Editing Tools: Enables modifications to flashes, pads, polygons, lines, and text, as well as the addition of teardrops, to refine and optimize the design for fabrication. - Netlist Comparison and Export: Extracts and compares netlists to verify electrical integrity and exports them in formats like IPC-D-356. - Panelization: Facilitates the creation of fabrication panels, optimizing the arrangement of multiple PCBs to maximize manufacturing efficiency. Primary Value and Problem Solving: CAM350 addresses the critical need for thorough verification and optimization of PCB designs prior to fabrication. By providing tools for comprehensive DRC, DFM analysis, and 3D visualization, it ensures that potential manufacturing issues are identified and resolved early in the design process. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of production delays and costly rework, leading to higher-quality products and more efficient manufacturing workflows. Additionally, CAM350's robust editing and panelization capabilities streamline the preparation of manufacturing data, further enhancing productivity and reducing time-to-market for electronic products.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 37

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Downstream Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/downstream-technologies)
- **Year Founded:** 2007
- **HQ Location:** Moscow, RU
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/downstream-technologies (4 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Automotive
  - **Company Size:** 56% Small-Business, 35% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Accuracy (1 reviews)
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Efficiency (1 reviews)
- Features (1 reviews)
- PCB Design (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Error Messages (1 reviews)
- Expensive (1 reviews)
- Export Issues (1 reviews)
- File Management (1 reviews)
- Poor Customer Support (1 reviews)

### 18. [SolidWorks Electrical Schematics](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-schematics/reviews)
  SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematics has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that automates complex tasks, such as contact cross-referencing and terminal drawings. It accelerates product development by simultaneously minimizing the repetitive tasks associated with developing electrical schematics


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 10

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 5.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Solidworks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/solidworks)
- **Year Founded:** 1993
- **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA
- **Twitter:** @SOLIDWORKS (178,743 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/solidworks/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** EPA: DSY

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 55% Mid-Market, 45% Small-Business


### 19. [ExpressPCB Plus](https://www.g2.com/products/expresspcb-plus/reviews)
  ExpressPCB circuit board layout program is a snap to learn and use. Laying out PCBs is easy, even for the first time user. ExpressPCB Plus is the next generation PCB Layout software. ExpressPCB Plus is still a snap to learn, plus it provides many features not available in ExpressPCB Classic software and manufacturing services.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 27

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 6.9/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [ExpressPCB](https://www.g2.com/sellers/expresspcb)
- **HQ Location:** SAVERNE, FR
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/25915346/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Education Management
  - **Company Size:** 55% Small-Business, 31% Mid-Market


### 20. [SolidWorks PCB](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-pcb/reviews)
  SOLIDWORKS PCB enables the productivity you need to design Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) quickly along with unique, collaboration between electrical and 3D mechanical design teams. It offers a clear advantage where ECAD-MCAD collaboration is critical for overall success of electronic product design


  **Average Rating:** 3.8/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 14

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Solidworks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/solidworks)
- **Year Founded:** 1993
- **HQ Location:** Waltham, MA
- **Twitter:** @SOLIDWORKS (178,743 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/solidworks/ (1 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** EPA: DSY

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 93% Small-Business, 7% Mid-Market


### 21. [OrCAD PCB Designer](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-pcb-designer/reviews)
  OrCAD PCB Designer is a comprehensive, constraint-driven PCB design solution that integrates schematic capture, PCB layout, and in-design analysis within a unified environment. It is engineered to address the complexities of modern electronic designs, from simple circuits to high-density, multi-layer PCBs, ensuring efficiency and accuracy throughout the design process. Key Features and Functionality: - Schematic Capture: OrCAD Capture provides an intuitive interface for creating and managing complex schematics, facilitating seamless integration with PCB layout and simulation tools. - PCB Layout: The PCB Editor offers interactive placement and routing capabilities, including real-time constraint-driven feedback, dynamic shape management, and support for rigid-flex designs. - In-Design Analysis: Integrated tools for signal integrity analysis, design rule checks, and manufacturability assessments help identify and resolve potential issues early in the design cycle. - Automation and Productivity Tools: Features like auto-assisted BGA fanouts, via creation, and placement replication streamline repetitive tasks, enhancing productivity. - Scalability: Built on a common database architecture, OrCAD PCB Designer scales with evolving design challenges, offering a path to more advanced capabilities within the Cadence Allegro series. Primary Value and User Solutions: OrCAD PCB Designer empowers engineers and designers to efficiently create reliable and manufacturable PCB designs by providing a cohesive environment that integrates all aspects of the design process. Its constraint-driven approach ensures design accuracy, while automation and in-design analysis tools reduce the likelihood of errors and the need for costly revisions. The solution's scalability and integration with the broader Cadence ecosystem make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to complex, high-speed systems, enabling faster time-to-market and improved product quality.


  **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 13

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 5.2/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [OrCAD](https://www.g2.com/sellers/orcad)
- **Year Founded:** 1985
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, California
- **Twitter:** @OrCAD (34 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cadencepcb/ (133 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** CDNS

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market


### 22. [EasyEDA](https://www.g2.com/products/easyeda/reviews)
  EasyEDA supports direct links to more than 200,000 real-time, in-stock components at LCSC. Designers can refer to stocks, prices, and order at any time during design. A massive collection of open source projects helps you find more interesting projects and speeds up your design.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 20

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [EasyEDA](https://www.g2.com/sellers/easyeda)
- **Year Founded:** 1991
- **HQ Location:** Allentown, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ct-global-solutions-inc. (9 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  - **Company Size:** 65% Small-Business, 20% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Features (1 reviews)
- PCB Design (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Complex Interface (1 reviews)
- Component Management (1 reviews)
- Inefficient Autorouting (1 reviews)
- Offline Access (1 reviews)
- Performance Issues (1 reviews)

### 23. [ETAP](https://www.g2.com/products/etap/reviews)
  ETAP® is a full spectrum analytical engineering software company specializing in the analysis, simulation, monitoring, control, optimization, and automation of electrical power systems. ETAP electrical engineering software offers the best and most comprehensive suite of integrated power system enterprise solution.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 20

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Quality of Support:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [ETAP - Operation Technology](https://www.g2.com/sellers/etap-operation-technology)
- **Year Founded:** 1986
- **HQ Location:** Irvine, CA
- **Twitter:** @ETAPsoftware (1,617 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/154736/ (581 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 45% Enterprise, 32% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons


**Cons:**

- Licensing Issues (1 reviews)
- Limited Customization (1 reviews)
- Poor Navigation (1 reviews)

### 24. [DesignSpark PCB](https://www.g2.com/products/designspark-pcb/reviews)
  DesignSpark PCB is here to help your company explore more design options - leading to increased innovation. At the core of this unique software is a powerful software engine that enables you to capture schematics and design PCB boards and layouts.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 6

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [DesignSpark](https://www.g2.com/sellers/designspark)
- **HQ Location:** Corby, England, United Kingdom
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-uk-ireland/ (110 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 67% Small-Business, 33% Enterprise


### 25. [Xpedition Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/xpedition-enterprise/reviews)
  Xpedition Enterprise Xpedition Enterprise is the industry’s most innovative PCB design flow, providing integration from system design definition to manufacturing execution. Its unique technologies can reduce design cycles by 50 percent or more while significantly improving overall quality and resource efficiency.


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 5

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Schematic editor:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **PCB layout editing:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **3D modeling tools:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 7.8/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Siemens Digital Industries Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/siemens-digital-industries-software)
- **Year Founded:** 1980
- **HQ Location:** Plano, Texas
- **Twitter:** @siemenssoftware (36,936 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/28423178/ (20,658 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 40% Enterprise, 40% Small-Business


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Automation (1 reviews)
- Features (1 reviews)
- Improvement (1 reviews)
- Intuitive (1 reviews)
- Simple (1 reviews)




## Parent Category

[CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad)



## Related Categories

- [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae)



---

## Buyer Guide

### What You Should Know About PCB Design Software

### What is a PCB design software?

Printed circuit board (PCB) design software is used to design and layout electronic circuits on a printed circuit board. It focuses on the arrangement of components, routing of pins, and verification and simulation of the circuit's functionality.

PCB design is the building block of most electronics, except very basic ones. The mechanical structure of a PCB design is pretty complex. Therefore, a proper context of electrical engineering and computer-aided design (CAD) proficiency is vital for effectively using this software.

With a PCB design board, users can create schematic layouts, import components, and route interconnections in a running circuit. These components help build a circuit board, and PCB design software tests its application. These tests and simulations guarantee the longevity of electrical and electronic hardware.

### What is a PCB design?

A printed circuit board (PCB) design is a blueprint that manufacturers, engineers, and technicians leverage to create durable electronic devices. The functionality of a PCB addresses the core components of an electronic device or appliance by providing a platform to mount and interconnect them. 

The 2D or 3D circuit model is created digitally in the PCB design, a blueprint used by product manufacturers, engineers, and technicians to guide the fabrication of the physical PCB. This design ensures proper placement and routing of components for optimal electrical performance.

PCB design is a technique that allows the user to design circuits and ensure the components, wire interconnections, and traces are functional and stable. The idea of having a design model before product manufacturing is to assemble critical parts, enable smooth transmission, and optimize trace bandwidth. PCB design software is a printed circuit board software equipped with these features and facilitates the speedy production of electronic components.

### PCB design software features

When selecting a PCB design software, one should compare the features offered by the software provider with their specific use cases. In the electrical and electronics domain, these features are essential: 

- **PCB layout:** The tool can build PCB layouts to run electronic operations and circuit boards with the required insulation. PCB layout is the prototype of a circuit board where the user can adjust the systems, build interconnections, and set the nets and pins. 
- **Schematic editor:** The schematic editor lets users place and edit components on a schematic page. This feature serves as a basic function of a PCB. Additionally, most schematic editors let users annotate components directly on the schematics, offering additional information about different elements on the PCB.
- **Autorouting:** Autorouting connects wires from component to component on a printed circuit board. Some PCB design software includes features that automatically connect points on the circuit board. To do so, users must select the nets, and the router automatically routes the traces according to the design rules. This saves users from wasting time on tedious tasks.
- **Simulation and analysis capabilities:** Before implementing a circuitry, it must undergo testing under tough conditions, including temperature, pressure, and external atmospheric factors. The testing process validates the tools, components, and workflows, verifying the PCB analysis before production.
- **CAD viewer integration:** CAD viewer enables cross-functional teams to view, edit, and modify designs and assemble the fields within a circuit as required for electric hardware. 
- **Cross-departmental collaboration:** With collaboration tools, PCB designers can all work on the same board together in real time. Users can edit each other's work, add comments, and provide feedback to fellow designers. Additionally, users can store and access any board at any point throughout its developmental history. This way, no changes are permanent, and users can always revisit old designs.
- **Library management and component libraries:** Component libraries give users access to various prebuilt components for common electrical spare parts. This feature lets users pull parts of the PCB design from the library and not have to design every part from scratch. Instead, users can save time throughout the design process by easily inputting the desired components into the design schema. 
- **PCB footprint:** The PCB footprint defines the physical dimensions of the printed circuit board and explains each component and use case. Some more advanced PCB design software can even link to a PCB manufacturer directly within the component library. This allows users to place orders for components.
- **3D visualization:** 3D visualization allows users to edit components with 3D computer-aided design. This feature helps designers easily identify mistakes they might not have seen in the 2D schematics and gives users an actual representation of what the finished printed circuit board would look like. It’s important to note that the quality of 3D rendering can vary widely across solutions.
- **Design rule check:** This feature allows users to identify design violations that lead to signal integrity, power integrity, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. Design rule checking is generally conducted through simulation tests. These tests include mixed signal circuit simulation, signal integrity, and power integrity analysis. All of these circuit simulations let users test the performance of their boards in a virtual environment. This helps them verify if their design works before spending money on manufacturing the PCB.
- **Differential pair routing:** Differential pair PCB routing is a design technique used to create a balanced transmission system to carry differential signals across a printed circuit board. Some PCB design software provides users with a differential pairs editor that lets users define the routing width of the nets in the pair and the separation (gap) between them. This dramatically speeds up the manual process of differential pair routing.

### Types of PCB design software

While PCB design software manages circuit boards for different electronic devices, users must choose the type that fits their target application.

- **Professional or commercial PCB design software:** This is the mainstream PCB design software that aids in PCB layout creation, schematic capture, and simulation. The tech stack is used to build electric demonstrations of power circuits, which helps engineers and assemblers deploy an operational current mechanism within electronic devices. 
- **Open-source PCB design software:** For simple tech and appliances, open-source PCB design software would manage the design, testing, and electrical dynamics for the product. The app would aid in basic layout creation, simulation for enclosure, thermal and stress management, and interconnections with traces cost-effectively. 
- **Cloud-based PCB design software:** This stack is used by electronic engineers, mechanical engineers, and technical staff to edit, store, and modify designs over cloud servers. Cloud transfers ensure premium encryption, faster uploads and downloads of designs, automatic updates without manual installation, and minimum vulnerability or circuit breakage.
- **Free or freemium PCB design tools:** Some PCB design tools offer free services with basic components and routing support. The systems also provide basic schematic capture, PCB layouts, and enclosures to design circuit boards. However, the settings are basic, and component libraries are limited. 
- **Specialized PCB design software:** This is an advanced software version that offers added modules for power transmission, radio frequency, radio frequency identification (RFID) tracing, and auto-routing support to power electronics, automotive, and interactive aerospace applications. 

### Benefits of using PCB design tools

PCB design software enables users to create durable electronic and electric devices and manage engineering task workflows in a simple and time-saving way. Some of the benefits they offer are:

- **Efficient design rule checks:** The components library offers routing support, interconnections between nets and traces, and other assets to implement for PCB designs. These intuitive components help mechanical and electronic engineers know and understand the spare parts and machinery and embed them into the schematic layout.
- **Reduced time to market:** PCB design optimizes the feature implementation, engineering, and testing processes for software teams, which helps in faster production and reduced time to market. 
- **Enhanced collaboration:** Different functional teams can access and supervise the design changes in PCB layout in real time. Multiple teams working on a single circuit project enhances collaboration and reduces the scope of malfunctioning. 
- **Simulation and analysis:** The tool offers advanced testing workflows and simulation tools to check for thermal management, heat tolerance, stress, signal integrity, and power distribution of a printed circuit board and relevant annotations for each component.
- **Manufacturability:** The PCB design software increases manufacturability by integrating design principles within the engineering aspect and fabricating responsive logic for electrical devices to work in the long term. 
- **Staff training:** The stack has an onboarding journey for buyers to get acknowledged with different features, enhancements, modules, APIs, and their use cases. It also provides knowledge base resources and product videos for quick installation and implementation. 
- **OS compatibility:** Engineers can deploy PCB enclosures within any software infrastructure and platform as a service (PaaS) environment. The designs can be shared across macOS, Linux, Windows, and Unix systems.
- **Component libraries:** The user can deploy and source PCB components to route them with the circuit board. If there is a shortage of PCB libraries, the software will connect with a local PCB source or manufacturer to replenish the components with all details, annotations, and integrity. 

### Who uses PCB designing software?

During the manufacturing process of an electronic product, PCB design is a crucial step that involves thorough inspection. Let's look at the primary users involved in producing the output:

- **Electronic engineers:** Electronic engineers deploy design and project frameworks for designing electric circuits, electronic spare parts, and engine machinery. The software stack comprises schematic capture, layout tools, and a component library. 
- **PCB designers and developers:** PCB designers and developers build 3D simulations of electric devices for the research and development of the final product. These educated users know how to design, visualize, and test the manufacturing elements to ensure the applicability and workability of products.
- **Students:** Students pursuing mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and electronics and telecommunication (ENTC) engineering learn how to work in real-life manufacturing plants and factories with PCB design software.
- **Teachers:** Lecturers and mentors within engineering disciplines use circuit technologies to help students build 3D models and learn basic principles for electric and electromagnetic fields. These principles are used in miniature circuit boards, power distribution plants, and hi-tech networks.
- **Technicians and assemblers:** Technicians and assembly personnel leverage the PCB software stack for product research and lifecycle. With the support of assemblers, fabricators, netlists, and pins, technicians can easily optimize manufacturing workflows.
- **Manufacturing engineers:** Manufacturing engineers use PCB design software to review and optimize virtual models for efficient production. They may collaborate with design teams to address manufacturability concerns and ensure mass-produced products. 
- **Electrical and hardware engineers:** Hardware and electrical engineers use PCB design to learn about wire earthing, grounding, thermal management, and current flow within PCB layouts. 
- **Entrepreneurs and startups:** Entrepreneurs and founders use the PCB framework to build electronic appliances and products. The stack consists of tools that help tinker with circuit boards and use different hardware logic to test and validate products. 

### How much does PCB design software cost?

Various types of PCB design software are available, including open-source subscriptions, paid subscriptions, studio licensing, and annual plans. Leading software solutions like Altium Designer, Altium 365, Ansys RedHawk-SC, Fusion 360, Autodesk, cadence, Allegro, and Solidworks offer CAD integration to automate design workflows. 

To learn more about pricing, it is advisable to visit software vendor websites and register for a custom quote with the respective customer service specialists. 

Further, learning about a software implementation process with a free trial or plan at no cost for a given period can give a deeper insight into software service. Registering for a demo would allow teams to efficiently shortlist the most suitable plan or subscription based on their business needs, product lifecycle, and revenue allocation. The solutions are dispersed across three major business sizes: small, mid-level, and enterprise.

### Software related to PCB design and layout software

For users searching for alternatives to designing and manufacturing their electric items, here are a few software and services that could be integrated within PCB design software. 

- [Computer-aided engineering software](https://www.g2.com/categories/computer-aided-engineering-cae): Computer-aided engineering software builds 2D or 3D rendering of real-life objects like buildings, bridges, or roads. The software is used by real estate planners, interior decorators, urban planners, architects, and construction and civil engineers to prepare raw drafts and blowups of major projects. 
- [Product lifecycle management (PLM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/plm) **:** Printed circuit boards require various components to complete a design. These components can come from various manufacturers and require cross-team coordination. With this in mind, users must integrate their PCB design software with PLM software. Then, users can access product data and workflow management services essential to the successful automation and deployment of PCB layout data and processes.
- [MCAD software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad) **:** Mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) software is used by mechanical and structural engineers to design engines and electrical machinery.

### Challenges with PCB design solutions

- **Learning curve and complexity:** It's worth noting that some PCB services can be quite complex, which may make it difficult for users to learn how to use them. In such cases, users can refer to the tutorials available on vendor pages. These tutorials are usually comprehensive and provide detailed explanations about using the advanced features of PCB design software.
- **Integration and extension issues:** Sometimes, integration of PCB design would create API issues and ‘.exe’ file errors within the current ERP stack. Ensuring seamless data exchange with [CAD data exchange software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-data-exchange)allows users to check technical specifications before onboarding a software suite.
- **Software bugs and stability:** PCB design software, like any other tool, can be impacted by data theft, design errors, and system disruptions. Regular updates are necessary to fix these problems.
- **Cost of software and licensing:** The cost and licensing of software subscriptions, especially for professional-grade PCB software, can be a challenge. Keep in mind the upfront expenditure and renewal costs when evaluating return on investment (ROI) value. 
- **Keeping pace with technological advances:** The field of electronics is dynamic and embraces new technologies. With the recent advent of [augmented reality](https://www.g2.com/categories/augmented-reality)and [virtual reality software](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-reality), PCB design engineers are building 3D holograms and working on circuits and electrical logic in physical realities. Failure to do so can limit the product's effectiveness and result in negative reviews and feedback from the audience.

### Which companies should buy PCB design software?

PCB design software is a major requirement for engineering firms. Some firms can invest in PCB design software to ensure lifetime consumer satisfaction.

- **Electronics manufacturing companies:** Companies specializing in developing industrial equipment, health safety, and environment (HSE) equipment, and plant machinery can use PCB design software to work on raw drafts and build schematic layouts.
- **Technology and semiconductor companies:** Companies like IBM, Intel, and Biosonic that manufacture chips, processors, and transistors can use PCB design software to optimize inventory and manufacturing workflows.
- **Telecommunication companies:** Telecommunications and network operators can use PCB design software to build network signals, design mobile networks, and integrate electronic design automation (EDA) within integrated circuits (ICs).
- **Medical and e-healthcare companies:** Medical and e-healthcare brands can design medical equipment like ventilators, pulse monitoring devices, and medical implants with the help of PCB design and nanotechnology to reduce pain, improve accuracy, and ensure a speedy recovery.
- **Automotive manufacturers:** Automotive companies integrate PCB design tools with product development workflows for designing and manufacturing factory engines and control units in various machines, including modern vehicles, infotainment systems, and engine control units. It helps ensure maximum efficiency and safety protocols of these devices.
- **Aerospace engineers:** In the aviation industry, PCB design software can be integrated with passenger and fleet management systems and business intelligence (BI) techniques to prevent occurrences of engine flameouts.

### Implementation of PCB design software

Implementing a PCB stack for businesses would require a structured and strategic approach.

- **Assess project requirements:** Clearly define the technological and infrastructure bandwidths before shortlisting software. Defining project thresholds, goals, and developer bandwidth would help choose an efficient tool to meet ROI objectives.
- **Evaluate software options:** Conduct a thorough design tutorial of different software with a custom demo before investing in a software provider. Consider factors like functionality, production workflows, compatibility, ease of use, budget, and user satisfaction for each solution.
- **Train and onboard software users:** Ensure seamless training and implementation cycles by connecting with vendor sales reps and account executives (AEs) to get educated on software use cases. Check training programs, user manuals, online resources, and workshops to make the teams proficient.
- **Verify integration with existing automation and API development software:** Ensure seamless integration within API and other automation software. Verify compatibility with other design, simulation, QA, and manufacturing software to avoid disruptions and systems and enhance collaboration.
- **Implement best practices and standards:** Define and implement best practices listed on the software website and the G2 platform to ensure project consistency. Learn about data authentication, version control, electronic design, Gerber file format, and other best practices.

### How to choose the best PCB design software

Choosing a PCB design software relies on input from engineering and feature implementation teams. Knowing the company's requirements makes it easier to make the right choice.

- **Ease of use:** Prioritize a graphical user interface (GUI) over a console application. Ensure the changes made to the code reflect within the project studio the user is working on. Focus on interactive execution, faster compilation, and syntax support.
- **Compatibility:** Ensure the software supports [CAD viewer](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-viewers)to view the designs in industry-standard file formats. This ensures a seamless data exchange between two or more CAD systems and doesn’t lead to broken files.
- **Comprehensive libraries and annotation:** Look for the assets required to build the circuitry and their annotations. This information would be beneficial during the simulation and testing process.
- **Scalability:** For multi-product support, choose software that can be scaled to deployment within the organization and cross-border branches through a secure authentication network.
- **Support and cost:** Evaluate customer support and compare the costs. The support must be tied to the base price of each module the user wants to activate.

### PCB designing trends

Integrating recent trends within the current operations would keep teams motivated and pumped to produce better output. Here are some trends in the industry. 

- **Cloud-based collaboration:** Emerging cloud computing platforms host large volumes of design data over inter-business infrastructures to digitize manufacturing cycles and prototyping workflows. 
- **AI-driven design automation:** Generative AI has enhanced design automation by optimizing routing, schematic capture, and component placement for faster turnarounds.
- **High frequency and RFID capability:** Modern-day electronic devices are powered with RFID object recognition that tracks the physical data of real-life objects and labels them accordingly. Robotic vacuums, pods, and medical devices currently use this technology to auto-assist the audience using it.
- **Integrated advanced analytics:** PCB design software incorporates more advanced analysis tools, providing engineers with in-depth insights into signal integrity, power distribution, and thermal management for more accurate pre-production assessments.

_Written and researched by_ [_Anindita Sengupta_](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/anindita-sengupta)

_Reviewed and edited by_[_Shanti Nair_](https://in.linkedin.com/in/shanti-nair-b75075164)