Link copied to clipboard # Altium CircuitMaker vs KiCad EDA Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/altium-circuitmaker/kicad-eda/export.csv) Altium CircuitMakerKiCad EDA[+ Add Product](#) Pricing **Altium CircuitMaker** Free Trial **Free** · CircuitMaker **KiCad EDA** Free Trial **Free** · OSS Edition **Contact Us** · Custom Feature Design **Pricing Insights** from reviews Perceived Cost **Altium CircuitMaker** $$$$$ **KiCad EDA** $$$$$ Average Discount **Altium CircuitMaker** Not enough reviews yet **KiCad EDA** Not enough reviews yet Uncover valuable pricing insights from real user feedback to improve your shopping experience. See it for free Time to Implement **Altium CircuitMaker** 6 months Based on 100 responses **KiCad EDA** 6 months Based on 100 responses Return on Investment **Altium CircuitMaker** 6 months Based on 100 responses **KiCad EDA** 6 months Based on 100 responses **Pros & Cons** from reviews **Altium CircuitMaker** [ PCB Design (9) ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1578364&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Features (7) ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1578709&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Slow Rendering (4) ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2002935&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Complex Interface (3) ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1578539&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) **KiCad EDA** [ Ease of Use (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1881918&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Library Management (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1881696&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Cloud Issues (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2485116&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Inefficient Autorouting (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1881723&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Integrations **Altium CircuitMaker** Not enough data **KiCad EDA** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_7f62e936e184242294b0a75aa09a6095/altium-develop.png "Product Avatar Image") Altium Develop ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e00dd8bdafdafc988f2621d1c6fb30ad/fusion-360.png "Product Avatar Image") Autodesk Fusion ](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/integrations) Screenshots **Altium CircuitMaker** ![Altium CircuitMaker screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/205504/image-2022-03-22T18-01-32-356Z.png) **KiCad EDA** No screenshot available **Ratings** from reviews Meets Requirements **Altium CircuitMaker** **8.5** /10 Based on 93 responses **KiCad EDA** **8.2** /10 Based on 50 responses Ease of Use **Altium CircuitMaker** **8.2** /10 Based on 95 responses **KiCad EDA** **8.6** /10 Based on 52 responses Ease of Setup **Altium CircuitMaker** **8.7** /10 Based on 35 responses **KiCad EDA** **9.3** /10 Based on 12 responses Ease of Admin **Altium CircuitMaker** **8.1** /10 Based on 8 responses **KiCad EDA** Not enough data Quality of Support **Altium CircuitMaker** **7.7** /10 Based on 74 responses **KiCad EDA** **7.9** /10 Based on 39 responses Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **Altium CircuitMaker** **8.1** /10 Based on 7 responses **KiCad EDA** Not enough data Product Direction (% positive) **Altium CircuitMaker** **7.8** /10 Based on 97 responses **KiCad EDA** **8.7** /10 Based on 46 responses **Features** ratings from reviews PCB Design **8.3** /10 Based on 91 responses **7.9** /10 Based on 42 responses User Insights **Reviewers' Company Size** Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 68.2% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 15.5% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 16.4% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 68.2% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 15.5% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 16.4% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 84.4% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 10.9% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 4.7% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 84.4% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 10.9% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 4.7% **Reviewers' Industry** [![Altium CircuitMaker](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/d171cd21beec7d9bf74fdf46f6b30627/altium-circuitmaker.svg "Altium CircuitMaker")](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) Altium CircuitMaker Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing 27.3% Consumer Electronics 14.5% Higher Education 5.5% Aviation & Aerospace 4.5% Computer Hardware 4.5% Other 43.6% [![KiCad EDA](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/3cba30e35707ff79678e1f8e5a283790/kicad-eda.svg "KiCad EDA")](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) KiCad EDA Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing 40.6% Consumer Electronics 12.5% Design 7.8% Research 6.3% Automotive 4.7% Other 28.1% Alternatives **Altium CircuitMaker Alternatives** ![EasyEDA](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_068775cb495a74abb09de055d82e9360/easyeda.png "EasyEDA") [ EasyEDA ](/products/easyeda/reviews) ![Autodesk Fusion](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/28ab5b3990e257fc5851e9730734a9cc/autodesk-fusion.svg "Autodesk Fusion") [ Autodesk Fusion ](/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) ![Autodesk EAGLE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1548258703/autodesk-eagle.png "Autodesk EAGLE") [ Autodesk EAGLE ](/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) ![SOLIDWORKS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/87a0eaa40f8b9a14542c077a348a699d/solidworks.svg "SOLIDWORKS") [ SOLIDWORKS ](/products/solidworks/reviews) **KiCad EDA Alternatives** ![Altium Develop](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/9ece538c466a3522832215687c2d4b84/altium-develop.svg "Altium Develop") [ Altium Develop ](/products/altium-develop/reviews) ![Autodesk Fusion](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/28ab5b3990e257fc5851e9730734a9cc/autodesk-fusion.svg "Autodesk Fusion") [ Autodesk Fusion ](/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) ![Autodesk EAGLE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1548258703/autodesk-eagle.png "Autodesk EAGLE") [ Autodesk EAGLE ](/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) ![DipTrace](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/16de0291b0f102102abee8d6ee41b2d9/diptrace.png "DipTrace") [ DipTrace ](/products/diptrace/reviews) ## Altium CircuitMaker vs KiCad EDA FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 14, 2026 ### What is the difference between KiCad EDA vs Altium CircuitMaker? KiCad EDA stands out for its higher G2 rating and ease of setup, while Altium CircuitMaker is noted for its PCB design features and collaboration capabilities. | | [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) | [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) | | --- | --- | --- | | G2 Rating (reviews) | 4.5/5 (69 reviews) | 4.3/5 (110 reviews) | | Largest Segment | Small-Business | Small-Business | | Ease of Setup score | 9.3 | 8.7 | | Quality of Support score | 7.9 | 7.7 | | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | Ease of Use | PCB Design | ### How do the pricing models of KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker compare? KiCad EDA is considered the stronger value by reviewers, with higher satisfaction on price and cost-related dimensions. - **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers consistently highlight that KiCad EDA is free and offers professional-grade PCB design tools at no cost, making it highly accessible for beginners and small businesses. - **Altium CircuitMaker:** Reviewers appreciate that Altium CircuitMaker is also free to use and provides advanced features, but some note limitations in features compared to paid Altium products. - **Switching reasons:** In recent reviews, users mention switching to KiCad EDA due to its open-source nature and cost savings, especially when compared to expensive paid alternatives. ### What are the best alternatives to KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker? The best alternatives to KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker are Altium Develop, Autodesk Fusion, and EasyEDA. | Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) | 4.5/5 (69 reviews) | Small-Business | Free, strong value for beginners | Ease of Use | | [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) | 4.3/5 (110 reviews) | Small-Business | Free, advanced features for no cost | PCB Design | | [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1050 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Advanced PCB design capabilities | | [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) | 4.5/5 (520 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Integrated design and engineering tools | | [EasyEDA](https://www.g2.com/products/easyeda/reviews) | 4.4/5 (20 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Ease of use for PCB design | ### Which PCB Design features should I prioritize when comparing KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker? Buyers should prioritize ease of use, library management, collaboration features, 3D visualization, and cross-platform compatibility when comparing KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker. - **Ease of Use:** KiCad EDA (score: 8.6, 2 all-time mentions); Altium CircuitMaker (score: 8.2, 5 all-time mentions) - **Library Management:** KiCad EDA (2 all-time mentions); Altium CircuitMaker (5 all-time mentions) - **Collaboration Features:** Altium CircuitMaker (4 all-time mentions); KiCad EDA (—) - **3D Visualization:** KiCad EDA (mentioned in reviews); Altium CircuitMaker (3 all-time mentions) - **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** KiCad EDA (1 all-time mention); Altium CircuitMaker (—) ### What are the pros and cons of KiCad EDA vs Altium CircuitMaker? KiCad EDA's headline strength is ease of use and cost, while Altium CircuitMaker excels in PCB design features and collaboration. - **KiCad EDA strengths:** Free and open-source, ease of use (2 all-time mentions), cross-platform compatibility, strong community support, and regular updates. - **KiCad EDA trade-offs:** Limited advanced features, inefficient autorouting (1 all-time mention), library management complexity, and some software bugs. - **Altium CircuitMaker strengths:** PCB design capabilities (9 all-time mentions), advanced features (7 all-time mentions), ease of learning (6 all-time mentions), collaboration (4 all-time mentions), and 3D visualization (3 all-time mentions). - **Altium CircuitMaker trade-offs:** Slow rendering (4 all-time mentions), complex interface (3 all-time mentions), limited features compared to paid Altium products, and poor customer support (2 all-time mentions). ### Is KiCad EDA or Altium CircuitMaker better for small businesses? KiCad EDA is the better fit for small businesses, supported by its largest segment and strong value sentiment. - **KiCad EDA:** Small-Business is the largest segment, with reviewers highlighting its free cost, ease of use, and suitability for startups and small teams. - **Altium CircuitMaker:** Small-Business is also the largest segment, but reviewers note that while it is free and feature-rich, it can be complex for beginners and has some limitations for proprietary work. ### Which PCB Design platform has better integrations? Altium CircuitMaker is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing multiple integration capabilities. - **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers mention integration with git and Python scripting for automation, but no third-party integration counts are supplied. - **Altium CircuitMaker:** Reviewers cite integration with Fusion 360, Altium 365, and MCAD Codesigner, with 3 all-time mentions for integrations. ### How do KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker compare on customer support? KiCad EDA and Altium CircuitMaker are at near-parity on Quality of Support, with scores of 7.9 and 7.7 respectively, below the materiality threshold. - **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers describe strong community support, extensive tutorials, and responsive updates, though some note challenges with advanced support and library management. - **Altium CircuitMaker:** Reviewers highlight an active community forum and ongoing development, but some mention slow response times and issues with official support channels. ### Which is easier to implement, KiCad EDA or Altium CircuitMaker? KiCad EDA is easier to implement, with a higher Ease of Setup score of 9.3 compared to Altium CircuitMaker's 8.7. - **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers consistently report that KiCad EDA is easy to install, quick to learn, and well-suited for beginners and small teams. - **Altium CircuitMaker:** Reviewers note that while setup is generally straightforward, the learning curve can be steeper due to advanced features and cloud integration requirements. ## Altium CircuitMaker vs KiCad EDA - Reviewers felt that Altium CircuitMaker meets the needs of their business better than KiCad EDA. - When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that KiCad EDA is the preferred option. - For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of KiCad EDA over Altium CircuitMaker.