# KiCad EDA vs Ultiboard Comparison

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between KiCad EDA vs Ultiboard?

KiCad EDA stands out for its higher G2 rating, open-source model, and ease of setup, while Ultiboard is noted for its strong ease of use and integration with Multisim.

| [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) | [Ultiboard](https://www.g2.com/products/ultiboard/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.5/5 (69 reviews) | 4.3/5 (22 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 9.3 | — |
| 7.9 | 8.0 |
| Free, open-source, easy to use, strong community support | Simple for beginners, strong Multisim integration, intuitive UI |



### How do the pricing models of KiCad EDA and Ultiboard compare?

KiCad EDA is considered the stronger value due to its free, open-source model and high reviewer satisfaction with cost.

- **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers consistently highlight that KiCad EDA is free and offers professional-grade PCB design tools at no cost, making it highly attractive for cost-conscious users.
- **Ultiboard:** Reviewers note Ultiboard is easy to learn and use, especially for students, but do not emphasize cost advantages over competitors.
- **Switching reasons:** Recent reviews indicate users choose KiCad EDA for its zero-cost licensing and extensive online resources, especially when compared to paid alternatives.



### What are the best alternatives to KiCad EDA and Ultiboard?

The top 3 alternatives to KiCad EDA and Ultiboard are Altium Develop, Autodesk Fusion, and Altium CircuitMaker.

| 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, open-source | Easy to use, strong community support |
| [Ultiboard](https://www.g2.com/products/ultiboard/reviews) | 4.3/5 (22 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Simple for beginners, Multisim integration |
| [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1050 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Advanced features, industry-standard toolset |
| [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) | 4.5/5 (520 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Integrated CAD/CAM, modern interface |
| [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) | 4.3/5 (110 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Community-driven, collaborative design |



### Which PCB Design features should I prioritize when comparing KiCad EDA and Ultiboard?

Buyers comparing KiCad EDA and Ultiboard should prioritize ease of use, ease of setup, quality of support, library management, and integration capabilities.

- **Ease of Use:** KiCad EDA 8.6, Ultiboard 9.0
- **Ease of Setup:** KiCad EDA 9.3, Ultiboard —
- **Quality of Support:** KiCad EDA 7.9, Ultiboard 8.0
- **Library Management:** KiCad EDA has 2 all-time reviewer mentions for both strengths and trade-offs; Ultiboard does not have notable mentions.
- **Integration Capabilities:** Ultiboard is frequently cited for its integration with Multisim, while KiCad EDA is noted for cross-platform compatibility and plugin support.



### What are the pros and cons of KiCad EDA vs Ultiboard?

KiCad EDA's headline strength is its free, open-source model and ease of use, while Ultiboard is praised for beginner accessibility and Multisim integration.

- **KiCad EDA strengths:** Free and open-source, easy to use (2 all-time mentions), strong community support, cross-platform compatibility, extensive tutorials, and plugin ecosystem.
- **KiCad EDA trade-offs:** Limited advanced features compared to premium tools, inefficient autorouting (1 all-time mention), library management complexity (2 all-time mentions), and occasional software bugs (1 all-time mention).
- **Ultiboard strengths:** Simple for beginners, strong integration with Multisim, intuitive user interface, and effective for educational use.
- **Ultiboard trade-offs:** Outdated GUI, less suitable for high-speed or complex PCB designs, manual routing required for some tasks, and limited documentation/support resources.



### Is KiCad EDA or Ultiboard 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 consistently highlighting its free licensing, ease of use, and suitability for startups and small teams.
- **Ultiboard:** Small-Business is also the largest segment, with reviewers noting its accessibility for students and educational institutions, but less emphasis on cost advantages for small businesses.



### Which PCB Design platform has better integrations?

KiCad EDA and Ultiboard are at parity for integrations, with each product noted for specific integration capabilities in recent reviews.

- **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers mention cross-platform compatibility and plugin support, but do not cite specific third-party integrations by name.
- **Ultiboard:** Reviewers frequently highlight integration with Multisim for schematic transfer and simulation, but do not mention additional third-party integrations.



### How do KiCad EDA and Ultiboard compare on customer support?

KiCad EDA and Ultiboard are at parity on Quality of Support, with scores of 7.9 and 8.0 respectively, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers describe a strong community, extensive tutorials, and responsive support, though some note limited commercial support and occasional difficulty finding advanced help.
- **Ultiboard:** Reviewers report positive support experiences, especially for educational use, but mention limited documentation and support resources for complex projects.



### Which is easier to implement, KiCad EDA or Ultiboard?

KiCad EDA leads on Ease of Setup with a score of 9.3, while Ultiboard lacks a published score for this dimension.

- **KiCad EDA:** Reviewers consistently describe KiCad EDA as easy to install and set up, with many citing its suitability for beginners and quick onboarding.
- **Ultiboard:** Reviewers note that Ultiboard is straightforward to learn and use, especially for students, but do not provide quantitative setup scores.



| | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 69 | 22 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (84.4% of reviews) | Small-Business (66.7% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Free | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### KiCad EDA

Pros:
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Library Management (2 reviews)

Cons:
- Cloud Issues (1 reviews)
- Inefficient Autorouting (1 reviews)

### Ultiboard

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.2 (50 reviews) | 8.3 (15 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.6 (52 reviews) | 9.0 (16 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.3 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 7.9 (39 reviews) | 8.0 (15 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.7 (46 reviews) | 7.1 (16 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### KiCad EDA

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: OSS Edition

Price: Free

Description: KiCad is Open Source software.  We offer world-class EDA design tools that are free to use, now and forever.

Key Features:
- 100k+ Symbol and footprint library
- 10k+ 3d Models
- Fast, responsive interface

[Browse all 2 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Ultiboard

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

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## Features Comparison By Category

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KiCad EDA** | 7.9/10 | 42 |
| **Ultiboard** | 7.9/10 | 16 |

#### Design

| Feature | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | 8.0 (40 reviews) | 8.2 (14 reviews) | 
| **Schematic editor** | 8.3 (40 reviews) | 8.7 (14 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | 6.5 (31 reviews) | 7.4 (13 reviews) | 
| **Component placement** | 8.3 (38 reviews) | 8.0 (14 reviews) | 

#### Library

| Feature | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | 7.4 (37 reviews) | 8.2 (14 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | 8.6 (36 reviews) | 8.3 (15 reviews) | 
| **Layers** | 8.5 (36 reviews) | 7.8 (15 reviews) | 

#### Customization

| Feature | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom commands** | 7.4 (27 reviews) | 7.3 (11 reviews) | 
| **Custom interface** | Feature Not Available | 7.4 (16 reviews) | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design)




---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | KiCad EDA | Ultiboard | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 84.4% | 66.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 10.9% | 19.0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 4.7% | 14.3% | 

### By Industry

#### KiCad EDA

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 40.6%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 12.5%
- **Design:** 7.8%
- **Research:** 6.3%
- **Automotive:** 4.7%
- **Higher Education:** 4.7%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.7%
- **Education Management:** 3.1%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.1%
- **Information Services:** 1.6%
- **Other:** 10.9%

#### Ultiboard

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 33.3%
- **Higher Education:** 28.6%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 14.3%
- **Telecommunications:** 4.8%
- **Renewables & Environment:** 4.8%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.8%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 4.8%
- **Design:** 4.8%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to KiCad EDA

- [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1070 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (110 reviews)
- [Autodesk EAGLE](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (77 reviews)
- [DipTrace](https://www.g2.com/products/diptrace/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (46 reviews)
- [NI Multisim](https://www.g2.com/products/ni-multisim/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (42 reviews)
- [OrCAD Capture](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-capture/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (34 reviews)
- [EasyEDA](https://www.g2.com/products/easyeda/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (20 reviews)
- [SolidWorks PCB](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-pcb/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (14 reviews)
- [ExpressPCB Plus](https://www.g2.com/products/expresspcb-plus/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (29 reviews)

### Alternatives to Ultiboard

- [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1070 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Autodesk EAGLE](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (77 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (724 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (691 reviews)
- [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (110 reviews)
- [PADS Professional](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (64 reviews)
- [DipTrace](https://www.g2.com/products/diptrace/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (46 reviews)
- [OrCAD Capture](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-capture/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (34 reviews)
- [EasyEDA](https://www.g2.com/products/easyeda/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (20 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### KiCad EDA

- Title: [What is the best EDA software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-eda-software) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "KiCad"
- Title: [How can I turn on only the radsnet of the component I am moving?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36347-how-can-i-turn-on-only-the-radsnet-of-the-component-i-am-moving) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Yes you can. If you open Pcbnew, go to the right-hand side toolbar and you will see some tools. The first one (top) is the arrow key for "Select item". The..."

### Ultiboard

No discussions available for this product.

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**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/kicad-eda-vs-ultiboard)