Best 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: 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: 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: 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 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 and virtual reality software, 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 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

Reviewed and edited by Shanti Nair