--- title: KiCad EDA Reviews meta_title: 'KiCad EDA Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 69 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how KiCad EDA works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 69 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-17' parent_category: name: CAD url: https://www.g2.com/categories/cad --- # KiCad EDA Reviews **Vendor:** KiCad Project **Category:** [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 69 ## About KiCad EDA 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. ## KiCad EDA Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users find KiCad EDA to be **very easy to use** , making it great for launching prototypes and small pilot runs. (2 reviews) - Users value the **extensive library management** in KiCad EDA, facilitating quick prototyping and efficient updates. (2 reviews) - Users value the **cross-platform compatibility** of KiCad EDA, allowing seamless use across different operating systems. (1 reviews) - Users value the **fast updates and extensive library support** provided by KiCad EDA for their projects. (1 reviews) - Users find KiCad EDA to be a **very easy tool to learn** , making it ideal for beginners in prototyping. (1 reviews) - Features (1 reviews) - Updates (1 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users face **cloud issues** with KiCad EDA, noting limitations for larger projects and lack of cloud synchronization. (1 reviews) - Users struggle with **inefficient autorouting** methods in KiCad EDA, encountering numerous small bugs that hinder usability. (1 reviews) - Users face challenges with **library management** when sharing designs among different stakeholders, leading to potential confusion and errors. (1 reviews) - Users express concerns about **limited customization** for larger projects, impacting overall usability and flexibility. (1 reviews) - Users find the **limited features** of KiCad EDA restrict their design capabilities compared to higher-end software. (1 reviews) - Users notice **limited options** in KiCad EDA, particularly lacking advanced features and commercial support compared to other tools. (1 reviews) - Limited Tools (1 reviews) - Software Bugs (1 reviews) ## KiCad EDA Reviews ### 1. Kicad Review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Automotive | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2021 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** The user interface, Easy Key binding, Free and open source **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Absence of 3D interface like Altium, Menu Items in a separate pan **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** USe Kicad EDA, fulfills most of the requirements that paid EDA vendors provide **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** PCB design and schematic Capture from paid software to open source ### 2. Best freeware software for PCB layout **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dhruven D. | Sr.PCB Layout Engineer at Teksun.inc, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** There is too many Software available in the market, but we have to pay for using that software. This software is freely available in the market and almost all PCB design features provide to do PCB layout. software provide via current calculation, impedance calculator that might be missing in other payable software. As of free software this also regularly provide updates for new features. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** We have to add all type of via size, track width and other details for select perfect line width. But it's not a big problem as per this is freely available in the market. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** Doing a great job to make a freeware software. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** We do schematic design, schematic library, PCB library and PCB layout with DRC checking and provide Gerber output for PCB manufacturer to make physical PCB. We also review Gerber and PCB layout as per standard. checking impedance and all other things related to PCB design and manufacturing. ### 3. A free software to design electronics circuits for professionals and hobbyists **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Giuseppe B. | oranges producer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 10, 2020 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** It is a complete free software to design electronics circuits, including the schematics, the PCB and the 3D view. There is a very large components library and it is able to export into the common industry gerber files. The program is available in the most used computer OS. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** There is nothing I dislike about this software. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** The complete free solution for electronics circuits design **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** As an hobbyist I found it very useful to design my DIY electronics circuits. And it is free. ### 4. KiCad EDA is the best freeware software for CAD and PCB layouts **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rahul S. | PCB layout Engineer , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 02, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** Lot of tools are available for CAD designing but KiCad stands different from that, which is the best thing to explore your designing skils. compare to other software this comes with lots of designing compatibility features like DRC settings, impedance calculation, easy setup for layer stackup and many more with free of cost. While working on high speed routing this is much compatible with low computer requirements.. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** there are some glitches which makes annoying sometimes while working, the library creation is quite messy unlike other software like EAGLE. We need to install seperate add on for 3D models. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** As this is the best freeware tool, I strongly recommend this tool for those who wants to learn PCB as a beginner like students and also for startups companies. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have been working this software from last 2 years with different routing signals like impedance, RF signals. ### 5. Very user friendly tool and with a big community to support. Free software as well! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Evangelos L. | PhD Candidate at KTH Electrical Engineering and Computer Science School, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 31, 2020 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** It's free and there are many capabilities. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** It has a decent 3D tool. It needs improvements there. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** It's free and there is a huge amount of free material that can help you yo use the software. ### 6. Best freeware software with no limitation **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tushar D. | Customer Service Officer, Telecommunications, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 04, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** In the current market, all PCB layout software is payable but this software is freeware available and also there is no limitation at all. I can design as many components as I want. also it provides a calculator for calculating impedance, power tracks, also I design antenna on board with this calculator. These features are best compared to other payable software. As this is free but still get new update regularly. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Can you provide some update like move forward, backward key in keyboard like adobe pdf reader has that improves the speed of work. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** Please use this software because of it's free. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can design a schematic and complete the layout as per client request. provide Gerber file for the manufacturing of PCB. ### 7. Best experience when in low budget **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Electronics | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 16, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** Because it's an open source tool I like to use it for my projects and also for some small project for work. It's very easy to use and online there are a lot of tutorials and guide. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** There isn't a 3d develop tool. It's just a 3d review. You have to work on liberties because the open source is good but not enough for work. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** It's free. It's light. It's easy to use. if you want to start developing elections projects I suggest you to use this **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used it for selling projects and because it's free to use my work can be well payed. I can use it on any pc I want in the same time. It very light. ### 8. KiCad - Open Source Schematics and PCB Design Made Easy **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Evan T. | Senior Video Producer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 23, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** KiCad is a full-featured electronic schematic and PCB design package that contains a variety of applications. All the programs in the package integrate closely making it easy to create a design beginning with custom component schematics all the way to manufacturing-ready PCB files. Project files make organization simple and automatically link data between every part of the package. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** The auto-routing tool for PCB tracks is somewhat complicated to use and may require multiple passes and cleanup to produce a functional design. Manual routing, however, is straightforward. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** I would recommend KiCad to anyone who needs a comprehensive electronics design package, especially for independent engineers and small to medium companies. It lacks some of the advanced simulation and automation features of other high-end packages, but it is open-source and available free instead of the expensive proprietary competitors. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** KiCad helps design circuits and custom PCBs more quickly and easily than other software packages. My development and prototyping process has been simplified and accelerated by switching to KiCad from my previous electronics design platform. The project-based file management and cross-platform support solves problems with collaboration among multiple users on a team. ### 9. An easy-to-use, resourceful tool for Electronic Design Automation (EDA) **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chathuri J. | University Undergaduate, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 19, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** It is very difficult to find an open source software for EDA with almost all the useful features available in an enterprise software suite. KiCad can be considered as one of such tools that gives the users a wide range of functionalities. The EasyEDA site provides lot of component libraries that can be used with KiCad and it makes the EDA process consistence and less time consuming. And also, compared to other EDA softwares, KiCad uses less resources. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** In order to generate the 3D model of the pcb from the brd file, we need to install separate add-ons which is somewhat annoying. It would be better if the software had that feature included within it instead of having to install a separate software for that. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** If you are looking for an open source EDA software with a rich set of libraries, KiCad is worthy to be among your choices. It gives the functionalities of an enterprise software with easy- to-use interface. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used KiCad for PCB and Schematic designing and for 3D model automation. KiCad provides support for customized footprint designing and we can add them as well. Also, it provides support for hierarchical designing of schematics as well. Therefore, KiCad can be considered as a very useful and easy-to-use tool that made my works fast and easier. ### 10. Wonderful, powerful and secure free software package for efficient electronic design automation **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andrea S. | Coordinador de desarrollo de proyectos, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 15, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** I like KiCad because it is an efficient and complete multi-platform program, which allows to use an integrated environment for all stages of the design process, schematic capture, PCB design, generation, Gerber file visualization and editing of component libraries, which becomes an important program of great utility **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** I firmly believe that I have an innovative and creative program for the solution for the automation of a true and useful electronic design, for this strong reason I do not have a negative criterion against it, on the contrary, I only regret that this excellent program is available in several languages, it should expand the options to other languages a little more in order to obtain greater coverage in other latitudes and to be able to recommend its great utility as a safe solution alternative **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** It really is a solution alternative to create and design the best customized operating system and the best with the freedom that is so needed, that's why it becomes a strong reason to recommend its full and important use **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** It has helped us to obtain good results, especially as it is a powerful cost-free free software package which are available in several component libraries, thus allowing the addition of customized components. The custom components can be available by project or installed for use in any project, as well as its powerful task guide contributes to a complete and efficient way to adapt, customize and power a true tool with full freedom ### 11. KiCad integrated environment for schematic to structural design conversion **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Siddharth M. | Design Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** The open source environment makes it an attractive option for multiple OS partitions in a computer. Component import option from other CAD tools like EAGLE help in switching between different design environments. The most formidable feature is that of pcbnew layout component which includes a separate OpenGL based rendering engine. Recent versions include scripting support mechanisms for Python too. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Even though the autoroute uses a topological routing algorithm, it's handling of initial partitions is still rusty. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** Working as a grad student researcher in analog IC design, I regularly use this software among other EDA tools for board design of peripheral circuits for MEMS gyroscope. ### 12. KiCad is very easy to use, has lot of features **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aruna J. | Research Assistant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 20, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** It is very easy to use. The best thing id that it is open source. and the next thing is online library of EasyEDA has lot of component files. And it also support custom creating of footprints and adding them. The project manager is easy to use. Hierarchical design is supported in the schematics. All the important features are packed inside. and also it uses less resources compared to other PCB design tools. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** When the brd file editing. I feel it is difficulty to select the required layer. it usually changes back to the default layer. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** It contains lot of libraries. and for rapid development of PCBs this tool is a best solution. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** PCB design, Schematic design, 3D model exporting, BOM(Bill of material) creation ### 13. Professional grade design automation for printed circuit boards. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephen G. L. | Chief Dogcatcher, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 08, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** It is professional grade. Constantly updated, quite comprehensive. Free. Runs under Linux. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Nothing, really. It's great software. Free. Runs on Linux. Exhaustive coverage of all aspects of PCB design. Nothing is left out or inferior. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** Do it! Excellent, free software. What's not to like? **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** PCB design automation for a radiation monitor. Benefits are productivity, value added. Accurate simulation/estimation. ### 14. The best PCB design software, on par with other software that costs thousands of dollars. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 22, 2018 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** KiCad is fast, responsive, and pretty lightweight compared to some of the competition. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** KiCad's library management is an absolute nightmare. Serious work needs to be done to centralize the library management tools. My company uses GitHub for collaboration, and our libraries are constantly having to be remapped. It is a nightmare. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** Figure out your parts libraries prior to starting use of KiCad. You need centralized libraries, or it will be a complete nightmare. My company has had some nightmares from KiCad library issues, but other than that, it is important to realize that you are (generally) comparing free software to multi-thousand-dollar software. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** As a small startup, KiCad allows us to do things that other solutions could provide, but we just can't afford. ### 15. Key cad review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Hardware | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** Creating schematics for electronic circuits is not that easy to do on its own. Working with different metrics is a plus and you can customize components, which is handy. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Sometimes it tends to be glitchy. I have never lost my progress, but it maybe annoying once in a while **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** The fact that I can use different languages and metrics helps me address different problems and array of projects ### 16. KiCAD Experience **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Electronics | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 15, 2019 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** Graphical User Interface, ease of access **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Unavailability of inbuilt libraries for some devices **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** Developing RF devices ### 17. Great User experience, good inbuilt calculator **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 12, 2018 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** I like the inbuilt calculator, its simple enough but very useful **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** Going from other PCB software, to kicad might be a little harder **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** Have used it to provide silicon verification board to the customer. ### 18. The best open-source, cross-platform EDA suite out there **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Professional Training & Coaching | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 14, 2017 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** KiCAD is very easy to use, and is free (with no size limit like EAGLE), making it a great option, when you have limited PCB design needs. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** It is very difficult to find many pre-built components for KiCAD - when working with newer, or less common parts like Relays, you usually need to either convert an EAGLE part or make your own which can be very time-consuming. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** It's worth a try, considering it's the best free option available. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** KiCAD EDA is our go-to tool for quickly building one-off PCBs as needed for our client projects. Compared to other EDAs which can cost upwards of $20,000, KiCAD does all the basics well, and we haven't really run into any limitations yet. ### 19. An excellent open-source CAD software for electonics design **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jack-Benny P. | Owner, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2016 **What do you like best about KiCad EDA?** There are three things that really makes me love this CAD program. First of all it's open-source, which means it's totally free! Second, it was easy to start drawing, even advanced schematics. Withing an hour from installing the software I had added my own components to the component library and was half-way my project. Third, the results are great. Not only for printing, but there's the ability to save your blueprints/schematics in various formats like SVG, PDF, PNG etc. The SVG (vector graphics) option is great if you want to tweak something afterward. **What do you dislike about KiCad EDA?** So far it's not much that I don't like from this totally free CAD software. But I can imagine that people who are switching from one of the bigger CAD vendors to KiCAD will have some troubles getting used to it since it doesn't look like most CAD software. But for me that's only a plus, since I can never get the hang of the other CAD programs on the market. KiCAD was for me much easier to get started with. For example there are no icons the for components, instead you type the name of the component and are given a list of matching components to choose from. **Recommendations to others considering KiCad EDA:** Don't get put off by their unfamiliar look. I learned how to use it under 15 minutes and I'm in no way a CAD expert. Watch a few Youtube videos about it (I did) and you'll soon got the hang of it. It's really easy to add your own components, which can be a difficult task in other CAD applications. **What problems is KiCad EDA solving and how is that benefiting you?** Before I found KiCAD I didn't really have a good CAD program. I've been using others, but none of which I liked. I have subscribed to an online schematics program for a couple of years, but since I have a newly started business I have to cut down on the cost, and hence I started looking for open-source alternatives. Since I am a huge open-source advocate (I'm a developer myself) I was very glad when I found KiCAD. ## KiCad EDA Discussions - [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 - [What is the best EDA software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-eda-software) - 1 comment - [View KiCad EDA pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews?page=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-03+18%3A46%3A25+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=f854d465-06b2-4fea-b1e4-37116d8d8d10&secure%5Btoken%5D=8040a87698fb3abcfedb377e2fce4bdd6d589db6cbf48f5f07f715b62a5ada06&format=llm_user) ## KiCad EDA Integrations - [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) - [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) ## KiCad EDA Features **Design** - PCB layout editing - Schematic editor **Tools** - 3D modeling tools - Component placement **Library** - Component libraries **Platform** - Board size - Layers **Customization** - Custom commands ## Top KiCad EDA Alternatives - [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,031 reviews) - [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (510 reviews) - [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (110 reviews)