KiCad
Open source electronics design suite with a schematic editor, PCB layout editor, integrated SPICE simulation, and a 3D viewer for boards.
What it does and how it connects
KiCad is a free, open source electronics design suite with a schematic editor, PCB layout editor, integrated SPICE simulation, and a 3D viewer for boards. The schematic editor supports hierarchical designs with hundreds of sheets and the official KiCad library, with an electrical rules checker and SPICE simulator for verification.
The PCB editor is presented as approachable for a first board and powerful enough for complex modern designs, with an interactive router and improved visualization and selection tools. The 3D viewer allows inspection of mechanical fit and preview of the finished product, with a built-in raytracer for realistic renders.
KiCad is developed in the open; its source is hosted on GitLab, with the GitHub repository used here as an active mirror. The latest release at research time is 10.0.8, and KiCad is licensed under GPL-3.0.
The GitHub repository is an active mirror of the KiCad source hosted on GitLab; stars and push dates reflect the mirror.
Alternatives
Compare side by side- Altium Designer
Altium Designer is professional PCB design software covering schematic capture, PCB layout, and component and data management.
- EasyEDA
EasyEDA is a web-based EDA platform with schematic capture, PCB design, circuit simulation, large free component libraries, and one-click PCB ordering.
- Cadence OrCAD/Allegro
OrCAD X is a comprehensive, AI-enabled PCB design platform from Cadence for small to medium-sized businesses, with Allegro X for complex boards.
- Autodesk Eagle
EAGLE was a PCB design tool for schematic capture and board layout; Autodesk ended its sale and support on June 7, 2026, and its page now routes to Fusion.
- eda-agent
eda-agent is an MCP server that lets AI agents read and modify a live Altium Designer session, with KiCad available as an additional backend.
Recurring errors it addresses
Error Index entries this tool is built to reduce or work around.
- Interactive routing creates unwanted micro-segments and awkward paths that take time to clean up.Error Index
- Grid snap and move commands can disconnect items or reposition them in unwanted ways.Error Index
- GUI lag, occasional freezes, and sluggish editor switching interrupt concentration.Error Index
- Wayland/NVIDIA users report graphical glitches, flicker, or instability.Error Index
Sources
Not verified
- Pricing: none stated on the vendor site or repo as read.
- Real user voices: no real linked post read for this page; KiCad issues live on GitLab, not on the GitHub mirror.
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.