Alternatives to LibrePCB

A free, open-source electronics design suite for drawing schematics and laying out printed circuit boards. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as LibrePCB.

  • KiCad

    A full electronics design suite: draw the schematic, lay out the board, view it in 3D, send it to a fab.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    KiCad is also free and open source, with a larger bundled symbol and footprint library, a plugin manager, a 3D viewer and basic simulation.

  • Horizon EDA

    Design circuit boards from schematics through manufacturing files.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    Horizon EDA is free and open source with parts management, interactive routing and design-rule checks, but targets only Windows and Linux.

  • EasyEDA

    Design electronic schematics and printed circuit boards in a browser.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    EasyEDA runs in a browser on a freemium, closed-source model, requiring an online service and charging separately for manufacturing orders.

  • CircuitMaker

    Free schematic and PCB design software from Altium with a community component library.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    CircuitMaker is free proprietary Windows software built on Altium technology with a large community library, but only five projects can stay private.

  • DesignSpark PCB

    Schematic capture and printed circuit board layout software with a free plan and paid tiers.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    DesignSpark PCB is closed-source freemium Windows software whose free plan has no limits on layers, connections or schematic size, with newer features in paid plans.

  • Altium Designer

    Professional PCB design suite covering schematics, layout, and simulation.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    Altium Designer is an expensive professional Windows suite adding simulation and manufacturing outputs, with plentiful training resources.

  • DipTrace

    Schematic capture and PCB layout software with constraint-driven design and interactive push-and-shove routing.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    DipTrace is commercial Windows software with push-and-shove routing and detailed rule checks, sold under a perpetual licence.

  • Fritzing

    Document electronics projects with breadboard, schematic and PCB views.

    PaidOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Fritzing adds a breadboard view for documenting projects alongside schematic and PCB, is open source, and charges for official compiled downloads.

Also worth comparing

These listings name LibrePCB as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Lepton EDA

    An open-source electronic design automation suite for schematic capture and netlisting, forked from gEDA.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    LibrePCB is free and open source with packaged builds for Windows, Linux and macOS, covering both schematics and board layout.

  • OrCAD X

    Cadence's commercial PCB design suite for schematic capture, simulation and board layout.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    LibrePCB is free and open source on Windows, Linux and macOS with a Git-friendly file format, but it has no built-in circuit simulation.

  • Proteus Design Suite

    Electronics design software combining schematic capture, circuit and microcontroller simulation, and PCB layout.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    LibrePCB is free, open-source schematic and PCB software with a Git-friendly file format across Windows, Linux and macOS, but it has no circuit simulation built in.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.