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LibrePCB vs OrCAD X: catalog facts
LibrePCB	OrCAD X
Best for: Hobbyists and students designing circuit boards with free software	Best for: Electrical engineers and small teams designing professional printed circuit boards
Free Free and open source with no paid tier.	Paid Paid licences in three editions, with a free trial.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
No cost, restrictions or online account Human-readable file format suited to Git All 4 strengths for LibrePCB No cost, restrictions or online account Human-readable file format suited to Git Structured library concept for symbols and footprints Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS	Schematic, simulation and PCB layout in one suite SPICE and mixed-signal analysis in higher editions All 3 strengths for OrCAD X Schematic, simulation and PCB layout in one suite SPICE and mixed-signal analysis in higher editions Free trial and a viewer available
Smaller ecosystem of ready-made parts than long-established EDA tools No circuit simulation built in	Commercial licences, with advanced features in higher editions More than hobby projects usually need
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for LibrePCB librepcb.org Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for OrCAD X orcad.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.