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OrCAD X vs LibrePCB: catalog facts
OrCAD X	LibrePCB
Best for: Electrical engineers and small teams designing professional printed circuit boards	Best for: Hobbyists and students designing circuit boards with free software
Paid Paid licences in three editions, with a free trial.	Free Free and open source with no paid tier.
Windows	Windows, macOS, Linux
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	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
Commercial licences, with advanced features in higher editions More than hobby projects usually need	Smaller ecosystem of ready-made parts than long-established EDA tools No circuit simulation built in
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for OrCAD X orcad.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for LibrePCB librepcb.org Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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