Here is a list of 5 best free open source PCB (printed circuit board) design software for Windows. Using PCB design software, you can easily design a printed circuit board (PCB) consisting of tracks and component names. All of these software are open source software, so you can also download and make modifications to the source code of any of these software.
In this software, you get various tools for PCB design like PTH, Connectors, Arcs, Polygons, etc., plus, you can also find lots of electronic components (Analogic, Contributed Parts, DescreteSemi, etc.) which you can add to your PCB. Design. To distinguish PCB tracks from one another, you can assign different colors to each track in some of these softwares. Plus, it’s pretty easy to assign names to individual tracks and components using the Subtitles tool, which you can find in most of these software.
After completing the PCB design layout, this software allows you to save the design in Image (PNG, JPEG, BMP, etc.) and PDF document formats. Some of these softwares also allow you to export components and component connectivity information in Netlist form. In some of these software, you can also import a netlist to collect all information about PCB design.
This software also offers some additional tools such as Measure (to measure the distance between two points), Autoroute (to automatically create PCB paths according to selected components), 3D viewer (to view PCB designs in 3D view), etc. Using available tools and features, you can easily create PCB designs. Here’s a list of 5 Best Free PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Software:
1. FidoCadJ
FidoCadJ is another open source PCB design software for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Through this software, you can quickly create a PCB design layout as it offers all the important PCB components and connecting paths on the interface. All components (PCB Traces, PCB Symbols, Electrical Symbols, etc.) are on the right side panel and all connection tools (PCB Lines, Polygons, Beziers, Text, etc.) are in the toolbar of this software. Using the available tools, you can easily create a PCB design the way you want.
How to design PCB using FidoCadJ:
- Open this software interface and select a component from the right side panel and place it over the PCB editing area. Similarly, you can add more PCB components to your PCB design.
- After that, use the connection path from the top toolbar and start connecting the components. To distinguish a copper side connection from a component side connection, you can select a copper side or component side option that gives the selected connection a color.
- Once the PCB design is complete, use the Print option to save the design in PDF format and use the Export option to save the design in formats like PNG, JPEG, SVG, EPS, etc.
Additional features:
View Codes: Using it, you can see the actual code behind the PCB design made by you.
Image as background: Allows you to set an external image as the PCB design background.
It is a simple and easy to use open source PCB design software that anyone can use without any trouble. [Download FidoCadJ].
2. SimulIDE
SimulIDE is an open source PCB design software for Windows and Linux. circuit design software which can also be used to design PCB layouts. The unique thing about this software is that it can also simulate the circuit and the behavior of its components at different frequencies. The process of designing a PCB circuit layout through this software is quite simple.
How to design PCB using SimulIDE:
- Open the interface of this software and go to the Components section where you can find many components such as steppers, gates, converters, ICs, text tools, and more.
- After that, drag and drop the components you want to use in the PCB design into the main editing area of this software.
- Next, start combining the components using your mouse.
- After combining the components, use the text tool to name each component.
- Once done, you can save your PCB design in image formats like PNG, JPG, BMP, SVG, etc.
Additional features:
Power Circuits: Allows you to start a simulation that you can use to check the behavior of your design at different frequencies.
This open source PCB design software not only allows you to create PCB designs, but you can also create and simulate circuit designs in it. [Download simulIDE].
3. Fritzing
Fritzing is a free, open source PCB design software for Windows, macOS, and Linux. By using this software, you can create PCB designs. Apart from PCB designs, it also lets you create PCB schematics and breadboard designs. It offers many inbuilt electronic parts that you can use in your PCB design. Plus, other important tools like Routing (to determine the connection between electronic components), Viewing, Layers, etc., are also built in. The interface of this software is also quite interactive and user friendly.
How to design a PCB using Fritzing:
- Launch this software and open the PCB section of this software.
- After that, go to the panel and select the Parts section from the various available tools like Electromechanical, AnalogIC, Contributed Parts, DescreteSemi, etc.
- Now, select the electronic components you want to use in your PCB design and place them in the main editing section of this software.
- Next, put all the components in the proper position and then use the Routing (connections) or wire tools to start joining the components to complete the PCB design.
- If you move to the Breadboards and Schematics section, you can view the respective diagrams based on your PCB layout design. You can also access the code behind your PCB layout by going to the Code section.
- After creating your PCB layout design, you can export it in Etchable PDF, Etchable SVG, and Image (PNG and JPG) formats.
Additional features:
LayerView: Using it, you can easily see below, above, and between the layers of the PCB.
Autoroute: This is a powerful feature that automatically routes or combines components according to the type of components you are using.
Rotate: This is another handy tool that allows you to change the orientation of individual PCB components and the PCB layout design.
It is a comprehensive open source PCB design software where you can create both simple and complex PCB designs. [Download Fritzing].
4. Minimal Board Editor
Minimal Board Editor is another free open source PCB design software for Windows. It is also a portable software that you can use on the go without installing it on your PC. Through this software, you can create PCB path layouts, define PCB component names and component connections.
Minimal Board Editor offers various PCB designing tools such as Connection Check, Measure, Arc, Text, Line and many more. After finishing the PCB design, you can easily export it in PDF format. Plus, the option to export component lists and PCB layout connection information in Netlist (.net) form is also provided by it.
How to design PCB using Minimal Board Editor:
- Launch this software and select the PTH (Plated Through Hole) tool from the interface and start placing it over the interface to determine the location of the PTH on the PCB.
- After that, select the Text tool and write the names of the components in the PCB section to determine the location of the components.
- Next, select the Line tool to create PCB paths that will define the connections between the various PCB components. You can also use other available tools to define more connections like Arc, Polygon, Hole, Pad, etc.
- When you’re done creating your PCB design, you can export it in a PDF document.
Additional features:
Colors: It allows you to change the standard colors of various components and PCB layout paths.
Measures: This is a handy tool that you can use to accurately measure the distance between two points that are on top of a PCB design.
It is a simple and easy to use open source PCB design software where you can create PCB designs without much trouble. [Download Minimal Board Editor].
Notes: On the download page provided, please scroll down to the Minimal Board Editor software to get the download link.
5. FreePCB
FreePCB is an open source PCB design software for Windows. Through this software, you can create PCB layouts using the various PCB design tools available. The process of making PCB designs is also quite simple in this software. You can access all the required PCB components from the Parts section and all the connecting tools like lines, arcs, etc., from the bottom of the interface.
Before designing a PCB layout, you can adjust the PCB units (mil or mm), Visible grid area (1mm, 2mm, 5mm, etc.) and Routing line width (1mm, 4mm, etc.) using the Toolbar tool. From the Leftside panel in this software, you can also manually change the color of various connections and outing lines in this software.
How to design a PCB using FreePCB:
- Open this software interface and create a New project.
- After that, go to the Project tab and select the PCB components you want to put in your PCB layout.
- Next, use the Routing tool to determine the path of the copper layer on top of the PCB board to complete the PCB design.
- Finally, use the Save option to save the PCB design as a local project file or use the Export CAM option to save the design in a CAM file. You can also export the component list as a Netlist file.
Additional features:
Connectivity Checks: It helps you to find out all the broken connections or unconnected components present in your PCB layout design.
Design Rule Check: Check your PCB design according to PCB design rules to find faulty connections and wrong PCB designs.
It is a decent open source PCB design software that anyone can use to create PCB designs. [Download FreePCB].
Those are the 5 Best Free PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Software for Windows. Of the 5 software above, Fritzing is Safespedia’s favorite software because it offers almost all the necessary tools needed to create simple or complex PCB designs. Plus, I love its ability to show the entire code behind a PCB design. Hopefully this article is useful and thank you for visiting.
