Best free PCB/Schematic software?

Dr. K · Joined: Jan 15, 2020 Posts: 52 Location: wisconsin

I've been monkeying around trying to find a decent free PCB/schematic drawing software. I tried Libre and Circuit Maker, but after installing every component library I could find, it still didn't have basic components (very common IC chips, for example. No 555? No lm324...)

Now I can't even find a download site for Eagle, which as I recall was pretty easy to use.

Sorry, it's probably a dumb question. But things are getting complicated enough, I would really like to have a good and readable schematic. And if I came up with anything cool enough, a local makers space has a PCB CNC routing machine. Perfect for making a handful of boards.

Thanks for the info.
I can't express how much I've appreciated the sage wisdom and suggestions over the past weeks. I'm scrambling to learn everything I can. Downloaded the Make book, re-read the 2 classics on circuit bending. Dug out my ancient copy of "the Art of Electronics". Picked up cheap but decent o-scope and some breadboards.

mpa · Joined: May 03, 2025 Posts: 1 Location: Washington

Try KiCAD: https://www.kicad.org/

It's really good -- quite a few people use it for commercial work.

EAGLE was bought by Autodesk and is now part of Fusion 360.

elektrouwe · Joined: May 27, 2012 Posts: 146 Location: Germany

+1 more for KICAD - nothing else !

PHOBoS · Posted: Sat May 03, 2025 2:08 pm Post subject:

for schematics I use ExpressSCH.

still have an older version of EAGLE for schematic + PCB.
KiCad seems pretty decent, but I was already hooked on EAGLE when I tried it.

Dr. K · Joined: Jan 15, 2020 Posts: 52 Location: wisconsin

thank you! I will definitely give it a spin. It will really help, to have schematics of all the devices--to help in trouble shooting, or future repairs or upgrades. I ahd a box of pandemic era stuff, but the notebooks were lost to history. what a mess!

Ruebezahl · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2025 10:06 pm Post subject:

+1 for Kicad

In terms of open source software its by far the best!

Cynosure · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 6:17 am Post subject:

+1 for Kicad. It's also not too difficult to make your own devices in it for things that you can't find in its default library or online.

kkissinger · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2025 5:43 pm Post subject:

Another +1 for KiCad. It has a good library and it is pretty easy to create your own symbols and footprints as needed.

The latest version integrates Freerouting in it so if you want to use an autorouter, it is much easier now than it used to be.