Kicad vs Altium vs Eagle: PCB Design Software Comparison

The Kicad is a free, open-source PCB design tool ideal for beginners and hobbyists. Altium offers advanced features and professional support for complex, high-end projects but comes with a high cost. Eagle balances ease of use and features, suitable for small to medium projects with moderate pricing.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick overview of the main differences between Kicad, Altium, and Eagle in PCB design.

Feature	Kicad	Altium	Eagle
Cost	Free and open-source	Expensive, subscription-based	Moderate, subscription-based
User Level	Beginner to intermediate	Professional and advanced	Beginner to intermediate
Platform Support	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac	Windows, Mac, Linux
3D Visualization	Basic 3D viewer	Advanced 3D and mechanical integration	Basic 3D viewer
Community & Support	Strong open-source community	Professional support and training	Moderate community, Autodesk support
Schematic & PCB Size Limits	No strict limits	No limits	Free version limited to 2 schematic sheets and 80cm² board area

Key Differences

Kicad is fully free and open-source, making it accessible for hobbyists and students. It supports multiple platforms including Linux, which is rare among PCB tools. Its interface is improving but can feel less polished than commercial tools.

Altium is a premium tool designed for professional engineers working on complex, multi-layer PCBs. It offers advanced features like unified schematic and PCB editing, real-time 3D visualization, and strong integration with mechanical CAD tools. Its cost and complexity make it less suitable for casual users.

Eagle is owned by Autodesk and offers a middle ground with a user-friendly interface and moderate pricing. It supports scripting and has a good library ecosystem. However, its free version has limitations on board size and layers, which can restrict larger projects.

Kicad Code Example

This example shows how to create a simple resistor footprint in Kicad's scripting console using Python.

python

import pcbnew

board = pcbnew.GetBoard()

# Create a new footprint
footprint = pcbnew.FOOTPRINT(board)
footprint.SetReference('R1')
footprint.SetValue('10k')

# Add pads
pad1 = pcbnew.PAD(footprint)
pad1.SetName('1')
pad1.SetShape(pcbnew.PAD_SHAPE_RECT)
pad1.SetSize(pcbnew.wxSizeMM(1.5, 1.5))
pad1.SetPosition(pcbnew.wxPointMM(0, 0))
footprint.Add(pad1)

pad2 = pcbnew.PAD(footprint)
pad2.SetName('2')
pad2.SetShape(pcbnew.PAD_SHAPE_RECT)
pad2.SetSize(pcbnew.wxSizeMM(1.5, 1.5))
pad2.SetPosition(pcbnew.wxPointMM(5, 0))
footprint.Add(pad2)

board.Add(footprint)
pcbnew.Refresh()

Output

Adds a resistor footprint with two rectangular pads spaced 5mm apart to the current PCB design in Kicad.

Altium Equivalent

This Altium Designer script in Delphi-like language creates a similar resistor footprint programmatically.

pascal

var
  Board: IPCB_Board;
  Comp: IPCB_Component;
  Pad1, Pad2: IPCB_Pad;
begin
  Board := PCBServer.GetCurrentPCBBoard;
  Comp := PCBServer.PCBObjectFactory(eComponentObject, eNoDimension, eCreate_Default);
  Comp.Designator.Text := 'R1';
  Comp.Comment.Text := '10k';

  Pad1 := PCBServer.PCBObjectFactory(ePadObject, eNoDimension, eCreate_Default);
  Pad1.Name := '1';
  Pad1.Shape := eRectangle;
  Pad1.Size := PointMM(1.5, 1.5);
  Pad1.Location := PointMM(0, 0);
  Comp.AddPCBObject(Pad1);

  Pad2 := PCBServer.PCBObjectFactory(ePadObject, eNoDimension, eCreate_Default);
  Pad2.Name := '2';
  Pad2.Shape := eRectangle;
  Pad2.Size := PointMM(1.5, 1.5);
  Pad2.Location := PointMM(5, 0);
  Comp.AddPCBObject(Pad2);

  Board.AddPCBObject(Comp);
  Board.ViewManager_FullUpdate;
end.

Output

Creates a resistor component with two rectangular pads spaced 5mm apart on the PCB in Altium Designer.

When to Use Which

Choose Kicad if you want a free, open-source tool that works on all major platforms and you are comfortable with a community-driven project. It's great for learning, hobby projects, and small to medium designs without budget.

Choose Altium if you need advanced features, professional support, and work on complex, multi-layer PCBs in a corporate environment. It excels in integration with mechanical CAD and high-end manufacturing workflows.

Choose Eagle if you want a balance between ease of use and features with moderate pricing, especially for small to medium projects. It is suitable for makers and small businesses who want Autodesk ecosystem integration.

Key Takeaways

Kicad is free and open-source, ideal for beginners and hobbyists.

Altium is a premium tool for professional, complex PCB designs with advanced features.

Eagle offers a middle ground with moderate cost and ease of use for small to medium projects.

Choose based on your project complexity, budget, and platform preference.

All three support scripting and automation but differ in language and ecosystem.