KiCad

Name: KiCad — Download free. EDA software suite
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
Author: The KiCad Developers

KiCad — Free Download. EDA software suite

KiCad provides a complete environment for designing electronic circuits and printed circuit boards. It includes a schematic editor with hierarchical sheet support, an interactive PCB router, a 3D viewer with raytracing, a Gerber file viewer, a bitmap-to-component converter, and a page layout editor. The suite manages projects through a central project manager, generates bill of materials lists, and verifies designs with an integrated SPICE simulator and electrical rules checker. Libraries of symbols and footprints are included, and users can create custom parts. The software runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

★★★★★

5.0(1 ratings)

Download KiCad (Official links)

File size: 923 MB

The latest version of KiCad is: 10.0.6

Operating system: Windows, MacOS, Linux

Languages: English

Developer: The KiCad Developers

Price: $0.00 USD ((GPL-3.0) Free)

Schematic Capture. The schematic editor creates and edits electronic circuit diagrams. It supports flat and hierarchical designs with an unlimited number of sheets. Users place symbols from internal or custom libraries, draw wires and buses, add junctions, and insert local or global labels. The electrical rules checker validates connectivity and pin conflicts. The integrated SPICE simulator runs analog and mixed-signal simulations directly from the schematic. Netlists export to the PCB editor for board layout.
PCB Layout. The printed circuit board editor arranges components and routes copper traces on multiple layers. An interactive router pushes and shoves traces, creates differential pairs, and tunes trace lengths. Design rule checking enforces clearance, track width, and via constraints. Users place zones, arcs, circles, polygons, and vias. The editor supports footprint assignment, layer management, and 3D preview. Boards export to Gerber, drill, DSN, CAD, and WRL formats.
3D Viewer. The 3D viewer renders the printed circuit board and its components in three dimensions. A built-in raytracer with adjustable lighting produces realistic images. Users inspect mechanical fit, component height, and board orientation. The viewer checks collisions between parts and the enclosure. Images export for documentation or presentation. The tool reads STEP and IGES models for custom components.
Gerber Viewer. The Gerber viewer displays Gerber and drill files from any PCB design. It shows copper layers, solder mask, silkscreen legend, and drill holes. Users analyse board images before manufacturing. The viewer supports multiple file formats and layer visibility controls. Measurements and comparisons between layers are possible. This tool verifies fabrication output without the original design files.
Symbol and Footprint Libraries. KiCad includes thousands of symbols and footprints in official libraries. The symbol editor creates and modifies schematic symbols. The footprint editor designs land patterns for surface-mount and through-hole components. Users link symbols to footprints through the library manager. Custom libraries integrate with the schematic and PCB editors. Library files follow a text-based format for version control.
Project Manager. The project manager organises schematic, PCB, and library files into a single project. It tracks file dependencies and opens associated editors. Users create new projects from templates. The manager handles ZIP archive export and import. It stores project-specific settings and revision history. Multiple projects open in separate windows.
Bill of Materials Generation. The BOM tool extracts component lists from the schematic. It generates reports in CSV, HTML, and text formats. Users group components by value, footprint, or reference. Fields include manufacturer part numbers, quantities, and descriptions. Custom scripts extend BOM output. The list exports for purchasing and assembly.
Bitmap to Component Converter. This utility converts bitmap images into PCB artwork. It transforms BMP files into copper layers, silkscreen, or solder mask. Users create logos, icons, and custom graphics for boards. The converter supports black-and-white and grayscale images. Output integrates directly into the PCB editor as footprints or zones.
Page Layout Editor. The page layout editor designs custom worksheet templates for schematics and PCBs. It defines title blocks, borders, and drawing frames. Users place text, lines, and images on the worksheet. Templates save as reusable files. The editor applies layouts to new or existing projects.
PCB Calculator. The PCB calculator computes electrical and physical properties of board traces. It calculates trace width from current and temperature rise. The tool determines via properties, transmission line impedance, and fuse current. Users compute resistor and capacitor values from colour codes. The calculator supports electrical engineering formulas for design verification.
Macro and Hotkey Support. Users record macros for repetitive actions. Hotkeys assign to menu commands and tools. The software stores macros in project files. Scripting with Python automates schematic and PCB tasks. This feature reduces manual work for large designs.
SPICE Simulator Integration. The schematic editor includes a SPICE simulator for analog circuit analysis. Users place SPICE models and define simulation directives. The simulator performs DC, AC, transient, and noise analyses. Results display as graphs within the schematic editor. This integration verifies circuit behaviour before PCB fabrication.

KiCad began in 1992 as a project by Jean-Pierre Charras, a researcher at the French laboratory LIS (Laboratoire des Images et des Signaux). The software was initially named "KiCad" and written in C++. Early versions ran on Linux and provided schematic capture and PCB layout. In 2001, the project moved to SourceForge, and a community of developers formed. The KiCad Developers team grew to include contributors worldwide. Major releases added the 3D viewer, Gerber viewer, and Python scripting. In 2015, KiCad adopted the GNU General Public License version 3. The project migrated to GitLab in 2019. Version 5.0 in 2018 introduced a new symbol library format and improved router. Version 6.0 in 2021 added a new file format and improved UI. Version 7.0 in 2023 brought additional routing and simulation features.