List of the Top 23 PCB Design Software in 2025

BQRG's software suite offers patented tools for automated electronic design analysis and optimization to enhance your design processes: SynthelyzerTM ECAD Plugin supercharges PCB design by providing real-time stress analysis, derating, and thermal simulations, all while seamlessly integrating with ECAD systems to ensure optimal component choices and avert costly mistakes. fiXtress® stands out as a powerful asset in reliability engineering; featuring cutting-edge FMECA, stress, and failure predictions, it helps to prolong product life and reduce downtime significantly. When paired with Synthelyzer™, this combination leads to unmatched design optimization. CircuitHawk™ helps speed up time-to-market by identifying design issues at an early stage, and its sophisticated verification and stress analysis capabilities lay a solid groundwork for creating dependable products. apmOptimizer® is designed to enhance asset value and operational efficiency; through LCC analysis and predictive maintenance strategies, it helps lower costs, optimize spare parts inventory, and guarantees seamless operations. Finally, CARE® prioritizes product safety and ensures adherence to regulatory standards, providing a complete solution for compliance and quality assurance in your designs. This suite collectively transforms the electronic design landscape, making it more efficient and reliable.

OrCAD® X represents a comprehensive platform for PCB design that enhances user experience, boosts performance, and streamlines automation. This software suite encompasses various applications such as schematic design, PCB layout, simulation, and data management. Among its offerings, OrCAD X Capture stands out as a widely used tool for creating and documenting electrical circuits. Complementing this is PSpice®, an integrated virtual SPICE simulation engine within Capture, which empowers users to prototype and validate their designs through top-tier native analog, mixed signal, and advanced analysis capabilities. Additionally, OrCAD X Presto and OrCAD X PCB editor facilitate seamless collaboration between ECAD and MCAD teams, enabling designers to produce superior PCBs more efficiently. OrCAD X Presto features a user-friendly interface tailored for novice designers as well as electrical engineers and PCB designers who prioritize rapid PCB development, making it an essential tool in today's fast-paced design environment. The combined functionalities of these applications ensure that designers can meet the evolving demands of the industry effectively.

You have the ability to design, share, and produce everything from a single platform without the hassle of installation or configuration. Altium Designer enables a direct connection to the platform, allowing you to maintain your usual electronic design processes. With Altium 365, there are no extra licenses required as it's part of your existing subscription. The transparency provided in reviews and design sharing can expedite your product development, giving you an edge over competitors. You can communicate real-time updates and project statuses with your team, manufacturers, clients, and other stakeholders without ever leaving your design environment, facilitating collaboration. Anyone with Internet access can easily view, compare, and comment on your projects, eliminating the need for additional licenses for Altium Designer. By overcoming electronic and mechanical collaboration challenges, you can turn them into a competitive advantage, ensuring efficiency across different domains without wasting time or losing focus. This integrated approach fosters innovation and streamlines your workflow, ultimately leading to higher quality outputs.

PCB123 serves as a comprehensive design solution tailored for Printed Circuit Board Designers across all skill levels. Initially introduced as a complimentary tool in 2002, PCB123 operates on a unique business model where we only receive payment when you successfully design your PCB. Our team of experts is readily available to address any inquiries you may have, ensuring your project thrives. With its user-friendly interface and a wide array of features, PCB123 makes the design process straightforward and accessible. Unlike other tools, we don’t impose limitations or charge licensing fees, enabling you to enjoy complete functionality without barriers. Our revenue model is simple: we earn when you place orders for your boards. Additionally, we offer a software developer’s kit that provides programmatic access to the PCB123 database, allowing for customization to meet your specific needs. Our PCB layout specialists are dedicated to helping you cut costs and expedite your PCB prototyping journey. To receive a quote tailored to your project, simply provide us with your basic design information and watch your ideas come to life. Don't hesitate to reach out and discover how easy and beneficial PCB123 can be for your design needs.

The development of Proteus traces back to the MS-DOS era, and after over thirty years of consistent improvements, we are excited to introduce one of the most effective and cost-efficient PCB design tools on the market today. Our dedication to perpetual innovation has resulted in a comprehensive software suite packed with robust features that facilitate faster PCB design. When you choose to invest in Proteus, you are initiating a rewarding partnership that goes beyond a mere purchase. In addition to the software, you will benefit from outstanding technical support recognized throughout the industry. After your acquisition, a member of our team will connect with you as your dedicated technical support representative, providing you with a clear line of communication for any questions and direct access to Labcenter support. While we cannot promise to resolve all issues immediately, our commitment is to assist you in every possible way. Your success is the driving force behind our passion, motivating us to pursue excellence continuously. We deeply value your trust in us and pledge to be there for you at every turn, ensuring you have the tools and support necessary to succeed. This partnership is not just about software; it's about fostering a community that thrives on collaboration and growth.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of today's business world, organizations face complex design challenges while operating under tight financial constraints. eCADSTAR is more than merely a PCB layout application; it combines simulation, 3D MCAD functions, and wire harness capabilities, all powered by advanced technology that delivers enterprise-level performance without breaking the bank. Its intuitive interface makes eCADSTAR appealing to designers across various skill levels. By taking advantage of eCADSTAR’s comprehensive design functionalities, teams can enhance and accelerate their design processes. The software features a well-connected library and user-friendly schematic capture, empowering PCB layout engineers to dedicate more time to creativity instead of getting bogged down by tool intricacies. Among the multiple phases of design, crafting a test plan can be especially demanding. If simulation isn't adequately addressed early on, the validation stage could become costly and time-consuming; however, eCADSTAR mitigates this issue with its sophisticated features for Spice simulation and SI/PI analysis, leading to shorter test cycles and greater overall productivity. Moreover, eCADSTAR's capabilities not only aid in simplifying the design workflow but also foster innovation, making it an indispensable asset for engineers as they tackle the complexities of contemporary design projects. Ultimately, eCADSTAR proves itself to be an essential partner for engineers aiming to excel in this intricate design landscape.

The Cadence Allegro X Design Platform stands out as the premier choice for addressing the challenges of contemporary electronic complexity while catering to all PCB requirements. This comprehensive platform offers a fully integrated and scalable ecosystem ideal for sophisticated system design. By utilizing the Allegro X Design Platform, teams from around the world can collaborate efficiently and concurrently, leading to diminished project risks, reduced production expenses, and assurance of design compliance. Moreover, with Allegro X, electrical engineers and PCB designers have the ability to make informed decisions based on integrated analysis workflows and constraints, which not only shortens turnaround times but also enhances product reliability and increases the chances of achieving manufacturing success on the first attempt. This innovative platform is essential for any organization aiming to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving electronics landscape.

Real-time collaboration, an intuitive simulator, and a community-driven approach to content creation significantly streamline the hardware development process. The modern tools for sharing, user permissions, and an accessible version control system empower users to leverage collective expertise effectively. Our commitment to open-source principles is unwavering. With Flux's continuously expanding library of schematics and components, you can quickly embark on your projects. Moreover, our user-friendly programmable simulation eliminates the need for advanced degrees. You can even preview your schematic online before commencing construction. Flux serves as the ultimate destination for innovative hardware projects, whether you are crafting components for an ambitious Mars mission or designing a straightforward circuit board. As a comprehensive, web-based electronic design platform, Flux dismantles traditional obstacles in hardware design. Our approach is distinct and groundbreaking, focusing on collaborative, transparent building practices. We invite you to become part of our vibrant community of makers, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to enhancing hardware design tools and fostering innovation together. Join us in this exciting journey toward better hardware solutions.

Enhance your methodology for RF simulation by emphasizing the thorough design, scrutiny, and validation of radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). Ensure confidence in your projects by leveraging steady-state and nonlinear solvers during both the design and verification stages. Utilizing wireless standard libraries significantly accelerates the process of validating complex RFICs. It is vital to verify IC specifications through RF simulation before finalizing an RFIC, as these simulations account for various elements, including layout parasitics, complex modulated signals, and digital control circuitry. With PathWave RFIC Design, you can conduct simulations across both frequency and time domains, allowing for effortless transitions between your designs and Cadence Virtuoso. Achieve precise modeling of components on silicon chips, and refine your designs by employing optimization techniques such as sweeps and load-pull analysis. The integration of RF designs into the Cadence Virtuoso ecosystem is made more efficient, while the application of Monte Carlo and yield analysis can significantly enhance overall performance. Furthermore, debugging is simplified through safe operating area alerts, enabling the quick adoption of state-of-the-art foundry technologies to maintain a competitive edge in innovation. This comprehensive strategy for RFIC design not only boosts efficiency but also significantly enhances the overall quality and dependability of the resultant products, making it a crucial element in modern electronic design. By adopting this approach, engineers can achieve greater precision and reliability in their RFIC projects, ultimately leading to more successful outcomes in various applications.

Electromagnetic (EM) simulation offers crucial insights before moving on to the physical prototyping phase. To boost both the speed and accuracy of your EM simulations, they should be customized effectively. By integrating EM analysis with circuit simulations, you can significantly enhance overall efficiency. Although completing EM simulations may take several hours, linking your EM simulation tools with PathWave Circuit Design software can drastically cut down on import and export times. This integration is designed to optimize your workflow, allowing for a seamless combination of EM analysis and circuit simulations. The 3D EM solid modeling environment supports the creation of custom 3D objects and facilitates the import of models from various CAD systems, which is vital for preparing a 3D geometry for 3DEM simulation. This preparation includes the definition of ports, boundary conditions, and material properties. Moreover, the environment comes equipped with a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulator, which plays a crucial role in compliance testing for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC), ensuring that the designs align with necessary regulatory requirements. By leveraging these sophisticated features, you can not only streamline your design process but also significantly improve the efficacy of your electromagnetic analysis while ensuring that your products are compliant with industry standards. This careful orchestration of tools and processes ultimately leads to more innovative and reliable designs.

Explore the world of RF and microwave circuits and systems by utilizing advanced simulation and optimization tools that significantly improve your design workflow. Investigate the performance trade-offs that arise through the application of automatic circuit synthesis technology. PathWave RF Synthesis (Genesys) provides essential features tailored for all RF and microwave circuit board and subsystem designers. With PathWave Circuit Design, you can identify RF design errors that traditional spreadsheet analyses may miss. This comprehensive introductory design platform includes circuit, system, and electromagnetic simulators, allowing you to approach design evaluations with greater confidence before hardware implementation. A few clicks are all it takes to witness the automatic synthesis and optimization of your matching network. Following this, you can seamlessly transfer your design to PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS) for incorporation into more complex designs, guaranteeing smooth integration and improved functionality. By harnessing these innovative tools, you can not only streamline your design process but also significantly boost the overall productivity of your RF and microwave projects, paving the way for more successful outcomes. Additionally, the combination of these technologies empowers designers to achieve superior results with less effort and time.

FloWare is a suite of valuable enhancements designed to boost efficiency in CAD Flow and PCB design using OrCAD or Allegro. These enhancements were developed to address specific customer requirements related to Setup, Display and Edit, Drafting, Shapes, Check/Review, and Documentation. Installing the FloWare modules is straightforward, requiring no specialized technical knowledge, as the installation wizard simplifies the process. The toolbar displays the menu structure that is compatible with the PCB Editor, making navigation intuitive. Users can select from a variety of available modules to enhance their PCB design productivity significantly. Upon purchase, a license is delivered via email and is valid for your company's location, ensuring easy access to the tools. Each module comes with comprehensive documentation to assist users in maximizing their benefits. Additionally, the user-friendly nature of FloWare allows designers to focus more on creativity and less on technical hurdles.

Effortlessly mend compromised copper areas during interactive editing sessions, which allows for the smooth refinement of user-defined design choices. Users can reposition components and enclosures within the 3D environment while concurrently benefiting from immediate clash detection for any discrepancies. When confronted with particular technological requirements, one can leverage advanced features such as flexi-rigid design, embedded components, and chip-on-board technology to meet specific functional objectives. Pulsonix streamlines the creation of an inclusive Bill of Materials (BOM), pick and place lists, PCB acceptance reports, and netlists in multiple formats, whether opting for our standard selections or crafting your own. A notable aspect of Pulsonix is the incorporation of construction lines, enabling users to set guiding lines within their design, thus aiding in the formation of intricate board outlines and the alignment of unconventional shapes or elements. Furthermore, you have the ability to establish guidelines for the automatic creation of naming conventions for both new designs and existing styles, thereby improving organization and uniformity in your design endeavors. This holistic approach guarantees that users can attain exceptional levels of precision and productivity in their design workflows, ultimately leading to more innovative and efficient outcomes.

Gain prompt and actionable insights into the manufacturability of your PCBs before the handoff stage, which accelerates the time-to-market for both prototypes and new product introductions (NPIs). Enjoy outstanding Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis with Valor NPI, which does not require any initial setup. You can apply DFM guidelines from your selected supplier and easily upload your designs in multiple common CAD formats such as ODB++, IPC2581, and Gerber274x. PCBflow not only incorporates accurate part geometries into your designs through VPL but also detects potential assembly problems, empowering you to implement necessary modifications before it is too late. This platform is specifically designed to improve, simplify, and facilitate the journey from design to production. Designers and manufacturers can connect effortlessly, promoting collaboration and enabling real-time design handoffs to production. With a secure, cloud-based, and collaborative environment, there is no requirement for extra IT costs. Siemens emphasizes the importance of information security, ensuring effective management of cloud environments and product offerings, providing confidence to all users. By leveraging these innovative tools, teams can drastically minimize delays and enhance project efficiency, ultimately leading to a smoother workflow and faster turnaround times. This transformative approach not only benefits designers but also strengthens the entire production process, paving the way for continued innovation.

Design Force represents a groundbreaking advancement in the realm of electrical design, enabling users to transcend the limitations typically associated with traditional electrical design processes. As the complexity of product design continues to escalate, incorporating technologies that often elude the capabilities of conventional ECAD tools, Design Force equips design teams with the ability to tap into system-level design insights right from the initial planning and conceptual stages. This early access facilitates the simultaneous layout of each product board, all while maintaining a comprehensive view of the entire system. Utilizing the latest in industry-standard hardware and software, Design Force allows users to operate within a native 3D environment, thereby optimizing performance through the use of cutting-edge 64-bit, multithreading, and multicore processors. In addition to its robust design capabilities, Design Force is designed to be compatible with various client-server models, providing flexibility for users to work seamlessly from their corporate cloud if desired. Furthermore, this innovative tool enhances collaboration among team members, ensuring a more integrated approach to product development.

Choose an existing power solution or modify a suggested design, complete with detailed schematics and lists of components. You have the ability to view or change your choice and can effortlessly export the design files to the MPLAB® Mindi™ Analog Simulator for thorough verification and analysis. If you require help calculating the noise budget for your signal chain, the signal chain signal-to-noise calculator tool provides a user-friendly interface for an in-depth noise analysis with minimal input requirements. The setup comes with built-in design generators, making it easy to kickstart new power designs or refine those that are already in place. Shifting from the selection of a power solution to the design verification process is both smooth and efficient. Additionally, the signal chain signal-to-noise calculator is entirely web-based, which means you won't need to install any software. This level of accessibility allows you to utilize the tool whenever and wherever you need, enhancing your overall design workflow and ensuring that you can work on your projects without interruption. The combination of these resources fosters an environment conducive to innovative design and meticulous analysis.

The MPLAB® Mindi™ Analog Simulator simplifies circuit design and reduces risks by enabling users to simulate analog circuits prior to hardware prototyping. With its foundation in a SIMetrix/SIMPLIS simulation environment, this tool supports both SPICE and piecewise linear modeling to meet diverse simulation needs. Alongside its powerful simulation functions, the interface features exclusive model files from Microchip, which facilitate precise modeling of specific Microchip analog components in conjunction with standard circuit devices. This adaptable simulation solution is straightforward to install and run on a local PC, making an Internet connection unnecessary after download. As a result, users can conduct rapid and accurate analog circuit simulations without depending on external servers, significantly improving the efficiency of the design process. Furthermore, the ability to perform simulations directly on personal computers offers users the assurance of reliability and speed that comes with offline functionality, allowing for a more streamlined design experience overall.

PathWave ADS optimizes the design workflow by offering integrated templates that enable users to kickstart their projects with greater efficiency. With an extensive array of component libraries, finding the necessary parts becomes a simple task. The automatic synchronization with layout provides a clear view of the physical arrangement as schematic designs are created. This data-driven methodology allows teams to verify that their designs meet the required specifications. PathWave ADS boosts design confidence through its visualization and analytics tools, which produce informative graphs, charts, and diagrams to assist users. Additionally, wizards, design guides, and templates facilitate a quicker design process. The all-encompassing design workflow includes schematic design, layout, and simulations encompassing circuit, electro-thermal, and electromagnetic aspects. As frequencies and speeds in printed circuit boards (PCBs) continue to escalate, maintaining signal and power integrity becomes increasingly vital. Challenges related to transmission line effects can result in failures of electronic devices. It is crucial to accurately model traces, vias, and interconnects for a realistic simulation of the board, thereby ensuring that potential issues are identified and addressed early on. This comprehensive approach not only enhances efficiency but also significantly strengthens the overall reliability of electronic designs, ultimately contributing to the successful deployment of high-performance devices.

Xpedition Enterprise is a groundbreaking PCB design flow that effectively integrates each phase, starting from system design all the way through to manufacturing execution. Utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, it can reduce design timelines by more than 50%, while also significantly improving quality and resource allocation. The platform promotes collaboration and integration across numerous environments, encompassing IC packaging, multi-board configurations, RF, harnesses, FPGA, and MCAD, providing the flexibility and user-friendly features that modern design necessitates. Designed to support multi-user and multi-site scenarios, the software encourages flow-based concurrent engineering throughout the entire product development lifecycle, resulting in impressive decreases in design cycles and enhancements in overall product quality. Additionally, Xpedition’s blend of intuitive interfaces and powerful automation tools empowers PCB designers to navigate complex design issues with ease. By prioritizing both performance and manufacturability, it ensures exceptional product quality while reducing design errors and minimizing the need for rework. In a world that demands constant innovation, Xpedition Enterprise arms designers with the essential tools and resources to thrive in a highly competitive market, ultimately transforming the way PCB design is approached.

HyperLynx provides a comprehensive set of tools for signal integrity, power integrity, 3D electromagnetic modeling, and electrical rule checking specifically designed for high-speed digital applications. By combining intuitive features with automated workflows, HyperLynx makes it easier for mainstream system designers to conduct high-speed design analyses, allowing for the early detection and correction of potential issues throughout the design process. Its seamless compatibility with various PCB tools enhances its value within any PCB design environment. The HyperLynx suite guarantees a thorough analysis framework, integrating best-practice design rule checking with detailed simulations focused on both signal and power integrity. Utilizing cutting-edge 3D electromagnetic solvers, it generates accurate interconnect models that significantly improve the design workflow. Users can evaluate design trade-offs prior to layout and thoroughly validate their designs before manufacturing through extensive post-layout analyses. This versatile tool serves multiple applications, such as SerDes channels, DDRx memory interfaces, and general signal integrity evaluations. Furthermore, it streamlines the design and validation of power-delivery networks (PDN), ensuring compliance with impedance requirements in an accessible format. With its powerful capabilities, HyperLynx equips engineers to confidently develop high-performance designs while minimizing risks associated with potential design flaws. By fostering a more efficient design process, it ultimately enhances the overall quality and reliability of high-speed digital systems.

The Cadence AWR Design Environment Platform simplifies the creation of RF and microwave products by leveraging design automation to enhance engineering productivity and reduce turnaround times. This all-in-one platform provides engineers with advanced tools for high-frequency circuit and system simulations, along with in-design electromagnetic (EM) and thermal analyses, resulting in efficient and precise high-frequency intellectual property. Its intuitive and robust user interface facilitates smart, customizable design workflows that cater to the specific needs of contemporary high-frequency semiconductor and PCB technologies. Moreover, it features a cohesive design capture system that enables a fluid front-to-back physical design process, ensuring that any changes made in the electrical schematic are automatically reflected in the corresponding physical layout. This synchronization not only streamlines the design process but also significantly promotes collaboration among engineering teams, creating a more agile and responsive development environment. Ultimately, the platform empowers engineers to innovate rapidly while maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Microwave Office serves as a comprehensive platform for designing a wide array of RF passive components such as filters, couplers, and attenuators, in addition to active devices that operate under small-signal (AC) conditions, including low noise and buffer amplifiers. Its linear architecture facilitates the simulation of S-parameters (Y/Z/H/ABCD), small-signal gain, linear stability, noise figure, return loss, and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), and it is enhanced with functionalities like real-time tuning, optimization, and yield analysis. Each E-series portfolio of Microwave Office includes synchronized schematic and layout editors, 2D and 3D visualizers, and a vast collection of libraries containing high-frequency distributed transmission models as well as RF models for surface-mount vendor components that come with footprints. Furthermore, it supports measurement-based simulations and RF plotting features. The Microwave Office PCB variant further augments the design experience by allowing for both linear and nonlinear RF circuit design through the sophisticated APLAC HB simulator, which boasts powerful multi-rate HB, transient-assisted HB, and time-variant simulation engines for thorough RF/microwave circuit analysis. This comprehensive suite of tools empowers engineers to innovate in RF design while effectively optimizing their development processes, ultimately fostering greater efficiency and creativity in their projects. As a result, Microwave Office not only streamlines workflows but also enhances the overall quality of the designs produced.

Aptean Cimnet ERP is designed specifically for printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers, enabling them to enhance efficiency and automate their processes, which ultimately results in reduced costs and improved profitability. The intricate nature of PCB manufacturing and engineering requires specialized features that typical ERP systems do not provide. As a result, Cimnet delivers targeted engineering and production tools that address the unique workflows and challenges encountered by the PCB industry. These tailored features are supported by an extensive array of business management tools that improve efficiency and transparency across critical functions, such as quoting, inventory management, production, finance, and supply chain operations. Furthermore, Cimnet ensures smooth integration with other prevalent PCB software applications, including CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) and pre-CAM solutions. In today’s fiercely competitive environment, the ability to be agile and responsive to customer demands is vital for business success. Consequently, the capabilities offered by Cimnet are not just advantageous but essential for sustaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Ultimately, implementing such specialized ERP solutions can lead to greater innovation and responsiveness, positioning businesses for long-term growth and success.