Circuitstudio Vs Eagle

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Circuitstudio Vs Eagle

CircuitStudio can be seen as Altium's response to the widely popular Eagle. While it can do most of what Eagle can do, what differentiates them in the CircuitStudio vs Eagle battle is the price. While many people might be under the impression that Eagle is cheap, it really isn't when you look at its limitations. VS In this article we presented the major differences between CircuitStudio and Altium Designer. CircuitStudio is a new Schematic capture and PCB design software tool with fully realistic 3D functionality created by Altium company and is available for users since 2015. It is a very similar design tool like Altium Designer and Altium users can Continue reading 'CircuitStudio vs Altium Designer'. Name Architecture License Autorouter Comment Electric.BSD, Java: GPL: Yes: VLSI circuit design tool with connectivity at all levels. Can also be used for schematic entry and PCB design.: FreePCB: w32: GPL: Yes: A printed circuit board design program for Microsoft Windows. FreePCB allows for up to 16 copper layers, both metric and US customary units, and export of designs in Gerber format.
Circuit Studio Vs Eagle Mountain
Circuit Studio Vs Eagles
Circuit Studio Vs Eagle Rock
EDA or Electronic Design Automation is steadily growing in importance, as the world moves towards an unprecedented level of technological dependence and automation.
Eagle Vs Altium What Is The Features And Differences. How To Compare Differences Altium Circuitstudio Youtube Circuit Board Builder Define Pcb Design. Home Autodesk Eagle Dave Jones CircuitStudio vs Eagle. Dave Jones CircuitStudio vs Eagle. March 1, 2017 Enter content here most recent articles.
Designing PCBs and circuits are becoming more challenging as designers and engineers try to meet the rapid advancements in technology. In such a scenario, picking the right PCB design software is vital for any design engineer.
Hence, today we are looking at two free PCB design solutions, from two reputed developers. In this article, we have done a comparison between Altium CircuitMaker Vs KiCad EDA. To help you pick the one which is right for you, read on.
[9] Major Differences Between KiCad Vs CircuitMakerKiCad and CircuitMaker have seen many changes over the years, and they have now developed into powerful PCB design solutions that can compete even with some paid programs.
To help you decide which one to pick, we have compared them on the basis of major technical differences, user experience, simplicity of use, and platform compatibility.
Below we have described the 9 main differences between KiCad vs CircuitMaker in detail.
[1] Software Type Before selecting any software program, you should first check what type of package you are getting. Some are available as local clients that you can download and use on a computer, or they can be SaaS, which refers to software as a service.
KiCad is available for you to download, install and use on your computer. It is a cross-platform application that you can run on Windows, Mac OS and Linux systems. The installer is available on the KiCad website, and can be downloaded and used for free. KiCad is also open-source, and the developers have made the source code available to everyone through platforms such as Github.
The CircuitMaker program is a web-based service. There is a small setup process involved. You can need an active internet connection to use the platform for all your PCB design tasks. Altium develops CircuitMaker and has made it free to use for everyone. CircuitMaker is also open-source.
CircuitMaker lets you work on projects with up to 16 signal and 16 plane layers, with no limitations on the dimensions of the PCB. The free version doesn't have a non-commercial clause, so you can even monetize your designs. However, CircuitMaker only works on Windows 32-bit and 64-bit OS devices.
[2] Schematic Editing Schematics are the essence of designing a PCB, and will one of the very first steps in your project. The schematic tools in the program should be suitably located, functional and the software should ideally support multi-sheet schematics, otherwise your projects will be limited to basic designs.
CircuitMaker provides you with a well designed and tested schematic editor; in fact, it's the characteristic Altium design. It's intuitive, easy to use, and has a modern and elegant look. You also get features like multi-sheet schematic editing and hierarchical design blocks with conversion that simplifies complex schematics.
A wide range of export formats is also supported, in addition to the SmartPDF functionality. 
In KiCad, you get a module called Eeschema for handling all your schematic capture and editing tasks. The design of the UI is clean and simplistic, and the tools can actually be arranged as you require. The toolkits can be un-docked and placed where you need them for easier access.
KiCad also provides features to work with hierarchical schematics, to simplify complex designs with multiple sheets by displaying them as single sheets in an arranged manner. You can also export your files in a variety of formats such as PDF, Postscript, HPGL, SVG and more.
[3] Layout and Routing The routing and layout module in KiCad is called PCBNew. It has been designed for an efficient and productive routing experience with integrated rule checks for improved accuracy.
It supports both manual and automatic routing. For manual routing, you get interactive features such as push and shove routing and obstacle avoidance routing. Using this, the system can obtain alternative routes around obstacles.
This system works in accordance with the design and electrical rules. You can also perform differential pair routing, tune trace lengths interactively and create layouts with up to 32 Copper layers.
With CircuitMaker as well, there are some great routing features available. Altium has provided a set of interactive routing features that include: obstacle avoidance and obstacle ignore, hug, hug and push, and push and shove.
Additionally, you also get differential pair routing; and to work with nets that require extra length for signal delays, you can use the ‘add accordion' option.
For better autorouting, CircuitMaker also provides a topological autorouter.
The Situs topological autorouter works in accordance with the DRC to improve your routing speed and efficiency. Some of the advanced features included are: BGA and SMT (surface mount) fanout routing, via optimisation, hug, and parallel memory. It can also be used for routing multi or single nets.
[4] Library ContentLibraries contain parts and components that you can use for your design, either directly or after some modifications. This saves you the effort of having to create parts from scratch. It's even better if the software contains catalogs or part information.
Circuit Studio Vs Eagle MountainKiCad offers two methods that you can use for parts. The first is through the libraries. They contain thousands of components that are ready to use. And if for some reason, the library doesn't have the part you need, you can import them from external sources and other applications as well.
CircuitMaker has an active online community, with a vast library. You can find components, part details, and even complete projects made by other users, which you can download for studying or editing etc. CircuitMaker is open-source and its users get all the benefits of this.
The library is supported by the Octopart database. This also makes it really easy to place components in your designs as all you need to do is search for the part from within the workspace. You also get the option to add mechanical components or custom parts created by you in the program.
[5] 3D Viewing CircuitMaker uses the Native 3D technology which is available in all Altium products. This is a smooth and efficient system to generate complete 3D models for the PCB layout with just the touch of a button.
This system also checks the model for any clearance violations and shows you the overlap dimensions and distances. This helps you make the model more accurate for ensuring a precise fit with the enclosure.
With KiCad, you get a 3D viewer which can be used to generate quick 3D models from your 2D drawings. It allows you to check your design through an interactive canvas where you can pan, rotate, zoom and orient the model in different views.
This helps in inspecting certain details about the model that are difficult in a 2D view. There are additional settings for rendering the model to change its appearance, and settings for which features to hide and which to show.
[6] Import and Export A lot of free programs in the market limit or restrict your import/export options or require you to pay a small fee for certain formats. This is not the case with CircuitMaker and KiCad. They both offer a range of formats, although they have some differences here too.

With CircuitMaker, you get industry standard outputs which are DRC and DFM (design for manufacturing) validated. You can set for the project to be exported as a Gerber file, NC Drill file, ODB++ file or in multiple formats.
CircuitMaker will also compile and generate PCB documentation and reports such as the IPC test point reports and more. The file is also finally checked for design and electrical rules, as well as DFM and DFA rules to ensure a smooth production process.
CircuitMaker allows you to import both PCB and schematic documents, with a range of importers, which include OrCAD, PCAD, PADS, EAGLE, Protel and more.
In KiCad, as mentioned earlier, you can import files from external applications and save them in the libraries. Additionally, users get a GerbView tool. This allows you to load Gerber X2 files and job files. It also supports canvases such as Cairo and OpenGL.
[7] User Interface The UI is the main workspace that you will be using the most, and so it is important that the UI be designed well and in such a way so as to enhance productivity.
The CircuitMaker platform is largely based on the standard Altium user interface, which is a design they have tested and improved over many years. It looks modern and neat, with options to customize the icon sizing, text size and other such options.
In KiCad, the UI is well designed, and the tools have been placed such that they are easily accessible. You can even personalize the workspace by re-arranging the toolkits and editing the appearance settings.
[8] Additional FeaturesThis section describes some innovative and useful features available in CircuitMaker and KiCad to help users work better. Although you may not need them in daily designing, these can come in handy for special tasks; or even to help you with regular design work.
Team Collaboration in CircuitMaker 
With CircuitMaker, an added advantage that can be used to work on large projects is the team collaboration feature. You can share your project with other CircuitMaker users and all designers who are part of the team can work simultaneously to get the project done faster.
Single Tap Manufacturing 
After completing the design, when you are looking to manufacture your PCB, there is no need to look everywhere. Altium has partnered with a number of PCB manufacturers.
You can simply click a button to send the board to any of these partners and receive quotes and details for a board prototype or even a complete fabrication and assembly.
Alternatively, you can also publish a Gerber file and upload it manually to your preferred manufacturer, or share your designs with the community.
KiCad offers an innovative feature known as Bitmap2Component, which helps you easily convert an image to a PCB footprint. You can import any image file in all major formats, define some parameters and import settings, and a footprint will be created from the image.
[9]Performing a SimulationThis is an important method for validation of your design. A simulation is used to test the PCB under different conditions and it gives you an idea of the behaviour and performance of the circuit.
So if you are looking to get the board manufactured, a simulation is a good idea before sending the design for fabrication.

KiCad offers a SPICE based simulation engine. This allows you to perform analog, digital as well as mixed-signal circuit simulations of various kinds. SPICE is an acronym which stands for Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis.
With KiCad, simulations are done in the ngspice program. You can import the design into the ngspice workspace, define some settings and analysis parameters, and run the simulation.
Altium CircuitMaker does not yet have a simulation module, and hence you cannot use it for circuit analysis. But since it is open-source, there are a lot of requests on the online forums to add simulation features to the program.
Which Software Is Best For PCB Designing, KiCad Vs CircuitMakerThere is no easy answer to the question of deciding which one is better, as they are both quite capable software programs. And they are both free as well. In terms of design tools and features, CircuitMaker is the better option. You get a better range of features and possibilities with CircuitMaker, without the restrictions.
KiCad on the other hand, has a simple UI, and is one of the best PCB design software apps for beginners. It can be used for a quick and precise design, and you can even validate the circuit performance through its SPICE simulation module.
Another great thing about KiCad is that all main tasks are handled by three different modules. This makes it easier to keep track of different design sections with better clarity, although it limits the amount of integration and increases your navigation time slightly.
Altium CircuitMaker Vs KiCad EDA: Who's the Winner?This answer would depend on a couple of individual factors. While CircuitMaker only runs on Windows, KiCad can be used on Windows, Mac OS and Linux devices as well. Another factor is your requirements. Altium CircuitMaker has features for team design and one-click manufacturing.
If production is your main aim, then we suggest CircuitMaker as a better option. For other users, who are starting out in PCB designing, or those who don't have much experience can go for KiCad. It is pretty easy to use and also offers some advanced design features to help you work on complex designs.
So to pick a winner between CircuitMaker vs KiCad is a tricky one, since both are suited to different users.
So, Which One Should You Pick? Both KiCad and CircuitMaker are few of the best free PCB design software in the market. Both are open-source and have an active online community with regular bug-fixes and updates. They are easy to setup and the installers are less than or around 1GB, depending on the platform you are installing it on.
The comparison between KiCad vs CircuitMaker is mainly a matter of preference and specific requirements that you may have from the program, as mentioned above. Overall, KiCad is powerful and also really simple to use, and even beginners can learn it quickly; so KiCad has a slight edge over CircuitMaker.
Hopefully, you have found this KiCad v CircuitMaker comparison guide worthwhile and it has helped you to make an informed choice about these two PCB Design Software.
Additionally, you can also check out our comparison of Circuitstudio vs Altium Designer and KiCad vs OrCAD, if you are still not quite settled on a solution.
In this article, we are looking at two software programs by Altium. Both are high performance PCB designing applications. We will be comparing CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer.
One is an entry-level design software, and the other is more advanced with better features and faster processing. Even so, both applications have their pros and cons, and serve different user needs.
Technical features such as layout editing and ease of making a new schematic are among the many features you will find in this detailed comparison of Altium Designer vs CIrcuitStudio. 
Altium CircuitStudioCS is the new software for PCB designing by Altium. It is a Schematic Capture and PCB design tool with 3-D modeling. Released in 2015, it is very similar in functioning to Altium Designer. Users who learn one software program can easily shift between the two. CS has limited functionality and features as compared to Designer, but it also comes at a lower cost.
CircuitStudio can be used to create projects and output files for PCB circuits, assembly and even manufacturing boards. Projects designed in Altium Designer can be opened and edited in Circuit Studio as well as vice-versa.
CS uses a simple interface which is easy to learn and master. The search bar can be used to type-in commands to run certain tasks, which saves time. Another great feature about CS is that it can open files made in EAGLE and OrCAD and even older layout files saved with .MAX extension.
Below we will discuss the main features of CircuitStudio in detail.
KEY FEATURES: Powerful Schematic Editor: CS offers a schematic editor that is easy to use and is highly efficient. The files generated are high quality, and saved in standard extensions. So they can be opened using most PCB board viewers.
In-Built SPICE Engine: For users who need to run simulations using their CS software, can do so using the integrated SPICE simulation This is one of the most used and accurate analogue electronic circuit simulators.
Hierarchical Design Editor: With CS, you can work on multiple sheets simultaneously by organizing them by hierarchy, which makes an advanced design easier to understand and solve.
Professional Workflow Accountability: It is now easier to document and access your design history with two-way synchronizations between your board and schematic.
Extensive Content Library: Plan in advance and achieve your production targets with real-time part information and pricing from suppliers. CS also has vast libraries of professional components that are ready-to-use.
Advanced PCB Designing: Altium's famous CDIR features are available in CS too. With an inbuilt Autorouter Engine and support for differential pairs, PCB editing becomes easy, no matter how complex the design.
3-D Visualization Capabilities: CS offers a powerful native 3d visualization engine, for ECAD functions. Check, inspect and analyze all features and any possible errors for every PCB in 3D views.
Centralized Content Management: CS gives designers access to a growing content library of over 350,000 components, which you can use for your project. It is equally easy to create your own parts from scratch or from existing libraries.
Why Choose CircuitStudio? (PROS)Interactive Routing – The Heuristic and Shape based engines provide topological routing, simple collision avoidance and circumnavigation.
Design Rule Checking (DRC) available in the categories: Batch, Online, Basic Routing and Basic Electrical, and is helpful in designing an error-free circuit.
Ribbon Based UI – A simple and clean user interface with customizable options.
CS also has a unified search system plus and supports accelerator keys or hotkeys for shortcuts.
Online remote working is possible with cloud based data storage, so team-members can collaborate and communicate remotely.
Affordable software with a low price for the base version.
CONS CS cannot be used to open and edit FGPA, Core, Embedded or Script projects.
In CS, designers have to manually make a new library in the project and place your schematic components in it by copy-pasting.
What is unique about CircuitStudio?One of the main features about CircuitStudio is its competitive pricing. For any entry-level program to have these many features is rare. CS is not a fancy or decorative software application that is loaded with features.
Instead, it is reliable and powerful with its basic functions. In addition, CS provides integrated Analog and Digital simulation with XPSICE, to help accurate analog and digital simulation, and designing.
Who's it for?CircuitStudio is a good platform for designing PCB circuits, but is limited in certain features and functions. However, this is low-priced software and this makes it accessible to students and beginners.
This is not an application to serve industry level producers or board manufacturers. The program still has many capabilities and entry and mid-level designers can definitely opt for it.
Supported Platforms:Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8 (32/64-bit)
Windows 10 (32/64-bit)

System Requirements: Here we have given the minimum system requirements for hardware and software on your PC to run CircuitStudio properly.
Windows 7 (32-bit)
Intel® Core™ i3 processor or equivalent
4 GB RAM
1.2 GB hard disk space (Install + User Files)
Intel integrated graphics HD4000 or equivalent, supporting DirectX 9.0c and Shader model 3 (or later)
Main monitor 1280×1024 screen resolution at no greater than 100% DPI scaling Strongly recommended: second monitor with minimum 1280×1024 resolution at 100% DPI scaling
USB2.0 port if connecting to 3D Mouse
DVD-Drive
Adobe® Reader® (8 or later)
Internet Connection
Up to date Web browser
Microsoft Excel (required for Bill of Materials templates)
PRICING: Below are the plans available for purchasing CircuitStudio. This is a license based software; hence with a perpetual license you can have lifetime ownership of the application.
A free trial is available for eligible students for 6 months.
A free trial is available for 30 days for new users.
A Perpetual License costs $695 (Lifetime Ownership)
In case you are switching from an existing Altium product, $495 (Perpetual License).
Is CircuitStudio worth it?The download installer for CS is a mere 8MB. And the full-version installer package is 530MB. So as compared to other PCB design softwares, this is a very compact application and the installation is quick.
It is affordable as well and provides all the main functional utilities for a PCB designing project, so this is definitely a software app you can consider purchasing.
Altium Designer Altium's latest release of its Altium Designer 20, a high-performance PCB design tool, gives a number of enhancements and improvements to the software's performance and stability. This is an industry level professional PCB designing program with the most advanced features and tools.
The new version also increases productive design time and efficiency. Altium Designer is a flagship product, developed through user and critic feedback, hence will give you a very refined designing experience with minimum interruptions.
In addition, statistics show that the Altium Designer 20 release has 2X fewer glitches than the Altium Designer 19.1 release. This trend continues to improve with coming versions.
KEY FEATURES: Unified Library Management: Library management is based on a single data store for all component models and linked data such as 3D models, data sheets and supplier links. There is a single point of contact for version control and external project management systems.
Advanced 3-D Visualisation Engine: 3D Visualization gives a realistic and rendered on-the-fly view of the board; including MCAD-ECAD support with direct linking for STEP models and real-time clearance checking, view configurations for 2D and 3D, orthographic projection and texture mapping of 2D and 3D PCB models.
Intuitive & Fast Routing: With the new interactive routing engine, layouts can be designed quicker than ever before. Essential features are present and in addition: hug and push, push and shove, diff pairs, obstacle-ignore etc. are also there and work well.
Conversion to Hierarchical Design: Complex and advanced designs can be simplified into smaller logical based layers which are easier to work with. Hierarchical design tools let you convert multi-channel designs into step-wise design units.
Ease of Production Planning: Manufacturing your board has never been easier. Altium Designer gives you ActiveBOM: a real-time system that provides you with information such as part availability, pricing etc. before you even complete your design.
Centralised Tool Interface: A relaxing and smooth new interface has been given to users for easy tool selection and part creation plus editing, all in one place so you don't have to waste time navigating.
Advanced Design Rule Checker: The powerful DRC system of Altium can check your design against electrical rules automatically and indicate when it detects a violation, so you can fix the error before building further upon the design.
Seamless Remote Working: With Altium Designer, team projects can be worked upon by team members around the world through a cloud-based editing system, which runs on optimized bandwidth consumption, so as to reduce latency.
High Speed and High Density Design: This application has powerful tuning and filtering options. The EM solver has capabilities to handle complex features like propagation delay impedance measurement. Now you can also integrate HDI structures into your project.
Why Choose Altium Designer? (PROS)Altium Designer makes it easy for you to check your board against the mechanical enclosure to verify clearances.
A central communication centre keeps track of all exchanges between team members for easy 24×7 accesses.
ActiveBOM helps solve your part orders and production issues quickly.
An Interactive and user-friendly interface, with options to customize your window layout, is a great feature for efficiency while designing.
Access to extensive online libraries with thousands of components and shapes saves your time.
A 24/7 online support team to help you with any issues you face and resolve them quickly.
CONS The pricing plans are expensive and it is difficult to afford individual licenses.
Altium's simulation results are not as accurate as other programs'.
What is unique about Altium Designer?If you are looking to design and work on projects that involve circuits with multiple layers, or multi-level circuits, Altium Designer can handle such tasks without much difficulty.
Moreover, with the supply chain management features, Altium provides multiple options to you for selecting the right parts for your project, so when you go to production, there are no hassles with part availability.
ActiveBOM is Altium's Bill of Material handling system. This tool helps you generate, edit and share BOM files with part suppliers, and the pin-compatibility feature selects alternate components that are compatible with your design if primary components are not available.
Who's it for?PCB designers who are required to deal with circuits and boards that involve complex and advanced designs, professionals and companies usually opt for Altium Designer.
However, this program can also be used by students and beginners who are new to PCB designing, just that it is on the higher price range and might not be affordable for everyone.
Supported Platforms:Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition (64-bit)
Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Windows 8 (64-bit)
System Requirements:The minimum system requirements to install and run Altium Designer 20 are as follows:
Windows 8/10 (x64)
Intel Core i5 processor or equivalent
1600×1200 or better screen resolution
4GB RAM
3 GB DDR4/DDR5 Video Memory
12GB storage space SSD recommended
Internet Connection
Microsoft Excel required for BOM
Microsoft Access required for DbLibs
PRICING: You can find the license purchasing options for Altium Designer 20 below:
Altium Designer offers a 15-day free, full featured license for all users after they complete their registration.
For eligible students, a 6-month license is available free of cost.
Pricing plans for Altium Designer 20 start at $7245.00/year.
Full version costs $9890.00/year.
There is no free-version available.
Is Altium Designer worth it?Altium Designer 20 is a powerful PCB designing software program, and caters to many fields and interests;
It offers fast and precise schematic editing tools and customizable options for creating your own workspace. The learning curve is slightly steep but with the tutorials given, even a beginner can use the program.
It is a capable program, but the high pricing might not suit all the users.
Circuit Studio Vs EaglesMain Differences Between CircuitStudio Vs Altium DesignerYou have seen the pros and cons of both programs in detail, below we have highlighted the major differences between the two for a feature-wise comparison:
[1] CS does not support Field Programmable Gate Array (FGPA) file types, while Designer does.
[2] The CS app does not have a CAM editor, so DFM tools are not available. Altium Designer has these tools.
[3] ActiveBOM is another feature available only in Altium Designer. This provides the users with part details and pricing info for components related to their design.
[4] CS has a Ribbon-based UI, which Designer does not have. This user interface has tabs grouped by functionality for easier access and a neat layout.
[5] The UI, menu options and accelerator keys are not customizable in CS; they can only be used in their default configuration.
[6] Altium Designer is a heavier and more storage-consuming application, whereas CS is a comparatively compact package, quicker and easier to install and setup.
[7] Altium Designer is priced much higher than CircuitStudio, and for its price, CircuitStudio has a good amount of features and performance quality.
Which Software Is Best For PCB Designing, CircuitStudio Vs Altium DesignerAfter the Altium Designer vs CircuitStudio comparison, it is clear: is basically a stripped-down version of Altium Designer, with limited features and functions, but also at a much lower cost.
So when it comes to PCB designing, both programs have all the basic capabilities to allow you to design and work on circuits and boards in a logical and systematic manner.
But for advanced designing with complex Vias and pads, hierarchical structures and high-speed features such as RF, you will have to pick Altium Designer, as CS will not be able to help you execute all of these tasks.
CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer: Who's the Winner?Even if you are a professional designer and can work on any project with any software you are given, you might be able to complete your circuit.
But to do it efficiently, without hassles and to make an organized layout which makes sense, you will need a program that intuitively understands what you are trying to do. CS will also try to do this, but it is more reliant on user-inputs and works with a lower amount of scripting and automation.
But if we talk about value-for-money, there are barely any PCB designing programs that can beat Circuit Studio at its performance and capability.
So, Which One Should You Pick?Circuit Studio Vs Eagle RockAs you have now seen, CircuitStudio is a basic version of Altium Designer, in the sense that it lacks the production capabilities that an advanced board designer would need for a complex project.
So if you are not required to work on complex boards or do not have to consider production, then you can go for CircuitStudio, and once you establish a good command on it, upgrading to Designer will be very easy, and cheaper as well.
But if industry-level designing is your priority and you have to work on RAM units, Motherboards, HDI structures, or other complex architecture, Altium Designer would be recommended.
In all other scenarios, the two are much alike. Hence the answer to CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer is based on your specific requirements.

With CircuitMaker, you get industry standard outputs which are DRC and DFM (design for manufacturing) validated. You can set for the project to be exported as a Gerber file, NC Drill file, ODB++ file or in multiple formats.
CircuitMaker will also compile and generate PCB documentation and reports such as the IPC test point reports and more. The file is also finally checked for design and electrical rules, as well as DFM and DFA rules to ensure a smooth production process.
CircuitMaker allows you to import both PCB and schematic documents, with a range of importers, which include OrCAD, PCAD, PADS, EAGLE, Protel and more.
In KiCad, as mentioned earlier, you can import files from external applications and save them in the libraries. Additionally, users get a GerbView tool. This allows you to load Gerber X2 files and job files. It also supports canvases such as Cairo and OpenGL.
[7] User Interface The UI is the main workspace that you will be using the most, and so it is important that the UI be designed well and in such a way so as to enhance productivity.
The CircuitMaker platform is largely based on the standard Altium user interface, which is a design they have tested and improved over many years. It looks modern and neat, with options to customize the icon sizing, text size and other such options.
In KiCad, the UI is well designed, and the tools have been placed such that they are easily accessible. You can even personalize the workspace by re-arranging the toolkits and editing the appearance settings.
[8] Additional FeaturesThis section describes some innovative and useful features available in CircuitMaker and KiCad to help users work better. Although you may not need them in daily designing, these can come in handy for special tasks; or even to help you with regular design work.
Team Collaboration in CircuitMaker 
With CircuitMaker, an added advantage that can be used to work on large projects is the team collaboration feature. You can share your project with other CircuitMaker users and all designers who are part of the team can work simultaneously to get the project done faster.
Single Tap Manufacturing 
After completing the design, when you are looking to manufacture your PCB, there is no need to look everywhere. Altium has partnered with a number of PCB manufacturers.
You can simply click a button to send the board to any of these partners and receive quotes and details for a board prototype or even a complete fabrication and assembly.
Alternatively, you can also publish a Gerber file and upload it manually to your preferred manufacturer, or share your designs with the community.
KiCad offers an innovative feature known as Bitmap2Component, which helps you easily convert an image to a PCB footprint. You can import any image file in all major formats, define some parameters and import settings, and a footprint will be created from the image.
[9]Performing a SimulationThis is an important method for validation of your design. A simulation is used to test the PCB under different conditions and it gives you an idea of the behaviour and performance of the circuit.
So if you are looking to get the board manufactured, a simulation is a good idea before sending the design for fabrication.
KiCad offers a SPICE based simulation engine. This allows you to perform analog, digital as well as mixed-signal circuit simulations of various kinds. SPICE is an acronym which stands for Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis.
With KiCad, simulations are done in the ngspice program. You can import the design into the ngspice workspace, define some settings and analysis parameters, and run the simulation.
Altium CircuitMaker does not yet have a simulation module, and hence you cannot use it for circuit analysis. But since it is open-source, there are a lot of requests on the online forums to add simulation features to the program.
Which Software Is Best For PCB Designing, KiCad Vs CircuitMakerThere is no easy answer to the question of deciding which one is better, as they are both quite capable software programs. And they are both free as well. In terms of design tools and features, CircuitMaker is the better option. You get a better range of features and possibilities with CircuitMaker, without the restrictions.
KiCad on the other hand, has a simple UI, and is one of the best PCB design software apps for beginners. It can be used for a quick and precise design, and you can even validate the circuit performance through its SPICE simulation module.
Another great thing about KiCad is that all main tasks are handled by three different modules. This makes it easier to keep track of different design sections with better clarity, although it limits the amount of integration and increases your navigation time slightly.
Altium CircuitMaker Vs KiCad EDA: Who's the Winner?This answer would depend on a couple of individual factors. While CircuitMaker only runs on Windows, KiCad can be used on Windows, Mac OS and Linux devices as well. Another factor is your requirements. Altium CircuitMaker has features for team design and one-click manufacturing.
If production is your main aim, then we suggest CircuitMaker as a better option. For other users, who are starting out in PCB designing, or those who don't have much experience can go for KiCad. It is pretty easy to use and also offers some advanced design features to help you work on complex designs.
So to pick a winner between CircuitMaker vs KiCad is a tricky one, since both are suited to different users.
So, Which One Should You Pick? Both KiCad and CircuitMaker are few of the best free PCB design software in the market. Both are open-source and have an active online community with regular bug-fixes and updates. They are easy to setup and the installers are less than or around 1GB, depending on the platform you are installing it on.
The comparison between KiCad vs CircuitMaker is mainly a matter of preference and specific requirements that you may have from the program, as mentioned above. Overall, KiCad is powerful and also really simple to use, and even beginners can learn it quickly; so KiCad has a slight edge over CircuitMaker.
Hopefully, you have found this KiCad v CircuitMaker comparison guide worthwhile and it has helped you to make an informed choice about these two PCB Design Software.
Additionally, you can also check out our comparison of Circuitstudio vs Altium Designer and KiCad vs OrCAD, if you are still not quite settled on a solution.
In this article, we are looking at two software programs by Altium. Both are high performance PCB designing applications. We will be comparing CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer.
One is an entry-level design software, and the other is more advanced with better features and faster processing. Even so, both applications have their pros and cons, and serve different user needs.
Technical features such as layout editing and ease of making a new schematic are among the many features you will find in this detailed comparison of Altium Designer vs CIrcuitStudio. 
Altium CircuitStudioCS is the new software for PCB designing by Altium. It is a Schematic Capture and PCB design tool with 3-D modeling. Released in 2015, it is very similar in functioning to Altium Designer. Users who learn one software program can easily shift between the two. CS has limited functionality and features as compared to Designer, but it also comes at a lower cost.
CircuitStudio can be used to create projects and output files for PCB circuits, assembly and even manufacturing boards. Projects designed in Altium Designer can be opened and edited in Circuit Studio as well as vice-versa.
CS uses a simple interface which is easy to learn and master. The search bar can be used to type-in commands to run certain tasks, which saves time. Another great feature about CS is that it can open files made in EAGLE and OrCAD and even older layout files saved with .MAX extension.
Below we will discuss the main features of CircuitStudio in detail.
KEY FEATURES: Powerful Schematic Editor: CS offers a schematic editor that is easy to use and is highly efficient. The files generated are high quality, and saved in standard extensions. So they can be opened using most PCB board viewers.
In-Built SPICE Engine: For users who need to run simulations using their CS software, can do so using the integrated SPICE simulation This is one of the most used and accurate analogue electronic circuit simulators.
Hierarchical Design Editor: With CS, you can work on multiple sheets simultaneously by organizing them by hierarchy, which makes an advanced design easier to understand and solve.
Professional Workflow Accountability: It is now easier to document and access your design history with two-way synchronizations between your board and schematic.
Extensive Content Library: Plan in advance and achieve your production targets with real-time part information and pricing from suppliers. CS also has vast libraries of professional components that are ready-to-use.
Advanced PCB Designing: Altium's famous CDIR features are available in CS too. With an inbuilt Autorouter Engine and support for differential pairs, PCB editing becomes easy, no matter how complex the design.
3-D Visualization Capabilities: CS offers a powerful native 3d visualization engine, for ECAD functions. Check, inspect and analyze all features and any possible errors for every PCB in 3D views.
Centralized Content Management: CS gives designers access to a growing content library of over 350,000 components, which you can use for your project. It is equally easy to create your own parts from scratch or from existing libraries.
Why Choose CircuitStudio? (PROS)Interactive Routing – The Heuristic and Shape based engines provide topological routing, simple collision avoidance and circumnavigation.
Design Rule Checking (DRC) available in the categories: Batch, Online, Basic Routing and Basic Electrical, and is helpful in designing an error-free circuit.
Ribbon Based UI – A simple and clean user interface with customizable options.
CS also has a unified search system plus and supports accelerator keys or hotkeys for shortcuts.
Online remote working is possible with cloud based data storage, so team-members can collaborate and communicate remotely.
Affordable software with a low price for the base version.
CONS CS cannot be used to open and edit FGPA, Core, Embedded or Script projects.
In CS, designers have to manually make a new library in the project and place your schematic components in it by copy-pasting.
What is unique about CircuitStudio?One of the main features about CircuitStudio is its competitive pricing. For any entry-level program to have these many features is rare. CS is not a fancy or decorative software application that is loaded with features.
Instead, it is reliable and powerful with its basic functions. In addition, CS provides integrated Analog and Digital simulation with XPSICE, to help accurate analog and digital simulation, and designing.
Who's it for?CircuitStudio is a good platform for designing PCB circuits, but is limited in certain features and functions. However, this is low-priced software and this makes it accessible to students and beginners.
This is not an application to serve industry level producers or board manufacturers. The program still has many capabilities and entry and mid-level designers can definitely opt for it.
Supported Platforms:Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8 (32/64-bit)
Windows 10 (32/64-bit)
System Requirements: Here we have given the minimum system requirements for hardware and software on your PC to run CircuitStudio properly.
Windows 7 (32-bit)
Intel® Core™ i3 processor or equivalent
4 GB RAM
1.2 GB hard disk space (Install + User Files)
Intel integrated graphics HD4000 or equivalent, supporting DirectX 9.0c and Shader model 3 (or later)
Main monitor 1280×1024 screen resolution at no greater than 100% DPI scaling Strongly recommended: second monitor with minimum 1280×1024 resolution at 100% DPI scaling
USB2.0 port if connecting to 3D Mouse
DVD-Drive
Adobe® Reader® (8 or later)
Internet Connection
Up to date Web browser
Microsoft Excel (required for Bill of Materials templates)
PRICING: Below are the plans available for purchasing CircuitStudio. This is a license based software; hence with a perpetual license you can have lifetime ownership of the application.
A free trial is available for eligible students for 6 months.
A free trial is available for 30 days for new users.
A Perpetual License costs $695 (Lifetime Ownership)
In case you are switching from an existing Altium product, $495 (Perpetual License).
Is CircuitStudio worth it?The download installer for CS is a mere 8MB. And the full-version installer package is 530MB. So as compared to other PCB design softwares, this is a very compact application and the installation is quick.
It is affordable as well and provides all the main functional utilities for a PCB designing project, so this is definitely a software app you can consider purchasing.
Altium Designer Altium's latest release of its Altium Designer 20, a high-performance PCB design tool, gives a number of enhancements and improvements to the software's performance and stability. This is an industry level professional PCB designing program with the most advanced features and tools.
The new version also increases productive design time and efficiency. Altium Designer is a flagship product, developed through user and critic feedback, hence will give you a very refined designing experience with minimum interruptions.
In addition, statistics show that the Altium Designer 20 release has 2X fewer glitches than the Altium Designer 19.1 release. This trend continues to improve with coming versions.
KEY FEATURES: Unified Library Management: Library management is based on a single data store for all component models and linked data such as 3D models, data sheets and supplier links. There is a single point of contact for version control and external project management systems.
Advanced 3-D Visualisation Engine: 3D Visualization gives a realistic and rendered on-the-fly view of the board; including MCAD-ECAD support with direct linking for STEP models and real-time clearance checking, view configurations for 2D and 3D, orthographic projection and texture mapping of 2D and 3D PCB models.
Intuitive & Fast Routing: With the new interactive routing engine, layouts can be designed quicker than ever before. Essential features are present and in addition: hug and push, push and shove, diff pairs, obstacle-ignore etc. are also there and work well.
Conversion to Hierarchical Design: Complex and advanced designs can be simplified into smaller logical based layers which are easier to work with. Hierarchical design tools let you convert multi-channel designs into step-wise design units.
Ease of Production Planning: Manufacturing your board has never been easier. Altium Designer gives you ActiveBOM: a real-time system that provides you with information such as part availability, pricing etc. before you even complete your design.
Centralised Tool Interface: A relaxing and smooth new interface has been given to users for easy tool selection and part creation plus editing, all in one place so you don't have to waste time navigating.
Advanced Design Rule Checker: The powerful DRC system of Altium can check your design against electrical rules automatically and indicate when it detects a violation, so you can fix the error before building further upon the design.
Seamless Remote Working: With Altium Designer, team projects can be worked upon by team members around the world through a cloud-based editing system, which runs on optimized bandwidth consumption, so as to reduce latency.
High Speed and High Density Design: This application has powerful tuning and filtering options. The EM solver has capabilities to handle complex features like propagation delay impedance measurement. Now you can also integrate HDI structures into your project.
Why Choose Altium Designer? (PROS)Altium Designer makes it easy for you to check your board against the mechanical enclosure to verify clearances.
A central communication centre keeps track of all exchanges between team members for easy 24×7 accesses.
ActiveBOM helps solve your part orders and production issues quickly.
An Interactive and user-friendly interface, with options to customize your window layout, is a great feature for efficiency while designing.
Access to extensive online libraries with thousands of components and shapes saves your time.
A 24/7 online support team to help you with any issues you face and resolve them quickly.
CONS The pricing plans are expensive and it is difficult to afford individual licenses.
Altium's simulation results are not as accurate as other programs'.
What is unique about Altium Designer?If you are looking to design and work on projects that involve circuits with multiple layers, or multi-level circuits, Altium Designer can handle such tasks without much difficulty.
Moreover, with the supply chain management features, Altium provides multiple options to you for selecting the right parts for your project, so when you go to production, there are no hassles with part availability.
ActiveBOM is Altium's Bill of Material handling system. This tool helps you generate, edit and share BOM files with part suppliers, and the pin-compatibility feature selects alternate components that are compatible with your design if primary components are not available.
Who's it for?PCB designers who are required to deal with circuits and boards that involve complex and advanced designs, professionals and companies usually opt for Altium Designer.
However, this program can also be used by students and beginners who are new to PCB designing, just that it is on the higher price range and might not be affordable for everyone.
Supported Platforms:Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition (64-bit)
Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Windows 8 (64-bit)
System Requirements:The minimum system requirements to install and run Altium Designer 20 are as follows:
Windows 8/10 (x64)
Intel Core i5 processor or equivalent
1600×1200 or better screen resolution
4GB RAM
3 GB DDR4/DDR5 Video Memory
12GB storage space SSD recommended
Internet Connection
Microsoft Excel required for BOM
Microsoft Access required for DbLibs
PRICING: You can find the license purchasing options for Altium Designer 20 below:
Altium Designer offers a 15-day free, full featured license for all users after they complete their registration.
For eligible students, a 6-month license is available free of cost.
Pricing plans for Altium Designer 20 start at $7245.00/year.
Full version costs $9890.00/year.
There is no free-version available.
Is Altium Designer worth it?Altium Designer 20 is a powerful PCB designing software program, and caters to many fields and interests;
It offers fast and precise schematic editing tools and customizable options for creating your own workspace. The learning curve is slightly steep but with the tutorials given, even a beginner can use the program.
It is a capable program, but the high pricing might not suit all the users.
Circuit Studio Vs EaglesMain Differences Between CircuitStudio Vs Altium DesignerYou have seen the pros and cons of both programs in detail, below we have highlighted the major differences between the two for a feature-wise comparison:
[1] CS does not support Field Programmable Gate Array (FGPA) file types, while Designer does.
[2] The CS app does not have a CAM editor, so DFM tools are not available. Altium Designer has these tools.
[3] ActiveBOM is another feature available only in Altium Designer. This provides the users with part details and pricing info for components related to their design.
[4] CS has a Ribbon-based UI, which Designer does not have. This user interface has tabs grouped by functionality for easier access and a neat layout.
[5] The UI, menu options and accelerator keys are not customizable in CS; they can only be used in their default configuration.
[6] Altium Designer is a heavier and more storage-consuming application, whereas CS is a comparatively compact package, quicker and easier to install and setup.
[7] Altium Designer is priced much higher than CircuitStudio, and for its price, CircuitStudio has a good amount of features and performance quality.
Which Software Is Best For PCB Designing, CircuitStudio Vs Altium DesignerAfter the Altium Designer vs CircuitStudio comparison, it is clear: is basically a stripped-down version of Altium Designer, with limited features and functions, but also at a much lower cost.
So when it comes to PCB designing, both programs have all the basic capabilities to allow you to design and work on circuits and boards in a logical and systematic manner.
But for advanced designing with complex Vias and pads, hierarchical structures and high-speed features such as RF, you will have to pick Altium Designer, as CS will not be able to help you execute all of these tasks.
CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer: Who's the Winner?Even if you are a professional designer and can work on any project with any software you are given, you might be able to complete your circuit.
But to do it efficiently, without hassles and to make an organized layout which makes sense, you will need a program that intuitively understands what you are trying to do. CS will also try to do this, but it is more reliant on user-inputs and works with a lower amount of scripting and automation.
But if we talk about value-for-money, there are barely any PCB designing programs that can beat Circuit Studio at its performance and capability.
So, Which One Should You Pick?Circuit Studio Vs Eagle RockAs you have now seen, CircuitStudio is a basic version of Altium Designer, in the sense that it lacks the production capabilities that an advanced board designer would need for a complex project.
So if you are not required to work on complex boards or do not have to consider production, then you can go for CircuitStudio, and once you establish a good command on it, upgrading to Designer will be very easy, and cheaper as well.
But if industry-level designing is your priority and you have to work on RAM units, Motherboards, HDI structures, or other complex architecture, Altium Designer would be recommended.
In all other scenarios, the two are much alike. Hence the answer to CircuitStudio Vs Altium Designer is based on your specific requirements.
Hopefully, you have found this Circuitstudio v Altium Designer comparison guide worthwhile and it has helped you to make an informed choice about these two PCB Design Software.
Additionally, you can also check out our comparison of KiCad vs Altium Designer and Upverter Vs Altium Designer, if you are still not quite settled on a solution.