A free, cross-platform Electronic Design Automation (EDA) suite for designing printed circuit boards.
LibrePCB is a free, open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software suite for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). It provides schematic capture, PCB layout, library management, and design rule checking tools in a cross-platform application. The project aims to offer a modern, intuitive alternative to proprietary EDA tools while promoting open standards and collaboration.
Electronics engineers, hardware hobbyists, students, and open-source hardware developers who need a free, capable tool for designing printed circuit boards without vendor lock-in.
LibrePCB offers a completely free, cross-platform EDA suite with a focus on intuitive usability, open file formats, and community-driven development. Unlike some proprietary tools, it avoids licensing fees and vendor lock-in while providing professional-grade features for PCB design.
A powerful, innovative and intuitive EDA suite for everyone!
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Provides consistent native applications for Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring accessibility without emulation or compatibility layers, as highlighted in the key features.
Uses JSON/XML for projects and libraries, making version control and collaborative editing straightforward, which is emphasized in the README as a core advantage.
Includes built-in version control and dependency handling for components, reducing manual errors and streamlining design workflows, as noted in the key features.
Completely free and open-source under GPLv3, avoiding licensing fees and vendor dependencies, making it ideal for hobbyists and open-source projects.
The master branch is explicitly warned as unstable and not for productive use, which can deter users needing reliable, cutting-edge features without risk of data loss.
Building from source requires multiple tools like Qt, Rust, and OpenCASCADE, with platform-specific setup steps that are cumbersome, as detailed in the installation instructions.
As a newer project, it has fewer pre-made libraries, tutorials, and plugins compared to established tools like KiCad, potentially increasing initial setup time for complex designs.
LibrePCB is an open-source alternative to the following products:
KiCad is an open-source electronics design automation (EDA) suite for creating printed circuit board (PCB) layouts and schematic diagrams, used by engineers and hobbyists.
A professional PCB design software used for electronic design automation, schematic capture, and 3D PCB layout.