A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite

KiCad

KiCad

  -  1.1 GB  -  Open Source
  • Latest Version

    KiCad 8.0.7 LATEST

  • Review by

    Sophia Jones

  • Operating System

    Windows 8 (64-bit) / Windows 10 (64-bit) / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    KiCad Team / External Link

  • Filename

    kicad-8.0.7-x86_64.exe

KiCad is an open-source electronic design automation (EDA) software suite used for creating schematics, printed circuit board (PCB) layouts, and more.

KiCad Screenshot 1

Initially developed in 1992 by Jean-Pierre Charras, KiCad for PC has evolved significantly over the years, becoming one of the most popular tools for electronics hobbyists, engineers, and professionals alike.

Its robust feature set, combined with its open-source nature, makes it a versatile choice for PCB design, capable of handling both small-scale and complex projects.

Main Features

Schematic Capture

KiCad's Eeschema module allows users to create complex circuit schematics with ease. It includes a wide range of components and supports custom symbols. Users can easily create and manage hierarchical designs, which is particularly useful for large projects.

PCB Layout

The PCBNew module is where the magic happens for PCB design. It supports multi-layer boards, differential pair routing, and high-speed design. The interactive routing tool offers real-time design rule checking, ensuring that your design is manufacturable.

3D Viewer

It includes a powerful 3D viewer that lets you visualize your PCB in a 3D space. This feature helps in understanding the placement of components and verifying the physical layout before manufacturing.

Library Management

It provides extensive libraries of components, footprints, and symbols. It also allows users to create and manage their own libraries, ensuring that you have the exact parts you need for your design.

SPICE Simulation

This program integrates with Ngspice for circuit simulation, allowing you to test your circuits before building them physically. This feature is invaluable for verifying the functionality of your design.

User Interface

KiCad’s user interface is clean and functional, though it may seem a bit overwhelming to beginners due to the vast array of tools and features available.

KiCad Screenshot 2

The interface is divided into different modules—Eeschema for schematic capture, PCBNew for PCB layout, and more—each with its own set of tools and options.

The learning curve can be steep, but once familiar with the interface, users will find it highly efficient and customizable. It supports multiple windows and tabs, allowing for easy navigation between different parts of a project.

Installation and Setup

Download: Visit the official website or FileHorse and download the installer for your operating system.

Installation: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. The installation process typically takes a few minutes, depending on your system.

Initial Setup: Upon first launch, it prompts you to configure the default libraries and settings. This step is crucial as it ensures you have all the necessary components and tools available.

Getting Started: It offers a range of tutorials and documentation to help you get started. It’s recommended to go through these resources to familiarize yourself with the software.

KiCad Screenshot 3

How to Use
  • Create a Project: Start by creating a new project. It organizes everything into a project directory, making it easy to manage files.
  • Schematic Design: Use the Eeschema module to create your circuit schematic. Add components from the library, connect them using wires, and assign footprints to each component.
  • PCB Layout: Once your schematic is complete, switch to PCBNew to start laying out your PCB. Import the netlist from Eeschema and place your components on the board. Use the routing tools to connect the components.
  • 3D Visualization: Use the 3D viewer to check your PCB layout in a three-dimensional space. This step is essential for ensuring the physical design meets your expectations.
  • Manufacturing Files: Generate Gerber files and other necessary manufacturing files from PCBNew. These files are what you will send to your PCB manufacturer.
FAQ

Is KiCad suitable for professional use?
Yes, this program is widely used by professionals for commercial projects. Its feature set is robust enough to handle complex designs, and being open-source, it receives continuous improvements from the community.

Can I import projects from other EDA tools into KiCad?
It supports importing designs from other EDA tools like Eagle. However, the import process might require some adjustments to ensure compatibility.

Does KiCad have simulation capabilities?
Yes, it integrates with Ngspice for SPICE-based circuit simulation. This feature allows you to simulate and verify your circuits before building them.

Is there a limit to the size or complexity of a project in KiCad?
No, the app does not impose any artificial limits on the size or complexity of your project. It can handle multi-layer boards, high pin-count components, and large designs.

How can I learn KiCad efficiently?
The community offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums. Additionally, there are many video tutorials available online that can help you learn the software quickly.

Alternatives

Eagle: A popular EDA tool by Autodesk, Eagle offers similar functionality but comes with a steeper price tag and limitations on board size in the free version.

Altium Designer: Altium is a high-end EDA tool used by professionals in the industry.

Fritzing: Fritzing is an open-source tool designed for beginners and hobbyists.

Pricing

This software is completely FREE and open-source, with no restrictions on its use. This makes it an attractive option for both hobbyists and professionals who need powerful PCB design software without the high cost.

System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7
  • Processor: 1 GHz or faster processor
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM minimum (4 GB or more recommended)
  • Storage: 2 GB of available disk space
  • Graphics: OpenGL 2.1 or higher-compatible graphics card
PROS
  • Free and open-source
  • Robust feature set for professional use
  • Multi-platform support
  • Extensive community resources
CONS
  • User interface can be overwhelming at first
  • Occasional bugs and glitches
Conclusion

KiCad is a powerful and versatile EDA tool that is well-suited for both beginners and professionals. Its open-source nature, combined with a comprehensive feature set, makes it an excellent choice for PCB design.

While it has a learning curve, the benefits of using this program far outweigh the initial challenges. Whether you’re working on a small hobby project or a complex commercial design, it provides all the tools you need to bring your ideas to life.

Also Available: KiCad for Mac

  • KiCad 8.0.7 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    KiCad 8.0.7 Screenshot 1
  • KiCad 8.0.7 Screenshot 2
  • KiCad 8.0.7 Screenshot 3

What's new in this version:

General:
- Fix URI environment variable expansion issue
- Fix display of broken fonts
- Clear unknown keys from environment variable maps on save
- Exclude letter hotkeys from shift fallback
- Fix missing text and graphics in PDF plots
- Handle DXF files with out of bounds values
- Fix invalid Bezier curve DXF import
- Fix incorrectly rendered font depending on rotation
- Make color picker dialog usable on hidpi monitors
- Scale text size to inside scaled blocks on DXF import
- Fix copy-paste issue for grids with checkboxes
- Update font when needed on italic/bold change
- Prevent altering text thickness when switching bold option on and off

Schematic Editor:
- Make sheet pin unconnected indicator (X) follow when dragging sheet
- Fix import compatibility with LCEDA/EasyEDA v2232
- Use symbol/netport name from device entry if empty when importing EasyEDA/LCEDA schematic
- Do not import empty visible net labels from EasyEDA/LCEDA Pro schematics
- Import Bezier curves in symbols from EasyEDA/LCEDA schematics
- Test for valid sheet name in sheet dialog properties
- Fix missing actions strings and hotkey conflict
- Respect background color fill when plotting to PDF
- Fix copy and paste issue in bus alias definition
- Do not allow repeat action to cause sheet recursion
- Fix crash when importing Eagle schematic when board file doesn’t exist in non-stand alone mode
- Warn user when template field names contain trailing/leading white space
- Fix an issue in sheet cross-references of global labels
- Add sheet changes to net navigation history

Symbol Editor:
- Preserve pin numbering when duplicating

Spice Simulator:
- Fix missing current scale in AC simulation
- Fix crash when deselecting the probe tool

Board Editor:
- Prevent solder mask bridge DRC error with mask pad
- Report implicit design rule minimums as being from the board setup
- Fix importing custom design rules
- Don’t ask about locking twice
- Make orphaned nets obey the minimum board clearance
- Make neck in a zone fill the DRC epsilon smaller on each side
- Make sure paste action can’t be performed through modal dialog
- Make polyline properties dialog honor the escape key
- Fix focus issue in parent window after hiding the search panel
- Fix DRC error with arcs
- Fix text position when drawing PCB text on non paired layers
- Fix error in DRC rule resolver
- Force orphaned nets to obey the minimum board clearance
- Fix Eagle footprint library migration crash
- Fix unconnected pads missing in IPC-2581 export
- Fix crash on routing many traces
- Correctly generate thermal reliefs on parts rotated by 45 degrees
- Fix circular courtyard DRC error
- Fix random malformed board outline with arcs DRC errors
- Properly group automatically generated objects
- Fixing paste issue in footprint library tables
- Fix disappearing courtyard layers
- Use appropriate tuning pattern icon in menus for tuning pattern generators
- Make convert to lines use the width of polygons where applicable
- Length tuning workflow improvements
- Show empty field for unconstrained length in length tuning properties
- Fix crash after Fabmaster import
- Update DRC exclusions from DRC dialog

Footprint Editor:
- Fix crash when saving a footprint
- Add 3D mouse support for 3D view

Gerber Viewer:
- Add 3D mouse support

D Viewer:
- Ensure the 3D display view is not modified after menu selection
- Fix omission of STEP models with relative path assignment

Worksheet Editor:
- Add 3D mouse support

PCB Calculator:
- Always use black text in E-series resistor table

Command Line Interface:
- Accept multiple Gerber layers for single layer plotting

macOS:
- Fix missed rows when pasting to grid

Python Scripting:
- Ensure image handlers are loaded before loading a board