Which software you think is a better one for a beginner to design a PCB

183 14

#1 21678010 23 Oct 2017 15:41

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #1
21678010 23 Oct 2017 15:41

Hello everyone .I'm a new member of PCB designer, I learn all the knowledge about PCB on the net and book, and recently, I decide to design my own boards, but I'm confused about which software I should chose. Anyone has any suggestions?

ADVERTISEMENT
#2 21678011 23 Oct 2017 17:25

Rick Curl Rick Curl

Anonymous

Post #2
21678011 23 Oct 2017 17:25

Hi Ting-You've got lots of options, and all of them are good. One thing to watch out for is that many of the free ones will "lock you in" so that you can only order PCB's from the company that provided the software. Additionally, some are much harder to learn than others. My personal preference is Diptrace. It's easy to learn, and you can download a starter version that will allow you to make designs up to 300 pins for free. There's a very active forum on their site so it's easy to get help if you need it. The developers are very responsive any time someone finds a bug.There are many other options out there, like Eagle, Circuitmaker 2000, Kicad, PCB123 among others. You might want to just download some and see what is most comfortable for you.
-Rick
ADVERTISEMENT
#3 21678012 23 Oct 2017 18:17

EEWeb EEWeb

Anonymous

Post #3
21678012 23 Oct 2017 18:17

[User comment deleted]
#4 21678013 23 Oct 2017 21:48

Duane Benson Duane Benson

Anonymous

Post #4
21678013 23 Oct 2017 21:48

Hi Ting -
One thing that I would add is to consider where you want to be with PC board design in a year or so. If you're planning on getting a job designing PCBs, or plan to join a company that uses high end PCB CAD, I'd look at CircuitMaker.CircuitMaker is produced by Altium and is very close in operation to their professional packages. The limitation with CircuitMaker is that all designs you create must be open source. The greatest strength is that it will teach you rules-based design, where you set up your design rules ahead of time, and then whatever you do follows those rules. It's a little harder to get started on, but in the long run, will teach you to be a better designer.Eagle is really easy to get started with, but you need to take extra care with the component libraries. I use Eagle more than any other package, just because it is really easy to learn and use, and there are a lot of tutorials available on the web.
Duane
ADVERTISEMENT
#5 21678014 24 Oct 2017 07:29

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #5
21678014 24 Oct 2017 07:29

Thank you, Duane-PC board design is one of my biggest interests, I get into this field just around 3 months. As a beginner, I haven't put it into my career life now, but maybe some years later, with the improvement of my skill, my idea will change, haha. And now, I decide to download Eagle have a try. Thanks again.Ting
#6 21678015 24 Oct 2017 07:34

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #6
21678015 24 Oct 2017 07:34

Mike-Thank you for your reply, and I'll try Eagle CAD, hope I can succeed. If I make it, I will share my result in the forum.Ting
#7 21678016 24 Oct 2017 07:41

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #7
21678016 24 Oct 2017 07:41

Hi Rick-So kind of you. You have offered so many choices. I will try both Eagle and Diptrace, there must be a fit for me. Thank you.Ting
#8 21678017 24 Oct 2017 07:59

Kevin Angelo Ma Kevin Angelo Ma

Anonymous

Post #8
21678017 24 Oct 2017 07:59

Hi,I think we've made a simple infographics about this before. If you may, I would like to share it with you. http://www.aapcb.com/media/images/PCB-CAD-Software.width-600.jpg
Cheers!
ADVERTISEMENT
#9 21678018 24 Oct 2017 09:15

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #9
21678018 24 Oct 2017 09:15

wow， good job， thanks a lot, kevin. So can I share this infographics with my friend?-Ting
#10 21678019 25 Oct 2017 07:36

Kevin Angelo Ma Kevin Angelo Ma

Anonymous

Post #10
21678019 25 Oct 2017 07:36

Sure thing.
#11 21678020 25 Oct 2017 14:37

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #11
21678020 25 Oct 2017 14:37

Thank you, emmm``````
#12 21678021 25 Oct 2017 15:17

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #12
21678021 25 Oct 2017 15:17

Hey Rick-I'm so glad to tell you a good news, I finished my first design. But what a pity I don't know how to share my result with all of you in this forum. And next step, I will invite my friend to inspect whether my design is reasonable, finally, make my design to be a real board. Wow, I'm so excited.
#13 21678022 26 Oct 2017 21:34

Rick Curl Rick Curl

Anonymous

Post #13
21678022 26 Oct 2017 21:34

Wow! That was fast! You obviously are a quick learner. It took me a LOT longer than that to do my first PCB in a CAD system. Which software did you use?
It's also good to hear that you're excited about your new skill. Try to never lose that excitement. It will help you move forward and expand your capabilities.
If you want to share your design, you can upload it to Dropbox or one of the other file storage/sharing services and then post a link here. You could also upload it to Oshpark.com, which is a good, inexpensive PCB manufacturer. You can not only see your design on their website, but you can share it so others can see it too.
Congratulations!
-Rick
#14 21678023 26 Oct 2017 21:41

Rick Curl Rick Curl

Anonymous

Post #14
21678023 26 Oct 2017 21:41

I failed to mention the most obvious way to share your project. Click on your user name in the upper right corner at the top of this page. Then click on "Post New Project". You could be famous in a matter of minutes!
-Rick
#15 21678024 27 Oct 2017 07:43

Ting Wang Ting Wang

Anonymous

Post #15
21678024 27 Oct 2017 07:43

Thank you. My friend helped me lot, he taught me how to use the AD, so that I can finish my design in a short time. Haha, I'll try again to share my simple project with you. And next step, I'll make my board to be a real one. So excited.
Create an account, log in here. You will receive points by participating in discussions.
Join this discussion.

Install Elektroda application

Didn't find an answer? Ask Artificial Intelligence

*I agree to send the question to OpenAI, Anthropic PBC, Perplexity AI, Inc., Kagi Inc., Google LLC - owners of language models in order to prepare the best response. The companies may monitor and log information entered into the form.

*I agree to publicly display my question and answer. The question and answer will be publicly available to everyone. The process may take a few minutes. Upon completion, you will be redirected to the page with the answer.

Wait...(2min)

Topic summary

✨ A beginner seeking advice on PCB design software received multiple recommendations highlighting ease of learning, functionality, and future career considerations. Diptrace was praised for its user-friendly interface, free starter version supporting up to 300 pins, and active support community. Eagle was noted for its accessibility to beginners and extensive online tutorials, though caution was advised regarding component libraries. CircuitMaker, developed by Altium, was recommended for those aiming to advance professionally, as it enforces rules-based design and closely resembles high-end CAD tools, with the limitation that all designs must be open source. Other software options mentioned include Kicad and PCB123. The discussion also covered sharing completed designs via platforms like Dropbox, Oshpark, or forum project posts. The beginner successfully completed a first design using Altium Designer with peer assistance and expressed enthusiasm for progressing to physical board fabrication.

Home page
/
Forum
/
Circuit Design
/
EEWeb Topics
/
Which software you think is a better one for a beginner to design a PCB

FAQ

TL;DR: New to PCB CAD? Start with DipTrace or Eagle. DipTrace’s free tier supports 300 pins, and “It’s easy to learn.” Consider CircuitMaker if you want rules‑based, pro‑style tooling later. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps first‑time designers pick beginner‑friendly PCB software and share early results without vendor lock‑in.

Quick Facts

Vendor lock‑in risk: some free PCB tools only let you order from their own fab. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]
DipTrace starter supports up to 300 pins; good for small prototypes. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]
CircuitMaker projects must be open source and follows Altium‑style workflows. [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]
Eagle is fast to learn but needs careful library checks. [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]
To share here: profile → “Post New Project.” [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678023]

What’s the best PCB design software for a beginner?

Start with DipTrace or Eagle for a gentle learning curve. Explore CircuitMaker if you want pro‑style rules and Altium familiarity. Also consider KiCad and PCB123 to compare workflows. Download a couple and see what feels natural to you. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]

Is DipTrace good for beginners, and what are its limits?

Yes. DipTrace is easy to learn and has an active help forum. The free starter lets you design up to 300 pins, which suits many first projects. Try it early to practice schematic‑to‑PCB flow without cost pressure. “It’s easy to learn.” [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]

Should I pick CircuitMaker if I aim for a pro PCB career?

Consider it. CircuitMaker is close to Altium’s professional tools and teaches rules‑based design from day one. All projects are open source, which suits learning and community feedback. “It will teach you rules‑based design.” [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]

Is Eagle still a good starter choice?

Yes. Eagle is very easy to get started with and has many tutorials. Take extra care with component libraries to avoid footprint mistakes. Many hobbyists ship working boards after learning Eagle basics. “Eagle is really easy to get started with.” [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]

What does rules‑based design mean?

You set design rules first—clearances, widths, and constraints—and the tool enforces them as you place and route. This prevents many layout errors and builds professional habits early. CircuitMaker emphasizes this approach, similar to Altium’s flow. [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]

Can free PCB tools lock me into one manufacturer?

Yes. Some free tools restrict ordering to their partner fab, which limits pricing and material options. That vendor lock‑in is a common beginner pitfall. Choose software that exports standard files if you want flexibility. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]

How do I share my PCB design on this forum?

Use the built‑in project feature. 1. Click your username at the top right. 2. Choose “Post New Project.” 3. Upload details, then publish and share the link. This keeps feedback in one place and helps others learn. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678023]

Where can I order beginner‑friendly prototype PCBs?

Try OSH Park for inexpensive prototypes. You can upload your design to preview the board and optionally share it publicly for feedback. It’s a straightforward path from file to board for first‑time designers. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678022]

How fast can a newcomer finish a first PCB?

Faster than you think, with guidance. One beginner in the thread finished a first design quickly and shared the excitement after completing layout. Mentorship and clear goals help you reach that milestone. [Elektroda, Ting Wang, post #21678021]

What is Altium Designer (AD)?

AD refers to Altium Designer, a professional PCB CAD suite. In the thread, a friend taught AD basics, enabling the beginner to complete a first board rapidly. That shows pro tools can be approachable with help. [Elektroda, Ting Wang, post #21678024]

What is OSH Park?

OSH Park is a PCB fabrication service popular for low‑cost prototypes. You can view renders online and share a project page so others can see your board. It’s useful for early community feedback. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678022]

Any tips to avoid library mistakes in Eagle?

Verify each footprint against the datasheet before routing. Pay attention to pad pitch, orientation, and polarity. Eagle is easy to learn, but library diligence prevents costly re‑spins. That’s a common advice point from experienced users. [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]

Will CircuitMaker keep my designs private?

No. CircuitMaker requires that all projects be open source. That’s great for learning and collaboration, but not ideal for confidential work. Choose a different tool if you must keep designs private. [Elektroda, Duane Benson, post #21678013]

What if I want flexibility to choose any PCB fab?

Pick software that exports standard manufacturing files and avoids vendor lock‑in. This keeps your sourcing options open for price, lead time, and materials. It’s a key strategic decision early on. [Elektroda, Rick Curl, post #21678011]