OrCAD (All Products) vs CircuitMaker

Struggling to choose between OrCAD (All Products) and CircuitMaker? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

OrCAD (All Products) is a Development solution with tags like pcb-design, ic-design, schematic-capture, simulation, layout, autorouting, manufacturing.

It boasts features such as Schematic capture, PCB layout and autorouting, FPGA design, Simulation and analysis, 3D modeling and visualization, Design rule checking, Signal integrity analysis, Thermal analysis, Design data and workflow management and pros including Powerful and full-featured toolset, Good for complex, high-speed designs, Tight integration between modules, Large user community and available expertise, Compatible with industry standards.

On the other hand, CircuitMaker is a Development product tagged with pcb-design, schematic-capture, electronics, cad.

Its standout features include PCB layout and routing, Real-time design rule checking, 3D PCB viewing and export, Component library with over 7000 parts, Import Altium and Eagle designs, Multi-layer boards up to 16 layers, Autorouting, Mixed-mode SPICE simulation, Version control and project collaboration, and it shines with pros like Free to use with no restrictions, Easy to learn and use, Powerful features for a free tool, Large component library, Can open Altium and Eagle files, Good for hobbyists and professionals.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

OrCAD (All Products)

OrCAD (All Products)

OrCAD is a suite of electronic design automation software used for printed circuit board, integrated circuit, and programmable logic design. It includes schematic capture, simulation, PCB layout, auto-routing, and manufacturing outputs.

Categories:
pcb-design ic-design schematic-capture simulation layout autorouting manufacturing

OrCAD (All Products) Features

  1. Schematic capture
  2. PCB layout and autorouting
  3. FPGA design
  4. Simulation and analysis
  5. 3D modeling and visualization
  6. Design rule checking
  7. Signal integrity analysis
  8. Thermal analysis
  9. Design data and workflow management

Pricing

  • Subscription
  • Perpetual License

Pros

Powerful and full-featured toolset

Good for complex, high-speed designs

Tight integration between modules

Large user community and available expertise

Compatible with industry standards

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be expensive for smaller teams

Limited customization compared to open source

Vendor lock-in


CircuitMaker

CircuitMaker

CircuitMaker is a free PCB design and schematic software for electronics engineers. It features advanced routing tools, real-time design rules checking, and a component library with over 7000 parts.

Categories:
pcb-design schematic-capture electronics cad

CircuitMaker Features

  1. PCB layout and routing
  2. Real-time design rule checking
  3. 3D PCB viewing and export
  4. Component library with over 7000 parts
  5. Import Altium and Eagle designs
  6. Multi-layer boards up to 16 layers
  7. Autorouting
  8. Mixed-mode SPICE simulation
  9. Version control and project collaboration

Pricing

  • Free
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Free to use with no restrictions

Easy to learn and use

Powerful features for a free tool

Large component library

Can open Altium and Eagle files

Good for hobbyists and professionals

Cons

Limited to 2 signal layers in free version

No manufacturing outputs in free version

Lacks some advanced features of paid tools

Component library not as comprehensive as Altium

Only available on Windows, not Mac or Linux