PADS PCB Design vs CometCAD

Struggling to choose between PADS PCB Design and CometCAD? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

PADS PCB Design is a Development solution with tags like schematic-capture, pcb-layout, component-libraries, design-rule-checking, manufacturing-output.

It boasts features such as Schematic capture, PCB layout and routing, Design rule checking, 3D modeling and visualization, Component library with over 500,000 parts, Imports netlists from various EDA tools, Generates manufacturing and assembly files and pros including Powerful design features and capabilities, Extensive component libraries, Easy to learn and use, Great for complex, high-speed designs, Seamless ECAD/MCAD collaboration, Good technical support.

On the other hand, CometCAD is a Development product tagged with 2d-cad, drafting, design, architectural-drawings, mechanical-drawings, floor-plans, electrical-diagrams.

Its standout features include 2D drafting and design, Create architectural drawings, Create mechanical drawings, Create floor plans, Create electrical diagrams, Lightweight and easy to use, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Available on Windows, Linux and Mac, Good for simple 2D CAD tasks, Easy to use interface.

Feature	PADS PCB Design	CometCAD
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

PADS PCB Design

Description: PADS PCB Design is printed circuit board (PCB) design software used for schematic capture and PCB layout. It offers extensive component libraries, design rule checking, and supports various output formats for manufacturing.

CometCAD

Description: CometCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD program for Windows, Linux and Mac. It has basic 2D drafting and design features for architectural drawings, mechanical drawings, floor plans, electrical diagrams and more. It's lightweight and easy to use for simple 2D CAD tasks.

Key Features Comparison

PADS PCB Design Features

• Schematic capture
• PCB layout and routing
• Design rule checking
• 3D modeling and visualization
• Component library with over 500,000 parts
• Imports netlists from various EDA tools
• Generates manufacturing and assembly files

CometCAD Features

• 2D drafting and design
• Create architectural drawings
• Create mechanical drawings
• Create floor plans
• Create electrical diagrams
• Lightweight and easy to use

Pros & Cons Analysis

PADS PCB Design

Pros

• Powerful design features and capabilities
• Extensive component libraries
• Easy to learn and use
• Great for complex, high-speed designs
• Seamless ECAD/MCAD collaboration
• Good technical support

Cons

• Expensive licensing model
• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Limited customization options
• Frequent updates can introduce bugs
• Weak simulation features compared to other tools

CometCAD

Pros

• Free and open source
• Available on Windows, Linux and Mac
• Good for simple 2D CAD tasks
• Easy to use interface

Cons

• Limited features compared to paid CAD software
• No 3D modeling capabilities
• Lacks advanced tools for complex projects
• Basic documentation and support resources

Pricing Comparison

PADS PCB Design

• Subscription
• Perpetual License

CometCAD

• Free
• Open Source