TinyCAD

TinyCAD

TinyCAD is a free and open source computer aided design application for 2D drawings. It has basic CAD features like layers, dimensioning, shape tools, and can export to common formats. TinyCAD is lightweight and good for simple diagrams and schematics.
TinyCAD image
2d-drawings cad diagrams free lightweight open-source schematics tinycad

TinyCAD: Free 2D CAD Application

Free and open source computer aided design application for 2D drawings, lightweight and suitable for simple diagrams and schematics

What is TinyCAD?

TinyCAD is an open source computer aided design (CAD) application designed for drawing schematics, diagrams, illustrations, and other 2D graphics. As the name suggests, it has a small footprint and aims to provide basic CAD functionality without overwhelming users.

Some of the key features of TinyCAD include:

  • Layers for organizing drawings
  • Common shape tools - lines, arcs, circles, rectangles, etc.
  • Dimensioning and annotation tools
  • Support for common image formats like PNG, JPEG, BMP
  • Exporting drawings to PDF or SVG
  • Customizable line styles and colors
  • A simple, easy to use interface

While it lacks some advanced CAD features like 3D modeling, TinyCAD can be handy for electrical schematics, office layout diagrams, software sketches, draftsman drawings, flowcharts, and other basic 2D graphics. Its simplicity makes TinyCAD accessible for non-technical users.

TinyCAD is a compact and capable basic 2D CAD application. For more demanding technical drawings, packages like LibreCAD, FreeCAD, or proprietary tools may be required, but for simple illustration tasks, TinyCAD provides an easy to use free option.

TinyCAD Features

Features

  1. 2D CAD drawing
  2. Basic shape tools
  3. Layers
  4. Dimensioning
  5. Export to common formats like PNG, JPG, PDF
  6. Lightweight and good for simple diagrams and schematics

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Simple and easy to use

Cross-platform

Active community support

Cons

Limited features compared to full CAD suites

No 3D modeling

Lacks advanced tools like parametric modeling

Basic user interface


The Best TinyCAD Alternatives

Top Development and Cad and other similar apps like TinyCAD


Fritzing icon

Fritzing

Fritzing is an open-source software tool for electronics design, prototyping, and documentation. It allows makers, hobbyists, students, and engineers to easily create electronic circuit prototypes and layouts, and then generate professional diagrams and PCB designs to manufacture their projects.Some key features of Fritzing include:An easy-to-use interface with a breadboard view,...
Fritzing image
KiCad icon

KiCad

KiCad is an open source electronics design automation suite comprised of several different programs for schematic capture, printed circuit board layout, Gerber file generation, spice simulation, and more. Originally developed by Jean-Pierre Charras in 1992, KiCad has continued to be improved and expanded through contributions from a diverse community.Some key...
KiCad image
Proteus PCB design icon

Proteus PCB design

Proteus PCB Design is a printed circuit board (PCB) layout software package aimed at professionals and electronics enthusiasts. It is part of the larger Proteus Design Suite which also includes schematic capture and simulation capabilities.Proteus PCB Design stands out for its powerful feature set including:Intuitive schematic capture with part libraries...
Proteus PCB design image
Altium Designer icon

Altium Designer

Altium Designer is a comprehensive printed circuit board (PCB) design environment used by engineers for designing and prototyping complex electronic hardware products. It provides tools for all aspects of the PCB design process including:Schematic capture - Intuitively create schematics showing electrical connectivity and capture component data.PCB layout - Powerful routing...
Altium Designer image
Autodesk EAGLE icon

Autodesk EAGLE

Autodesk EAGLE is a powerful printed circuit board (PCB) design software used by engineers, makers, and electronics enthusiasts. It enables schematic capture, PCB layout, autorouting, and also includes a comprehensive library of over 6 million component footprints and symbols.Some key features of Autodesk EAGLE include:Intuitive schematic editor for capturing circuits...
Autodesk EAGLE image
OrCAD (All Products) icon

OrCAD (All Products)

OrCAD is a comprehensive suite of electronic design automation (EDA) software tools developed by Cadence Design Systems for engineers and designers to create printed circuit boards (PCBs), integrated circuits (ICs), and programmable logic designs. The OrCAD product line includes the following core components:OrCAD Capture - Schematic capture and mixed-signal circuit...
OrCAD (All Products) image
LibrePCB icon

LibrePCB

LibrePCB is a free and open source software application for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). It provides a complete workflow from schematic capture, through board layout and routing, to manufacturing output generation.Some of the key features of LibrePCB include:Intuitive user interface designed specifically for PCB design.All steps of the design...
LibrePCB image
GEDA Project icon

GEDA Project

The gEDA Project is a full GPL'd suite of Electronic Design Automation tools that are used for electrical circuit design, schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, and production. gEDA uses an open file format and aims to be a free alternative to proprietary EDA suites like Cadence or OrCAD.gEDA includes applications for...
GEDA Project image
ICircuit icon

ICircuit

iCircuit is an interactive circuit simulator and schematic capture tool designed specifically for prototyping, experimenting, and testing circuit ideas. It provides a simple and intuitive interface that allows both novice and advanced users to quickly draw circuits and simulate them with ease.Some key features of iCircuit include:Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for...
ICircuit image
EasyEDA icon

EasyEDA

EasyEDA is a free online electronic circuit simulator and PCB design software that allows users to design electronic circuits, create PCBs, and simulate circuit behavior. Some key features of EasyEDA include:Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for designing circuits and PCBsLarge component library with over 500,000 partsReal-time circuit simulation to test and debug...
EasyEDA image
NI Circuit Design Suite Power Pro icon

NI Circuit Design Suite Power Pro

NI Circuit Design Suite Power Pro is a specialized integrated software suite developed specifically for power electronics and motor drive applications. It provides an integrated environment for designing, simulating, prototyping, and validating power electronic and drive systems.Some of the key capabilities include:Schematic capture tools tailored for power electronics design including...
NI Circuit Design Suite Power Pro image
Circuit Diagram icon

Circuit Diagram

Circuit Diagram is a feature-rich application used to design, simulate, and layout electronic circuits. With an intuitive graphical interface, it enables electronics engineers, technicians, makers, and hobbyists to easily construct circuit schematics consisting of common components like resistors, capacitors, transistors, logic gates, microcontrollers, and more.Once a schematic is completed, Circuit...
Circuit Diagram image
Caneda icon

Caneda

Caneda is a powerful, easy-to-use, cross-platform electronics design automation suite for schematic capture, printing circuit board layout, and manufacturing. It features an intuitive graphical user interface to streamline workflow and includes advanced tools for routing, design rule checks, and 3D modeling.Key features of Caneda include:Schematic capture with part library for...
Caneda image
Horizon EDA icon

Horizon EDA

Horizon EDA is a feature-rich printed circuit board (PCB) design software that covers the complete workflow from schematic capture to PCB layout and manufacturing. It comes integrated with a schematic editor, PCB layout editor with advanced autorouting algorithms, design rule checking (DRC), and 3D preview to visualize the final board.Some...
Horizon EDA image