A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite

KiCad
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KiCad

  -  921 MB  -  Open Source
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  • Latest Version

    KiCad 10.0.1 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-10.0.1-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.

LTspice: Fast, and free SPICE simulator software, schematic capture and waveform viewer.

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

Download KiCad Latest Version
Why is this app published on FileHorse? (More info)

  • KiCad 10.0.1 Screenshots

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

    KiCad 10.0.1 Screenshot 1
  • KiCad 10.0.1 Screenshot 2
  • KiCad 10.0.1 Screenshot 3

What's new in this version:

General:
- Resolve library table warning icon paths correctly
- Ensure library table child tables get reloaded after editing
- Make dark mode configurable on Windows
- Minor memory usage improvements
- Prevent progress dialog message from being clipped
- Fix missing checkability of selection tools
- Use radio buttons in DRC/ERC exclusions context menu
- Load hidden library tables but hide their children
- Fix several wxWidgets errors with project template selector
- Support upgrading user’s library settings in start up wizard
- Make help hotkey dialog read only
- Fix Find dialog ignoring current selection for search text pre-fill
- Fix false-positive library table warning
- Fix PDF stroke font glyph clipping
- Fix crash when editing polygon shape properties
- Fix crash navigating preferences dialog with keyboard arrow keys
- Fix crash on custom toolbar selection tool
- Add filtering and tooltips to toolbar customization panel
- Filter toolbar actions by editor
- Fix broken DRC/ERC strings
- Reload libraries when changing environment variables
- Speed up opening large library tables in the editor
- Add CURRENT_TIME text variables
- Remove illegal library name characters when importing EasyEDA Pro projects
- Fix start wizard libraries page vertical warning text clipping
- Fix autosave not committing unsaved changes to local history
- Install missing remote provider schema files
- Speed up .history size limit enforcement
- Change restore local history dialog to sort snapshots by date
- Resolve environment variables in nested library tables
- Show version control icons for projects in subdirectories
- Fix resolution of ${ALIAS} variable for user aliases
- Ensure project save as file formats are the same as normal saves
- Prevent environment variable expander from corrupting unresolved paths
- Prevent fields grid from inflating dialog minimum size
- Fix crash when hatching rounded-corner rectangles
- Fix hatch fill leaving gaps when shape has multiple regions

Schematic Editor:
- Add rule area attributes to properties panel
- Do not size symbol properties dialog with buttons outside of screen
- Prevent selection tool from toggling between square and lasso mode
- Fix inverted group bus members lost from connectivity
- Preserve formatting markers in bus name prefix during parsing
- Fix hop-over arc rendering with angled wires
- Extend hop-over arcs to buses
- Correctly show "Style" settings in sheet properties dialog
- Fix broken label properties dialog layout
- Skip "Symbol Name" field when applying data from fields grid
- Fix false ERC label not connected for labels bridging hierarchical pins
- Fix ghost labels in "Update Schematic from PCB" for multi-unit symbols
- Fix global labels not connecting through hierarchical pins
- Fix crash on exit from hierarchy panel label edit
- Fix crash when placing symbol from remote library
- Fix crash importing non-hierarchical Eagle schematics
- Fix lost variant properties when set via symbol properties dialog
- Fix crash in Update Schematic from PCB when deleting fields
- Fix Update Schematic from PCB for labels on unsplit wires
- Don’t display internal group layer in color chooser
- Fix remapping symbols in legacy schematics
- Fix net navigator not populating nets on startup
- Resolve text variables in symbol fields table display
- Align appearance of DNP sheets plots to screen
- Add UI to edit variant description after creation
- Fix false junction dots at connected pins during move or drag
- Load all fields the first time "Update Symbols" is run
- Fix find/replace matching power symbols via library template fields
- Fix use after free crash when closing
- Fix connectivity issue when combining more than two nets across multiple sheets using global labels
- Fix crash on Altium import
- Change text variable cell highlight from blue to yellow in bulk symbol edit
- Correct cross out placement when PDF plotting DNP symbols
- Fix bus unfold losing overbar
- Show wire/bus line style in properties panel
- Make hop-over scaling GUI-independent and follow the schematic
- Fix disconnected nets after drag
- Fix remote symbol crash
- Fix crash when removing pin from a symbol
- Fix bus unfold losing overbar
- Fix case-insensitive duplicate field names data loss in symbol fields table
- Fix crash when creating symbol library on export
- Correctly handle multi-unit symbols with modified units on gate swap
- Don’t process curved wires/buses into arcs when importing Eagle schematic
- Fix group handling of sheet pins
- Fix crash in design block preview with hop-over enabled
- Properly reannotate design block power symbol
- Don’t assert on unresolved references in design block previews
- Correctly transfer design block group as sheet to board
- Fix footprint chooser highlighting last-used instead of current item

Symbol Editor:
- Restore block selection in pin table
- Update symbol description in library tree after editing properties
- Force library to loaded state after remote symbol import
- Fix folder-based symbol libraries not deleting files on symbol delete/rename

Simulator:
- Fix crash on ngspice out of memory condition

Board Editor:
- Improve zone fill performance
- Don’t allow negative DRC clearance values
- Report zone to edge violations on zone’s layer
- Many DRC help fixes
- Prevent crash attempting to load empty Eagle polygon (Sentry KICAD-1659)
- Keep board flip state in sync when applying presets
- Avoid focusing on zero size objects after deflate loop
- Fix: DRC edge clearance errors on rounded rectangles
- Fix creepage DRC missing circular pad shapes
- Fix IPC plugins not showing up in toolbar
- Fix broken solder mask for pads with different shapes per layer
- Fix crash when changing text and graphic properties
- Fix degenerate zone fill geometry
- Fix deselection not working when selection filter blocks items
- Fix crash when editing text box fill property
- Prevent crash when opening plugin
- Use correct offset and page size when SVG plotting
- Fix hotkeys not updating in the appearance controls
- Apply severity filtering on update PCB from schematic on first dry run
- Treat teardrops as tracks in DRC rule matching and clearance testing
- Restore PCB zone priority field in properties panel
- Fix zone fill ignoring clearance from NPTH pads with no copper layers
- Fix PADS import of route arcs specified with CW/CCW direction
- Fix creepage DRC path starting at wrong point near NPTH slots
- Use variant specific value field in position file export
- Guard reference image dimension inputs against zero or negative values
- Correctly zoom to fit compare footprint to library canvas
- Cap stackup item count to prevent crash on corrupted files
- Prevent zone filler from creating thermal reliefs to nowhere
- Fix crash when text properties in properties panel
- Fix crash on start up due to user template paths
- Fix crash when trying to change a trace length
- Correctly update DNP variant when it matches default
- Fix teardrop asymmetry on off-center track connections
- Prevent canvas lag when selecting many footprints with hatching
- Include NPTH slots as board edges in creepage DRC
- Do not import all Allegro V16.x board through hole pads as non-plated
- Fix Cadence importer error with NVIDIA jetson developer boards
- Improve same priority zone sorting in zone manager
- Don’t apply line mode to rectangle and circle drawing
- Fix netclass colors lost during track drag
- Fix conditional physical clearance rules being silently skipped
- Fix flip board view state
- Fix selection filter in Edit Text & Graphics Properties affecting all grouped items
- Fix zone courtyard knockout using wrong side for internal copper layers
- Update layer of table cells when table layer is changed
- Prevent array tool from placing objects on top of one another
- Always snap to footprint origin regardless of anchor visibility
- Fix zone filling edge smoothing regression
- Respect zone connection setting for vias when hatch filling
- Fix crash after importing non-KiCad board
- Fix use after free crash when running DRC
- Use net colors for router preview items before netclass colors
- Prevent freeze after undoing a large move
- Fix through-hole pads losing inner layer connectivity after footprint flip
- Plot PDF DNP cross out in correct orientation
- Fix routed vias adopting zone net
- Prevent Python plug ins from disappearing
- Fix crash during footprint inline drag after move operation
- Fix SurfaceFinish element structure in IPC-2581
- Fix missing project local footprint libraries in stand alone mode
- Fix crash when placing footprint
- Ensure tuning profile differential pair rules match net class rule expressions
- Fix crash filling tear drops
- Fix use after free crash in DRC marker rules
- Fix teardrop extending outside narrow pads
- Fix two segment teardrop self intersection
- Fix zone manager dialog layout
- Show cancel menu entry in context menu for point, table, and barcode tools

Footprint Editor:
- Limit pad table dialog height to fit screen

3D Viewer:
- Fix incorrectly rendered rounded rectangles on paste layer
- Correctly display NPTH holes
- Use first high instead of closest sphere when clicking navigation gizmo

Gerber Viewer:
- Fix crash exporting to board file

Job Sets:
- Save and restore the 3D format properly in the properties dialog

Plugin Manager:
- Count downloads as failed/successful tasks
- Preserve execute bits when extracting packages
- Fix false positive PCM cleanup with overlapping environment variables

IPC API:
- Added handling for requesting dimensions from a board
- Add update items support to dimensions
- Fix deserialization of net tie groups
- Add support for barcodes and reference images
- Add serialization for footprint jumper settings
- Add support for setting title block information
- Fix crash duplicating shapes with hatch fill patterns
- Add support for connected items
- Report plugin action errors to status bar
- Allow relative paths in entry points
- Report plugin load errors to the user

Command Line Interface:
- Do not ignore gerber drill precision
- Properly save unpacked symbol library when upgrading

Windows:
- Improve start up wizard dialog text wrapping
- Do not return Non-zero exit code when deflating compressed STEP file
- Bump ngspice version to 46
- Fix crash when externally modifying the symbol currently being edited

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