"Free" is not one thing. Some tools are fully open-source, some are free for a core workflow, some are free trials, and some are free up to a usage cap. This roundup is honest about which is which, so you know exactly what you can use at no cost.
By Rishik Boddeti · Last reviewed
Founder of ProtoFlow, ECE at UT Austin
Quick answer
The best free PCB design software in 2026: KiCad 10 for a complete free, open-source desktop flow; ProtoFlow for free AI-native design, schematic through layout, auto-routing and Gerbers, that also reads and writes KiCad; EasyEDA for free browser design tied to JLCPCB; and Quilter's free tier or DeepPCB's one-time 30-minute trial for AI routing. A fully free path is ProtoFlow on its own, or ProtoFlow (drafting) → KiCad (layout/routing), with optional free AI routing, no paid plan required.
| Tool | Free offering | Stage | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| KiCad 10 | Fully free / open-source | Full capture → routing | No native AI; manual workflow |
| ProtoFlow | Free plan: full editor + AI | AI draft → schematic → layout → Gerbers | Daily AI message limits; not open-source |
| EasyEDA | Free browser tier | Capture + layout + ordering | Tied to JLCPCB/LCSC ecosystem |
| Quilter | Free AI-layout tier | Routing | Personal, academic or small-team use only; paid for commercial use |
| DeepPCB | 30-minute free trial + pay-as-you-go | Routing | Trial is 1 board, up to 4 layers and 150 airwires |
| Flux | Free trial only | Browser ECAD | Becomes paid; AI metered by usage |
Skip the comparison shopping. Try the free one first and see if it does the job.
Download for DesktopEach row links to the vendor page it came from and shows the date we last read that page. Vendors change pricing often, so check the link before you buy.
| Product | Price or limit | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| KiCad | Free, open source (GPLv3+) | kicad.org | |
| EasyEDA | Free plan ("Free Forever"), commercial use allowed | easyeda.com | |
| Quilter | Free tier for personal, academic and eligible small-team use (under 10 people and $50K revenue); free-tier designs are used to train its models | quilter.ai | |
| Quilter | Commercial use priced per project, quoted through sales | quilter.ai | |
| DeepPCB | One-time 30-minute free trial (1 board, up to 4 layers, 150 airwires), then prepaid pay-as-you-go credits (1 hour for $30) | deeppcb.ai | |
| Flux | 14-day free trial, then paid plans from $50/month | flux.ai | |
| Flux | AI usage metered in compute units (ACUs), with monthly allowances and paid extra ACUs | flux.ai |
KiCad is fully free and open-source, with no tiers, caps, or trials, and it handles the entire flow from schematic capture to Gerber export. It is the default recommendation for anyone who wants professional-grade PCB design without spending anything.
Its only gap for 2026 workflows is the lack of native AI, which is why some people pair it with a free AI tool like ProtoFlow that reads and writes KiCad projects.
ProtoFlow has a free editor and daily AI message allowance: describe a circuit in plain English, import real LCSC/DigiKey/Mouser parts, lay out and auto-route the board, run DRC/ERC and SPICE simulation, and export Gerbers, drill files and a JLCPCB BOM/CPL, or a ready-to-use KiCad project. Trials and paid plans show included AI usage in credits. It covers the create-the-circuit stage that other free tools skip, and the rest of the board too.
Because it exports standard KiCad projects and keeps files local, it adds AI to a free stack without introducing lock-in.
EasyEDA offers a genuinely free browser tier covering schematic and layout, and is tightly integrated with JLCPCB/LCSC for parts and ordering. It is a strong free choice if you are comfortable working inside that ecosystem.
Both Quilter and DeepPCB offer free entry points for AI routing: Quilter's free tier is for personal, academic and small-team use, DeepPCB's is a one-time 30-minute trial, and both charge for production-scale work. They route an existing board rather than create the schematic, so they sit at the end of a free stack.
To spend nothing end to end: generate and validate the schematic in ProtoFlow, then lay out, route and export Gerbers in ProtoFlow, or export to KiCad 10 for layout and routing, and optionally try Quilter's free tier or DeepPCB's free trial for AI routing. Either path covers idea-to-board without a paid plan.
| Criteria | ProtoFlow EDA | Other "free" PCB tools (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Free for AI schematic capture | Yes, core workflow is free. | Rare; often trial-only or routing-only. |
| Credit / usage metering | None on the editor. AI has a daily message allowance on the free plan; paid plans add AI credits. | Common on AI features (credits, ACUs). |
| Open-source | No, but free to use and exports to open KiCad. | KiCad is; most others are not. |
| Layout + routing included | Yes, with an auto-router, DRC and Gerber/drill export. | KiCad and EasyEDA include it. |
| Best free role | Draft, lay out and export a board at no cost, with AI built in. | Free full flow (KiCad) or free routing tier. |
Reviewed on: 2026-06-06
KiCad 10 for a complete free, open-source desktop flow, and ProtoFlow for a complete free desktop flow with AI built in that reads and writes KiCad. EasyEDA is also free in the browser within the JLCPCB ecosystem.
Yes. KiCad is free and open-source for commercial use, and ProtoFlow's free plan includes the full editor and AI. Always confirm the current license terms for your situation.
Often, yes. KiCad ships real, manufactured products every day, and ProtoFlow adds AI to a full schematic-to-Gerber flow. Paid suites mainly add value for enterprise, high-reliability, or large-team production needs.
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ProtoFlow: An AI-Native KiCad Alternative That Reads and Writes KiCad Projects
Use ProtoFlow EDA as a KiCad alternative: AI-assisted drafting, schematic, PCB layout, SPICE simulation and manufacturing files in one desktop app, with KiCad import and export when you need them.
Evaluate the workflow directly with your own circuit scope and compare review-ready output speed.
