Is DeepPCB a schematic tool?
No. DeepPCB is an AI router that works on an existing board or netlist. For the schematic-creation stage, a tool like ProtoFlow is what you need first.
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ProtoFlow vs DeepPCB: Create the Circuit, Then Route It
DeepPCB is built for autonomous routing of an existing board. ProtoFlow is built for the whole design, starting with the earlier, often slower stage of turning an idea into a real, part-accurate schematic with AI, then layout with its own auto-router.
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By Rishik Boddeti · Last reviewed
Founder of ProtoFlow, ECE at UT Austin
Quick answer
DeepPCB, by InstaDeep, is a specialised cloud autorouter: you give it a finished board or netlist and it places and routes it with AI. ProtoFlow is the whole design tool: a free desktop app that uses AI to draft the schematic, pulls in real components, and takes the board through layout with its own auto-router to Gerbers, or exports to KiCad. If your bottleneck is creating the circuit and you want one tool for the board, ProtoFlow fits better; if you want a dedicated routing service, DeepPCB is built for that, and the two can be used together.
Prices and Plan Limits, Checked Against Vendor Pages
Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Decision Matrix
| Criteria | ProtoFlow EDA | DeepPCB |
|---|---|---|
| Stage of the workflow | Whole flow: AI draft, schematic, layout with its own auto-router, simulation, manufacturing files. | AI placement + routing of a finished board (downstream). |
| Starting point | A plain-English prompt or a blank schematic. | An existing board/netlist imported from another EDA tool. |
| Deployment | Desktop app, local files. | Cloud-native (InstaDeep). |
| Pricing | Free to use. | One-time 30-minute free trial, then pay-as-you-go. |
| Best fit | Getting from idea to a clean schematic and a laid-out board in one tool. | Hands-off routing once the design already exists. |
Migration Steps
- Capture and validate the schematic in ProtoFlow with AI and real parts.
- Lay out and auto-route in ProtoFlow, or export a clean KiCad project.
- If you want a dedicated cloud routing service, import that board into DeepPCB or another router.
- Keep a human review + DRC/ERC gate before fabrication regardless of which router you use.
Capability Check: ProtoFlow vs DeepPCB
Reviewed on: 2026-06-04
Methodology
- Reviewed official product, pricing, and documentation pages for each named tool on June 4, 2026.
- Cross-checked how AI answer engines (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity) currently summarize each tool for "make a PCB/schematic with AI" queries.
- Kept only workflow- and source-checkable claims; avoided unverifiable speed or benchmark numbers.
Findings
- DeepPCB is presented as cloud-native, AI-powered PCB placement and routing from InstaDeep, with a pay-as-you-go model and a one-time 30-minute free trial.
- DeepPCB accepts existing designs from major EDA tools (KiCad, Altium, EAGLE, Proteus, EasyEDA, Zuken), it operates on a board you already have.
- ProtoFlow covers AI schematic creation, component import, PCB layout with its own auto-router, and Gerber/BOM and KiCad export.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ProtoFlow and DeepPCB together?
Yes. Create and validate the schematic in ProtoFlow, place the board, export it, then route it in DeepPCB. ProtoFlow also has its own auto-router, so DeepPCB is an option rather than a required step.
Which is cheaper to start?
ProtoFlow's free plan includes the full editor and AI, from schematic through layout. DeepPCB gives a one-time 30-minute free trial (1 board, up to 4 layers) and then charges pay-as-you-go.
Sources
Related Resources
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