Schematic Capture programs

There is absolutely no standardization among different schematic capture / EDA programs. And, many are simply unusable for any serious work.

The difference between a proper schematic capture and a junk solution is you wasting time downloading one, and struggling to have it do what you want.

Among the features that were evaluated for are:

• Ability to export drawing to an image
• Free versions available
• Proper symbol drawings for semiconductor devices (although libraries can fix this)
• Actually made for schematic capture, and not generic drawing

The list:

• Eagle. Free for. Has export. Idiotic library symbols. You can add other libraries, but those are scattered on the internet. Popular among hobbyists.

• WorkBench MultiSim. No export (in version 8, version 11 untested). Lacks some needed library parts.

Zenit Suite KiCAD pcbartist_1_4 dipfree_en64 freepcb_1200_setup

Rejected: open_sch_capt. alpha_0p16_open_sch_capt

Individual products

• Autotrax – EDA/DEX is a Windows XP/Vista/7 schematic capture / PCB design layout program with built in Spice simulator and 3D part and board visualization.
• DipTrace – mid-range Schematic Capture and PCB Layout software that has a free version.
• Edwinxp – Totally Integrated Schematic Capture, Simulation and PCB design software.
• Electronics Workbench – Schematic Capture, Simulation and PCB design software suite.
• Multisim – Schematic Capture and SPICE Simulation software.
• Cadsoft EAGLE – Very capable mid-range Schematic Capture and PCB Layout software that has a free version.
• Kicad – open source schematic capture and PCB design software suite
• OrCAD – Full-featured commercial Schematic Capture and PCB layout.
• TARGET 3001! – mid-range Schematic Capture software that has a free version.
• gEDA – open source schematic capture using gschem, simulation, and PCB design software suite
• The Electric VLSI Design System

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Name	Architecture	License	Autorouter	Comment
Alliance	POSIX	GPL		Alliance is a complete set of free CAD tools and portable libraries for VLSI design.
CBOLD	Linux, w32, Mac	GPL		Schematicless board-level design entry using C++.
ChipVault		GPL		Terminal based vi wrapper for HDL
Covered	Posix	GPL		Verilog code coverage analyzer
Electric	*BSD, Java	GPL	Yes	VLSI circuit design tool with connectivity at all levels. Can also be used for schematic entry and PCB design.
FreePCB	w32	GPL	Yes	A printed circuit board design program for Microsoft Windows. FreePCB allows for up to 16 copper layers, both metric and English units, and export of designs in Gerber format. Boards can be partially or fully autorouted with the FreeRouting autorouter by using the FpcROUTE Specctra DSN file translator.
Fritzing	w32, Mac, Linux	GPL	Yes	Integrated tool for breadboard, schematic, and PCB design. Targeted at non-engineers (designers, artists, researchers, hobbyists) and users of microcontroller platforms such as Arduino.
gEDA	*BSD, Mac, Linux	GPL	Yes	Suite of applications for schematic capture, PCB layout editing (with autorouting capability), Gerber viewing, analog circuit simulation, Verilog design, and GTK-based waveform viewing.
GHDL	Linux, w32	GPL		VHDL simulator
Herb	POSIX GLib	GPL		Herb is a complete set of CAD programs and libraries for the specification, design and validation of VLSI circuits.
Icarus Verilog	*BSD, Linux, Mac	GPL		Verilog simulator
Kicad	Linux, w32, Mac	GPLv2	Yes	Unlike other free software alternatives, Kicad provides for all design stages through the same interface: Schematic capture, PCB layout, Gerber generation/visualization, and library editing are all standard features. It also has a "3D view" feature for PCBs. It is available for all three major operating systems, and features a large selection of component libraries. Migration tools (for transferring files from other EDA packages) are also provided. The file format is plain text, and is well documented, which is a useful feature for content management systems.
KTechLab	Linux	GPL	n/a	KTechLab is a schematic capture and simulator. It is speciufically geared toward mixed signal simulation of analg components and small digital processors.
KLayout	Linux, w32, Mac	GPL	-	KLayout is a GDSII and OASIS file viewer and editor (if started in edit mode). Optimized for handling large data volumes. Editor mode functions include booleans, sizing, copy & paste, clip, undo/redo. Overlay capabilities for more than one layout. Ruby scripting interface (layout generation, editing, layout database access).
LayoutEditor	Linux, w32, Mac	GPL (Basic Version) / Commercial	-	A IC/MEMS layout editor. Features: all basic design functions, all angle elements, font generator, macros, boolean operations, design rule checker, netlists, LVS, full supported formats: Calma GDSII, OASIS (Open Artwork System Interchange Standard), DXF, CIF (Caltech Intermediate Form), imported formats: gerber, lasi, alliance
Magic	Linux	BSD license	no	a popular very-large-scale integration layout tool
MyHDL	Linux, w32, Mac	LGPL		An open source Python package for capturing and simulating hardware designs. Includes utilities for conversion to VHDL and Verilog.
Netlistviewer	w32	GPL	no	Netlistviewer is a software which reads SPICE circuit description (*.cir file) and automatically generates schematics in graphical form.
Open Schematic Capture	Java (programming language)	GPL	no	Open Schematic Capture is a schematic capture and net list tool intended for analog or mixed analog/digital IC design.
Oregano		GPL	no	schematic capture + spice simulation
OwlVision GDSII Viewer		GPL		GDSII IC layout viewer
ParC	Posix	GPL		C++ extensions for Electronic system level and parallel processing. ParC is a front-end to GNU C++ that adds the HDL constructs for multithreading, with a view to moving the support downstrean into the C++ compiler at a later date. ParC should replace SystemC and is a functional superset of the Verilogs and VHDL.
QSCAD	TCL/TK, Linux, w32	Artistic License		Schematic capture + PCB design.
Quite Universal Circuit Simulator	Linux, Solaris, Mac, NetBSD, FreeBSD, w32	GPL		Schematic capture + Verilog + VHDL + simulation
Qucs	Linux, Mac OS, w32, Solaris, FreeBSD	GPL	n/a	A simulator for digital and analog circuits. It includes a verilog interface and can display results on the fly.
XCircuit	Unix	GPL		Used to produce netlists and publish high-quality drawings.
V2000	Posix	GPL		A Verilog/Verilog-AMS parser and elaborator for use as front-end to other tools.
Verilator	Posix	GPL		Verilator is the fastest free Verilog HDL simulator. It compiles synthesizable Verilog into cycle accurate C++ or SystemC code following 2-state synthesis (zero delay) semantics. Benchmarks reported on its website suggest it is several times faster than commercial event driven simulators such as ModelSim, NC-Verilog and VCS, while not quite as fast as commercial cycle accurate modeling tools such as Carbon ModelStudio and ARC VTOC.

Proprietary software

Application	Vendor	Simulation Engine	Licence	Platform		Components	Netlist Format	Vector Output
				Windows	POSIX
AutoTRAX EDA and DEX	Autotrax Software	Spice 3f5	Proprietary	Yes	No	Schematic capture, Simulation Probe, PCB editor and Active3D		RS-274X Gerber format
CircuitLogix	Logic Design Inc	Xspice variant	Proprietary	Yes	No
Crocodile Clips	Crocodile Clips Ltd			Yes	No
PCB123	Sunstone Circuits		Proprietary	Yes		Create new PCB designs quickly, then edit layout and schematics.
PCD Wizard				Yes		PCB editor
TARGET 3001!	Ing.-Buero FRIEDRICH	PSpice compatible	Proprietary, free versions available	Yes	No	Schematic entry, simulation, PCB design, autorouter, 3D live view, isolation milling, front panel design	Various	Extended Gerber format, PostScript, STEP-3D, HPGL, G-code
PCB Artist	4pcb.com	-	free	Yes	No	Schematic capture, PCB design		Gerber (after 1st order), PDF