Software Alternatives & Reviews

CADSTAR VS KiCad

Compare CADSTAR VS KiCad and see what are their differences

CADSTAR logo CADSTAR

CADSTAR is an established desktop PCB design software solution, optimized for small and mid-sized design teams, with many thousands of satisfied users.

KiCad logo KiCad

A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite
  • CADSTAR Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-18
  • KiCad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

CADSTAR videos

CADSTAR Redlining - Design Review and Markup

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Cadstar 17.0 pcb design tutorial
  • Review - CADSTAR Schematic

KiCad videos

eevBLAB #62 - PCB Wars - The Rise Of KiCAD

More videos:

  • Review - Quickstart Intro to Kicad - Design a board in 5 minutes
  • Review - #132 Using EasyEDA and KiCAD for Improved PCB (dog deterrent)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CADSTAR and KiCad)
Electronics
5 5%
95% 95
Simulation
2 2%
98% 98
Design Tools
9 9%
91% 91
CAD
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using CADSTAR and KiCad. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CADSTAR and KiCad

CADSTAR Reviews

Our Top 10 printed circuit design software programmes
Cadstar is another design tool for the simplest to the most complex multi-layer PCBs. Originally developed by Rascal-Redac, this software entered the Zuken portfolio, a Japanese multinational that pioneered electronics CAD software, founded in 1976 in Yokohama.

KiCad Reviews

11 KiCad Alternatives
KiCad is cross-platform, open-source CAD software that is specifically built for the Electronic Design Automation Suite. It is a complete solution that comes with a simple interface that is packed with extensive features. You may quickly access all of the tools and create any type of electrical automation design.
Comparing the Top 5 CAD Software for Electronics Design Development
The KiCAD software interfaceKiCAD is a free software that runs on a number of platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS. Due to its open-source nature, KiCAD is widely used by hobbyists and beginners.
Source: hackernoon.com
Our Top 10 printed circuit design software programmes
KiCad is an open source, free printed circuit design software suite. It was developed by Jean-Pierre Charras from the Grenoble IUT in France in 1992. This design software includes diagram management, PCB routing and 3D modelling possibilities for electronics engineers.
9 Free CAD Software to Download
Want to design your next Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and don’t know where to start? Check out KiCAD. KiCAD is a free and open source PCB design tool that includes a project manager and 4 main software such as schematic editor, printed circuit board editor, GERBER file viewer and footprint selector for component association.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CADSTAR and KiCad, you can also consider the following products

Proteus PCB design - Proteus PCB design combines the schematic capture and ARES PCB layout programs to provide a...

Fritzing - Fritzing is an open-source initiative to support designers, artists, researchers and hobbyists to...

OrCAD - OrCAD is a great tool for creating electronic designs that sell.

PADS PCB Design - Best-in-class PCB design tools at unbeatable prices

LTspice - LTspice® is a high performance SPICE simulation software, schematic capture and waveform viewer with enhancements and models for easing the simulation of analog circuits.

Proteus - Proteus - Proteus is a great electrical suite for circuit simulation purposes. You can simulate a single processor or multiple ones at the same time. The application is a great alternative for Virtual System Modelling.