Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LibrePCB VS Autodesk Tinkercad

Compare LibrePCB VS Autodesk Tinkercad and see what are their differences

LibrePCB logo LibrePCB

LibrePCB is a free EDA software to develop printed circuit boards.

Autodesk Tinkercad logo Autodesk Tinkercad

Tinkercad is a super easy-to-use, browser based 3D design tool.
  • LibrePCB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-12
  • Autodesk Tinkercad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08

LibrePCB features and specs

  • Open Source
    LibrePCB is open source, meaning it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This fosters community-driven development and greater transparency.
  • Cross-Platform
    LibrePCB is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring accessibility for users on different platforms.
  • Modular Design
    The software is designed with a modular approach, which makes it easier to extend functionalities and integrate with other tools.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    It offers a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easier for beginners and experienced users alike to design PCBs.
  • Active Community
    LibrePCB has an active user and developer community, providing support, resources, and regular updates.

Possible disadvantages of LibrePCB

  • Limited Libraries
    The component libraries in LibrePCB are not as extensive as those in some other PCB design software, which may require additional time to create or import parts.
  • Feature Set
    Compared to more mature and commercial software, LibrePCB may lack some advanced features and tools needed for highly complex designs.
  • Learning Curve
    Although it has a user-friendly interface, users previously familiar with other PCB design software may need some time to adapt to LibrePCB's workflows and conventions.
  • Performance
    On systems with lower specifications, LibrePCB can sometimes be slow or unresponsive when handling large or complex projects.
  • Documentation
    While the available documentation is helpful, it may not be as comprehensive or detailed as user manuals for some commercial alternatives.

Autodesk Tinkercad features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Tinkercad offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for beginners and those with little to no experience in 3D design.
  • Cloud-Based
    Since Tinkercad is available as a cloud-based application, users can access their projects from any device with an internet connection, promoting flexibility and convenience.
  • Educational Resources
    Tinkercad provides a wealth of tutorials, guides, and resources that are designed to help users learn and improve their 3D modeling skills.
  • Free to Use
    Tinkercad is completely free, making it an economical choice for hobbyists, educators, and students.
  • Integration with 3D Printing
    The software is equipped with features that make it easy to create models that can be directly used for 3D printing, fostering hands-on learning and rapid prototyping.
  • Collaboration Features
    Tinkercad supports collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same design project simultaneously, which is ideal for educational and team-based environments.
  • Versatile Design Tools
    Despite its simplicity, Tinkercad offers various design tools that enable users to create complex and detailed models.

Possible disadvantages of Autodesk Tinkercad

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Tinkercad is powerful for basic and intermediate 3D designs, it lacks the advanced features and toolsets found in more professional CAD software, which can be limiting for experienced users.
  • Relies on Internet Connection
    As a cloud-based tool, Tinkercad requires a stable internet connection to access and save projects, which can be a drawback in areas with unreliable internet service.
  • Performance Issues
    Heavy or complex projects can lead to performance issues and slow load times, particularly on less powerful hardware or with slower internet connections.
  • Limited File Import/Export Options
    Tinkercad has a limited range of supported file formats for import and export, which might complicate integration with other design tools or systems.
  • Basic Collaboration Tools
    While collaboration is supported, the tools provided are relatively basic, lacking the rich, advanced features available in other collaborative platforms.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As a cloud service, user designs are stored on Autodesk's servers, which may raise privacy and security concerns for some users.

LibrePCB videos

Introduction to LibrePCB A new, powerful and intuitive EDA tool for everyone

Autodesk Tinkercad videos

No Autodesk Tinkercad videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LibrePCB and Autodesk Tinkercad)
Simulation
100 100%
0% 0
3D
0 0%
100% 100
Electronics
100 100%
0% 0
Architecture
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LibrePCB and Autodesk Tinkercad

LibrePCB Reviews

We have no reviews of LibrePCB yet.
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Autodesk Tinkercad Reviews

10 Best Cinema 4D Alternatives for 3D Animation in 2024
TinkerCAD is a great desire for beginners, students, and anybody who desires to learn the fundamentals of 3-D Animation, 3-D modelling and electronics in a user-friendly environment. Its free plans, educational resources, and intuitive interface make it a top-notch option for these innovative fields.
10 Best Blender Alternatives: An Overview
In the vast spectrum of 3D Modelling software, TinkerCAD carves its own niche as one of the alternatives to Blender by emphasising accessibility. A web-based application developed by Autodesk, TinkerCAD removes the barriers to 3D Design with its beginner-centric approach. It’s not just a tool; it’s an invitation for everyone irrespective of age or technical prowess to enter...
Looking for a SketchUp alternative? Check out the 10 best options
Tinkercad is a browser-based program specifically designed for 3D printing and CAD beginners. With a drag-and-drop interface and library of basic shapes pre-made for you, it’s great for the beginner 3D printer enthusiast.
Source: all3dp.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Autodesk Tinkercad seems to be a lot more popular than LibrePCB. While we know about 75 links to Autodesk Tinkercad, we've tracked only 6 mentions of LibrePCB. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LibrePCB mentions (6)

  • Effective June 7, 2026, Autodesk will no longer sell nor support EAGLE
    There's also https://librepcb.org/ Has anyone had time to try Horizon and/or LibrePCB and compare them to KiCad? - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • What is "this type" of PCB "called"
    On the open source front, LibrePCB seems to be the only contender, never used it myself, but have heard good things and met some devs at a conference and they were nice. The level of support you get there may be a bit more personal. Otoh, if you've never designed PCBs before, it may be hard to even tell if something is a bug... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Hardware design on linux
    I would throw LibrePCB into the mix. Coming from Eagle, it was easier for me to grasp than KiCad. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How can I make professional looking schematics for free?
    Also LibrePCB at https://librepcb.org A bit "lighter" in size than KiCad. Source: about 3 years ago
  • from where should I start for designing my own PCB?
    I've been turning out some nice results from LibrePCB. It has a learning curve like anything else but its not an impossibly convoluted workflow like some of the more established FOSS programs out there. Source: over 3 years ago
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Autodesk Tinkercad mentions (75)

  • Extreme Pi Boot Optimization
    No OS. There's just a setup() function and a main loop() that runs forever. It's really really fun, at least to my brain. If you want to see how it works without spending any money, TinkerCAD (https://tinkercad.com) will let you layout, program, and simulate an Arduino. They're somewhat less powerful than the ESP32 CAM proposed to replace this, but it's a good way to "dip your feet" in programming and wiring up... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Need advice on Arduino projects and programming
    In addition to the other great suggestions here I wanted to point out that you can practice and learn a lot for free using an online simulator such as wokwi.com and tinkercad.com (among others)! And you don't have to buy an Arduino or any parts to get started! Source: over 1 year ago
  • Arduino calender clock project
    And you can prototype all of this first to get it working for free using an online simulator at sites like wokwi.com or tinkercad.com! Source: over 1 year ago
  • I’m not a mechanic, but I just rolled these guys out of my shop for a cat show I was vending at.
    Hit up tinkercad.com and you can start making things right away. My first design was there and it probably took 5 minutes for the prototype, then 15 minutes to tweak measurements. Really easy (and free) to dive in by doing. Once you nail that, you can get Fusion360 (also free for personal use) or a number of others. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Anyone know where I can find an STL for record player Stitch?
    When it comes to somewhat simple designs like this, I use tinkercad.com - it's a realllly basic drawing CAD web interface and you can make some pretty great stuff with it with a little creativity. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LibrePCB and Autodesk Tinkercad, you can also consider the following products

KiCad - A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

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

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

EasyEDA - EasyEDA - Web-based EDA suite; runs in browser.

Onshape - Onshape is the first full-cloud 3D CAD system. It runs in a web browser and on any mobile device.