Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LibrePCB VS GoForFab

Compare LibrePCB VS GoForFab and see what are their differences

LibrePCB logo LibrePCB

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

GoForFab logo GoForFab

Upload your KiCad project, get manufacturer-ready Gerbers, interactive BOMs, 3D views, and DRC reports automatically. Free forever.
  • LibrePCB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-12
Not present

GoForFab automates the tedious part of KiCad projects. Upload your design files and get manufacturer-ready Gerbers, drill files, BOMs, interactive BOMs, DRC/ERC reports, schematic PDFs, and 3D renders โ€” all generated automatically and presented in a clean web dashboard. No scripts, no config files, no manual exports. Every output is versioned and shareable via a simple link. Built for freelance hardware engineers, consultants, and educators who want professional project outputs without the repetitive work.

LibrePCB

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-

GoForFab

$ Details
freemium
Release Date
2026 May
Startup details
Country
Canada
State
Quebec (QC)
City
Montreal
Founder(s)
Julien Boriasse
Employees
1 - 9

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.

GoForFab features and specs

  • Automated outputs
    Upload your KiCad files, get all manufacturing outputs generated automatically
  • Version tracking
    Every upload creates a versioned run. Know exactly which version went to fab.
  • Shareable dashboard
    Share project outputs via public or private links. No login required for viewers.
  • Clean file naming
    Consistent, professional filenames on every output. No more final_v2_REAL.zip.
  • GitHub connected
    Each project lives in a Git repo. Push triggers automatic output generation.
  • Git or ZIP upload
    Work with Git push scripts or simply upload a ZIP from your browser.
  • DRC / ERC checks
    Design rule checks run automatically and flag errors before you send to fab.
  • Team collaboration
    Invite team members to review outputs, share projects, and track progress together.
  • One-click ordering
    Order your PCB or PCBA directly at JLCPCB or other fabs from your project dashboard.

LibrePCB videos

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

GoForFab videos

KiCad version management made simple

More videos:

  • Demo - A clean dashboard for your KiCad projects

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LibrePCB and GoForFab)
Simulation
100 100%
0% 0
Electronics
90 90%
10% 10
CAD
0 0%
100% 100
IDE
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing LibrePCB and GoForFab.

What makes your product unique?

GoForFab's answer:

GoForFab is built specifically for KiCad. Most automation tools try to support every EDA tool and end up being generic. GoForFab focuses on one thing: making KiCad project outputs effortless. Upload your files, get Gerbers, BOMs, interactive BOMs, DRC reports, 3D renders, and PDFs โ€” all versioned and shareable from a clean dashboard.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

GoForFab's answer:

There's no real equivalent for KiCad users today. You either export everything manually, write your own scripts, or use complex CI/CD setups that require DevOps knowledge. GoForFab removes all of that. Upload your KiCad files and everything is generated automatically. No scripts, no config, no command line.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

GoForFab's answer:

Freelance electronics engineers, hardware consultants, EE students, and hobbyists who use KiCad and want professional project outputs without the repetitive manual work. Anyone who's tired of exporting Gerbers by hand and sending zip files to clients.

What's the story behind your product?

GoForFab's answer:

I'm an electronics engineer and I kept running into the same problem: every time I finished a revision in KiCad, I had to manually export Gerbers, BOMs, run DRC, generate PDFs, organize files, and figure out which version I'd sent to the factory. I couldn't find a tool that solved this for KiCad, so I built one.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

GoForFab's answer:

Laravel, Vue.js, KiCad CLI, Cloudflare R2 for storage, and Redis for queue management. The pipeline runs KiCad's own command-line tools natively โ€” no third-party wrappers.

User comments

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LibrePCB seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. 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 / about 3 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: about 3 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 3 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: over 4 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: almost 5 years ago
View more

GoForFab mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of GoForFab yet. Tracking of GoForFab recommendations started around May 2026.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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

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

3D Gerber Viewer - FREE Online 3D Gerber viewer

Autodesk EAGLE - Autodesk EAGLE is an electronic design automation (EDA) software.