Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OrCAD (All Products) VS LibrePCB

Compare OrCAD (All Products) VS LibrePCB and see what are their differences

OrCAD (All Products) logo OrCAD (All Products)

Cadence offers a broad portfolio of tools to help you address an array of challenges and verify your chips, packages, boards, and entire systems.

LibrePCB logo LibrePCB

LibrePCB is a free EDA software to develop printed circuit boards.
  • OrCAD (All Products) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-06
  • LibrePCB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-12

OrCAD (All Products) features and specs

  • Comprehensive Suite
    OrCAD provides a wide range of tools and features for electronic design automation (EDA), covering schematic capture, PCB design, simulation, and analysis. This makes it a versatile choice for engineers working on various aspects of electronic circuit design.
  • Advanced Simulation Capabilities
    OrCAD includes powerful simulation tools such as PSpice, which offers robust capabilities for simulating and analyzing analog and mixed-signal circuits. This helps in verifying designs before actual manufacturing.
  • High Customizability
    OrCAD allows users to customize workflows and toolbars, enabling engineers to tailor the software to their specific needs, which can enhance productivity and efficiency in design processes.
  • Industry Standard
    OrCAD is widely recognized in the electronics industry, and many companies use it for their design needs. This widespread acceptance means better compatibility and support across various platforms and suppliers.
  • Strong Support and Resources
    Cadence, the developer of OrCAD, provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and customer support. Users also benefit from a large community of engineers who share tips and resources online.

Possible disadvantages of OrCAD (All Products)

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to the software’s comprehensive features and capabilities, new users may find it challenging to learn and master all the tools available in OrCAD, potentially requiring significant training and experience.
  • High Cost
    OrCAD can be expensive, especially for small businesses or individual users. The cost of licenses and ongoing maintenance can be prohibitive compared to other EDA tools.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running OrCAD on a computer system requires significant computational resources, which means that users may need to invest in high-performance hardware to use the software effectively.
  • Complex User Interface
    The interface, while customizable, can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of features and tools. This complexity might lead to a longer time to perform tasks for users not familiar with similar design software.
  • Limited Platform Support
    OrCAD primarily supports Windows operating systems, which can be a limitation for users who prefer or require other operating systems, such as Linux or macOS, for their workflow.

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.

OrCAD (All Products) videos

No OrCAD (All Products) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

LibrePCB videos

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OrCAD (All Products) and LibrePCB)
Simulation
12 12%
88% 88
Electronics
12 12%
88% 88
CAD
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
9 9%
91% 91

User comments

Share your experience with using OrCAD (All Products) and LibrePCB. 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.

OrCAD (All Products) mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OrCAD (All Products) yet. Tracking of OrCAD (All Products) recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OrCAD (All Products) and LibrePCB, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

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

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

Altium Designer - PCB Design Software