Software Alternatives & Reviews

QCAD VS KiCad

Compare QCAD VS KiCad and see what are their differences

QCAD logo QCAD

QCAD is an application for computer aided drafting in 2D.

KiCad logo KiCad

A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite
  • QCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23
  • KiCad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

QCAD videos

Noobs guide to QCAD

More videos:

  • Review - Getting Started with QCAD

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 QCAD and KiCad)
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Simulation
0 0%
100% 100
Architecture
100 100%
0% 0
Electronics
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using QCAD and KiCad. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

QCAD Reviews

9 Free CAD Software to Download
Since it is open source, QCAD’s focus is more towards modularity, extensibility and portability. Its 2D CAD platform is powerful but yet easy to use even for a beginner who has little to no experience in CAD applications.

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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, QCAD seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 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.

QCAD mentions (4)

  • Pattern Making Software Recommendations?
    The best software for your situation is to work with a basic 2D CAD program. You would still need to learn the software but they are pretty basic. I'm not an expert in what is free but googling I found this open source one https://qcad.org/en/. Source: about 1 year ago
  • What's the most accomplished CAD software for Linux?
    QCAD has a free community version and professional and CAM versions for reasonable prices. Check out the features list to see which version you will need, although make sure the community version works on your system before committing to a paid version. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Free alternatives to AutoCAD?
    I'm no longer a user of CAD programs so this might be a bit outdated. But for 2D take a look at QCAD. For 3D modeling and lots of other functionality you have FreeCAD. Source: over 2 years ago
  • New to laser, How to designe?
    If you are looking for something free that can handle dimensions I would recommend QCAD. https://qcad.org/en/ It only supports 2D drawings, but I find it works well for laser cutting / engraving work. The free windows versions is also a bit trashy/unusable in free mode. But the Linux version works great if you want to try booting Linux off a USB stick. Source: about 3 years ago

KiCad mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of KiCad yet. Tracking of KiCad recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

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

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

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

nanoCAD - nanoCAD is a pro-grade 2D CAD system with native DWG support and full customizability.

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.