Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

QUCS VS CircuitLab

Compare QUCS VS CircuitLab and see what are their differences

QUCS logo QUCS

Qucs, briefly for Quite Universal Circuit Simulator, is an integrated circuit simulator which means you are able to setup a circuit with a graphical user interface (GUI) and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit.

CircuitLab logo CircuitLab

Sketch, simulate, and share your circuits, entirely in your browser -- no install required.
  • QUCS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-29
  • CircuitLab Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13

QUCS features and specs

  • Open Source
    QUCS is free to use, and its source code is openly available, allowing for customization and community-driven improvements.
  • Comprehensive Simulation
    QUCS supports a wide range of simulation types, including DC, AC, S-parameter, harmonic balance, and more, making it versatile for various applications.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The software runs on multiple operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it accessible to a broad audience.
  • Wide Component Library
    QUCS offers an extensive library of components that can be used in circuit design, which simplifies the process of creating and simulating circuits.
  • User Community Support
    The community around QUCS can provide support, share tips, and contribute to the software’s development.
  • Detailed Documentation
    QUCS offers comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and examples to assist users in understanding and using the software effectively.

Possible disadvantages of QUCS

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Beginners may find the software complex and challenging to master due to its extensive features and functionalities.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to commercial alternatives, QUCS may lack some advanced features and tools that are available in paid software.
  • User Interface
    The graphical user interface of QUCS may appear outdated and less intuitive compared to modern, commercial simulation tools.
  • Performance Issues
    For very large and complex circuits, the simulation performance might suffer, and the software could be slower than some commercial solutions.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    Being a community-driven open-source project, updates and new features may be released inconsistently or less frequently.
  • Documentation Gaps
    While there is detailed documentation available, certain advanced features or troubleshooting tips might not be well-covered or updated.

CircuitLab features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    CircuitLab offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to draw circuits, simulate results, and interact with components efficiently.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    Being a web-based tool, CircuitLab is accessible from any device with an internet connection, enabling flexibility in design and location independence.
  • Comprehensive Component Library
    The platform provides a wide range of pre-designed components which can be easily dragged and dropped into a circuit design, simplifying the design process.
  • Real-Time Simulation
    CircuitLab allows users to simulate circuits and view results in real-time, helping users to instantly analyze and validate their designs.
  • Educational Resources
    CircuitLab offers resources and documentation which are useful for students and educators, making it a valuable tool for learning and teaching electronics.
  • Collaboration Features
    Users can share their designs with others and collaborate in real-time, enhancing teamwork and collective problem-solving.

Possible disadvantages of CircuitLab

  • Subscription Cost
    CircuitLab requires a paid subscription for access to advanced features, which might be a barrier for students or hobbyists on a tight budget.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    As a primarily web-based platform, CircuitLab has limited functionalities when offline, which can be a drawback where internet access is unreliable.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    While CircuitLab is user-friendly, complete beginners to electronics might find certain features overwhelming initially without proper guidance.
  • Performance Issues
    On lower-end devices, performance issues such as lag or slow simulations might occur, especially with complex circuit designs.
  • Lack of Advanced Analysis Tools
    For professional engineers or advanced projects, CircuitLab may lack some of the more advanced analysis and testing tools provided by other software.
  • Limited Industry Application
    CircuitLab may not support all the industry's specific components or standards, limiting its use in professional or industry-specific applications.

Analysis of QUCS

Overall verdict

  • QUCS is a solid choice for those seeking a reliable and versatile circuit simulation tool. Its open-source nature and extensive features make it a popular option for both educational and personal projects. However, for very complex simulations or specific professional requirements, users may consider exploring more advanced tools with commercial support.

Why this product is good

  • QUCS (Quite Universal Circuit Simulator) is considered good by many users due to its comprehensive set of features for simulating electronic circuits. It supports a wide range of circuit types, including DC, AC, S-parameter, noise analysis, and more. The software is open-source and available for free on SourceForge, making it accessible for students, educators, and hobbyists. Its graphical user interface is user-friendly, simplifying the process of creating and analyzing circuit layouts.

Recommended for

  • Students studying electronics and electrical engineering.
  • Educators looking for cost-effective tools to teach circuit simulation.
  • Hobbyists interested in designing and testing electronic circuits.
  • Open-source enthusiasts who prefer community-driven software.

QUCS videos

Qucs Tutorial: Simulating a common emitter bjt amplifier circuit

More videos:

  • Review - QUCS project update Overview, status and ongoing developments.
  • Review - qucs dc simulate

CircuitLab videos

Editing and DC Simulation in Circuitlab

More videos:

  • Review - CircuitLab on iPad
  • Review - Transient Analysis in CircuitLab

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to QUCS and CircuitLab)
Simulation
79 79%
21% 21
Electronics
79 79%
21% 21
Computer Simulations
81 81%
19% 19
Technical Computing
67 67%
33% 33

User comments

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Reviews

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

QUCS Reviews

11 KiCad Alternatives
The Qucs cross-platform circuit simulator is a spin-off of Qucs. The letter S stands for the SPICE engine, which performs all simulations within the software. The Qucs subproject's goal is to integrate free SPICE circuit simulation kernels into the Qucs GUI. It combines SPICE's capability with the Qucs GUI's simplicity. Qucs utilizes its own SPICE incompatible simulation...
Electronic circuit design and simulation software list
QUCS – Quite Universal Circuit Simulator is a free simulation software developed on GNU/Linux environment. Well, this software really works on other operating systems such as Solaris, Apple Macintosh, Microsoft windows, FreeBSD, NetBSD etc. User can simulate large signal, small signal and noise behavior of the circuit using this simple circuit simulator.

CircuitLab Reviews

Best Free Circuit Simulation software for Windows 10
If you don’t want to download an application then CircuitLab is what you need. It is an online circuit simulator and schematics tool. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles unlike the previous two applications on our list, LTSpice, and NgSpice, but is an excellent alternative if you just want to make a basic circuit and simulate it.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CircuitLab should be more popular than QUCS. 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.

QUCS mentions (1)

  • How do dual-directional couplers behave with a mismatched load?
    If you can get s parameter model you can use that. There are also generic transformer and coupled line models so long as you've got a way of characterising it you should be able to model it. https://sourceforge.net/projects/qucs/. Source: over 2 years ago

CircuitLab mentions (6)

  • I'm looking for an engineer to help me design a very basic comparison circuit for 2 batteries that will light an led if a battery is low while the other battery powers the load. $100 offered
    I need someone to design and point me to the correct parts for a circuit that will use 2, 5V LiPo batteries that are rechargeable, in a circuit that is built to run a memory bank. Basically a CMOS circuit, very low current draw. I need the LED indication to replace a battery. The switching between them has to be fast enough that the memory doesn't lose the program on it. $100 to the first person with a full parts... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a circuit simulation software? I'm very much a beginner.
    My go-to site for a quick simulation, and pretty schematics (that sounds almost NSFW) is circuitlab.com. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to design preamp pedals?
    If you have a 10 band EQ pedal into a flat amp you can hear what these frequency shapes sound like. Once you understand what these preamps are doing, then you can learn about the electronic side, read the schematics, and start designing / playing with your own circuit mods / designs. A circuit simulator (like circuitlab.com) would be a good place to start doing that. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is this circuit solving correct ?
    Tips if you want to check is circuitlab.com. Its very fast and easy to check. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Need some help here...
    I used circuitlab.com to simulate this behaviour, to obtain this image, which show what happens to the voltage across a capacitor when it is charged by passing a constant current through it. Noite that the slope (gradient) of the plot is constant during the entire time current is passing. Source: about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing QUCS and CircuitLab, you can also consider the following products

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.

Circuit Tree - Design and order Boards in Minutes

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

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...

Logisim - Logisim is an educational tool for designing and simulating digital logic circuits.