Turn your ideas into real circuits with CircuitMaker. Free to use, packed with pro features, easy to learn, and built for collaboration.
When we’re trying to turn an idea into a real circuit, the last thing we want is to get stuck wrestling with the tool itself. That’s where CircuitMaker comes in. It gives us a simple interface and a powerful engine so we can focus on designing instead of troubleshooting. One professional engineer put it perfectly: “Finally some fresh air in the EDA market: a modern interface with some really pro capabilities and no serious limitations. This is the tool any electronics maker was waiting for and it is community focused.”
With CircuitMaker, we get a free platform for schematic capture and PCB layout. We can go up to 16 signal layers and 16 plane layers, and there is no limit on PCB size. If you have ever felt boxed in by restrictions, you will appreciate that freedom.
Version 2.0 gave us something extra, up to five private projects. That means we do not have to share everything right away, we can choose when to open designs to collaborators, customers, or the wider community.
The latest release, CircuitMaker 2.3.0 (July 1, 2024), takes things further. Instead of Octopart, component search now runs on the Nexar API. It is faster, more secure, and feels smoother. We can also import designs from KiCAD and P-CAD, so if you or I already worked in those, we do not have to start from scratch. Plus, Altium CoDesigner is built in, so if we are using Autodesk Fusion 360, we can keep mechanical and PCB design in sync. And yes, this version fixed bugs and boosted performance based on our feedback.
Behind it all, CircuitMaker runs on the same engine as Altium Designer. That means we are not losing out on professional-level power. We can do both analog and digital simulations, generate netlists for other PCB tools, and collaborate on projects right in the cloud. It does require Windows and an internet connection, but that also unlocks real-time teamwork.
Here is what we get to use:
- A huge library of ready-to-go components.
- The ability to add custom parts and mechanical pieces.
- A clean schematic editor with support for multiple sheets and hierarchy.
- Unlimited PCB size and 3D viewing. As one engineer said, “The 3D viewer is awesome and makes it super easy to visualize how and what your product is going to physically look like. The Part assembly assistant is great too!”
- Tools to check clearance and overlaps.
- One-click manufacturing and quotes via Altium 365.
And let’s be honest, the biggest plus is that it is free. For many of us, that alone makes it worth trying. It is also easy to pick up compared to other PCB tools, which makes it perfect for learning or for quickly spinning up boards. “Great for engineers, who just need to spin up a quick prototype,” an entrepreneur added. Automatic routing and large component libraries mean we spend less time setting up and more time actually building.
But we should also talk about the downsides. File compatibility is still a headache. CircuitMaker plays best with Altium formats, so working with external tools is not always smooth. And because everything is stored in the cloud, we do not get local copies on our machines. That can be frustrating if we want tighter control or easier sharing outside the platform.
So, is CircuitMaker perfect? No. But if you and I want to design PCBs without paying for a license, and we like the idea of community collaboration mixed with pro-level features, it is definitely a tool worth having in our kit. To learn more on how to register or install CircuitMaker, click here.
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