Category
AI PCB design software: what they are and who makes them
ai-first and ai-assisted tools, free and open source editors, perpetual and entry-level commercial licenses, enterprise eda suites: Flux, KiCad, Proteus Design Suite through Horizon EDA.
Types of AI PCB design software
AI-first and AI-assisted tools
Flux builds its browser workflow around an AI assistant that drafts boards. Proteus adds EDAi, a co-designer that understands the circuit, and Zuken shows an AI PCB Design section on its CR-8000 page. Test these first if AI help is the reason you are shopping.
Free and open source editors
KiCad, LibrePCB and Horizon EDA cost nothing to download and publish their licenses openly. None names an AI feature on the pages we read. They suit makers, small teams and anyone who wants design files kept outside a subscription, in exchange for more manual work and community support.
Perpetual and entry-level commercial licenses
DipTrace sells perpetual licenses from €65 with pin and layer caps, EasyEDA runs free in the browser with paid annual plans, and Pulsonix offers a trial capped at 100 pins before quoting. They fit small hardware companies that want a commercial license without an enterprise contract.
Enterprise EDA suites
Altium Designer, OrCAD X, eCADSTAR and Zuken CR-8000 sell to engineering departments, with simulation, high-speed design and data management. Prices were not published on the pages we read, so budgeting starts with a quote and a trial, and the AI content differs sharply between them.
Facts at a glance
| Tool | Publisher | Based in | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flux | Defy Gravity, Inc. | United States | Trial |
| KiCad | KiCad Services Corporation | United States | Free tier |
| Proteus Design Suite | Labcenter Electronics Ltd | United Kingdom | Trial |
| EasyEDA | JiaLiChuang (HongKong) Co., Limited | Hong Kong | Free tier |
| DipTrace | Novarm Limited | Not stated on the vendor pages | Paid |
| Altium Designer | Altium LLC | United States | Paid |
| Zuken CR-8000 | Zuken | Japan | Trial |
| OrCAD X | Cadence Design Systems | Not stated on the vendor pages | Trial |
| eCADSTAR | Zuken | Not stated on the vendor pages | Trial |
| Pulsonix | WestDev Ltd | United Kingdom | Trial |
| LibrePCB | Not stated on the vendor pages | Not stated on the vendor pages | Free tier |
| Horizon EDA | Not stated on the vendor pages | Not stated on the vendor pages | Free tier |
