Tool profile
eCADSTAR: cost, fit and limits
eCADSTAR is a PCB and schematic design product made by Zuken, sold as modular subscription bundles with a 30-day free trial, and covering schematic capture, PCB layout, library editing, high-speed design tuning, simulation and manufacturing output.
What to know first
eCADSTAR is sold by subscription in modular bundles, so a buyer chooses the editors needed and the length of the term. The vendor offers a 30-day free trial with all features and a request-quotation route, and bundle prices were not shown on the pages we read. The product list includes PCB Editor, Schematic Editor, Library Editor and Design Viewers. The vendor says local EU-based support and 24/7 online support are available. No AI feature is named.
eCADSTAR at a glance
| Maker | Zuken, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI PCB Design Software in 2026, rank 9 of 12 |
| Website | ecadstar.com/en/ |
Who eCADSTAR is best for
Teams that need only some modules
Modular bundles for schematic and PCB designers let a company pay for the editors it actually uses and extend the set later.
Buyers who want a long trial
The 30-day trial gives full feature access, enough time to run a real board through schematic, layout and output before asking for a quote.
European engineering groups
The vendor claims local EU-based support and 24/7 online support, which may matter to teams that want a nearby contact during a project.
eCADSTAR plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day free trial | Free | Full feature evaluation for 30 days, so a team can test the whole schematic and layout flow before any purchase. |
| eCADSTAR 365 | Not published on the pages read | Choose what you want for how long you want, with bundles for schematic and PCB designers. |
| Subscription | Request Quotation | Buy online or request a quotation for a price matched to your requirements, with no list price on the pages read. |
Checked November 2026.
What eCADSTAR does
- Modular bundles
- Bundles are designed so a company pays only for what it needs, with schematic and PCB designer packages that can be extended as projects grow.
- Editors and viewers
- The product list names a PCB Editor, Schematic Editor, Library Editor and Design Viewers, covering creation of parts as well as boards and read-only review.
- Constraints and high-speed tuning
- A constraints browser and high-speed design tuning are named, which help control routing rules and timing on faster interfaces, where a wrong rule can cost a full board respin.
- Simulation, autorouting and output
- Simulation and analysis, autorouting and manufacturing output are listed on the product page, so one subscription spans design checks, routing help and the release files a fabricator needs.
How eCADSTAR handles your data
The pages we read do not state training use, retention, hosting region or certifications for eCADSTAR, and no AI feature is named. The maker is listed as Zuken, but no headquarters country was found on the eCADSTAR pages, so none is given here. The vendor says local EU-based support and 24/7 online support exist, and it describes an online purchase route. A buyer with confidentiality needs should ask where license checks run, whether any designs leave the customer's machines and what is deleted when a subscription ends.
Where eCADSTAR falls short in practice
- Bundle prices not shown. The bundle prices are not published on the pages we read, and the buying route ends in a quotation request, so budgeting needs a call.
- No AI named on the pages. The pages we read do not name an AI feature, which puts eCADSTAR behind Flux and Proteus for buyers who want AI assistance in the design loop.
- Subscription term. Because eCADSTAR is a subscription, access depends on keeping the term active. Ask what happens to editing rights when it lapses, as perpetual tools do not have that issue.
Works with
Alternatives to eCADSTAR
eCADSTAR: common questions
How long is the eCADSTAR free trial?
The vendor offers a 30-day free trial with full feature evaluation. That is long enough to take a small board from schematic to manufacturing output. The pages we read do not say whether files created in the trial can be opened afterwards, so ask before you invest design time.
How much does eCADSTAR cost?
The pages we read show no amounts. eCADSTAR is a subscription with bundles for schematic and PCB designers, and buyers can purchase online or request a quotation. Ask for a quote that names the editors, term length and support level so that renewals are predictable.
Is eCADSTAR the same as Zuken CR-8000?
No. Both come from Zuken, but CR-8000 is presented as enterprise software for 3D PCB and IC package design, while eCADSTAR is sold in modular subscription bundles with a trial. A team moving up or down should ask Zuken how libraries and rules transfer between them.
Does eCADSTAR have AI features?
The eCADSTAR pages we read name no AI feature. The product list covers editors, a constraints browser, high-speed tuning, simulation and autorouting. For AI drafting see Flux, and for AI in simulation see Proteus. Zuken's own AI PCB Design section sits on the CR-8000 page instead.
Where is eCADSTAR support based?
The vendor claims local EU-based support and 24/7 online support. That is the vendor's own statement, and we did not test response times. Ask for written service levels if support hours matter, and find out whether the EU contact covers your language and time zone.