Tool profile
Horizon EDA: cost, fit and limits
Horizon EDA is a free and open source electronic design tool for printed circuit boards that offers board design, a 3D preview and export for manufacturing, and runs on Linux and Windows according to its homepage.
What to know first
Horizon EDA is free and open source, according to a short homepage that describes design, 3D preview and manufacturing export of PCB layouts on Linux and Windows. The site calls its codebase legacy-free. We found no pricing page, no company or maker statement, no privacy policy and no AI feature, and the site is brief, so a buyer has little to verify beyond the homepage claims.
Horizon EDA at a glance
| Maker | Not stated on the vendor pages, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI PCB Design Software in 2026, rank 12 of 12 |
| Website | horizon-eda.org |
Who Horizon EDA is best for
Linux users
The homepage lists Linux first among supported systems, and a free tool means a developer can try it on a workstation without any signup.
Designers who check boards in 3D
The 3D preview named on the homepage helps spot mechanical clashes between parts and enclosures before ordering a prototype, which saves a respin on tight mechanical designs.
People who like new open source code
The homepage describes a legacy-free codebase, which appeals to contributors who want to read or extend a modern code base.
Horizon EDA plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free and open source | Free | Free and open source, runs on Linux and Windows, with no paid edition mentioned on the homepage. |
Checked November 2026.
What Horizon EDA does
- PCB layout design
- The homepage presents Horizon EDA as a tool for designing PCB layouts, though the pages read give no detail on schematic capture or rule checking.
- 3D preview
- A 3D preview of the board is named, so designers can inspect part placement and shape without exporting to a separate mechanical viewer or building a model by hand.
- Export for manufacturing
- Export of designs for manufacturing is named on the homepage, but formats are not listed, so confirm that your fabricator accepts them before ordering any boards.
- Linux and Windows builds
- The tool runs on Linux and Windows, which covers most engineering desktops but leaves out macOS users who need a native build for their daily work.
How Horizon EDA handles your data
Horizon EDA is described as a free and open source desktop tool, so project files stay wherever the user saves them. The short site we read has no privacy policy, no statement on training use, retention, hosting region or certifications, and names no AI feature. No maker or company location is stated. A company that needs a data processing agreement or a named supplier has nobody to ask on the pages read, which limits its use for confidential commercial work without further checks.
Where Horizon EDA falls short in practice
- Very little to verify. The site is short, with no pricing, company or documentation page found, so claims about features and support cannot be checked beyond the homepage text we read.
- No macOS build stated. The homepage names Linux and Windows only. A Mac user would need another tool such as KiCad, which lists macOS, or a browser tool such as Flux.
- No AI named. No AI feature is named, which places Horizon EDA at the bottom of an AI-focused ranking and behind every tool that describes AI help or lists a vendor.
Works with
Alternatives to Horizon EDA
Horizon EDA: common questions
Is Horizon EDA free?
The homepage describes Horizon EDA as free and open source. We found no pricing page, paid edition or donation scheme on the short site. The license text was not read, so check the repository for the exact license before using it inside a commercial product or redistributing it.
Which operating systems does Horizon EDA support?
The homepage says it runs on Linux and Windows. It does not mention macOS. Teams with Mac users should compare KiCad, which lists Windows, Linux and macOS, or a browser tool. Confirm current build availability on the download page before planning a rollout.
Does Horizon EDA have AI features?
No AI feature is named on the Horizon EDA homepage we read. It describes board design, a 3D preview and export for manufacturing. A designer who wants AI drafting can look at Flux, and one who wants AI help in simulation can look at Proteus.
Who makes Horizon EDA?
The pages we read do not state a maker, company or headquarters country, so we list none. That matters for procurement and liability. Look at the project repository and community pages to identify the maintainers, and ask them directly if your company needs a named contact.
How does Horizon EDA differ from KiCad?
Both are free and open source. KiCad lists Windows, Linux and macOS, Gerber and IPC-2581 output, an about page and a privacy page. Horizon EDA's homepage lists Linux and Windows, a 3D preview and manufacturing export, and little else. Test both on one board before deciding.