How DesignSpark PCB Compares to Eagle, KiCad, and AltiumDesigning printed circuit boards (PCBs) requires selecting the right software. Choices range from free, open-source tools to expensive professional suites. This article compares DesignSpark PCB to three popular alternatives — Autodesk Eagle, KiCad, and Altium Designer — across key areas: cost, ease of use, features, library and component support, community and learning resources, performance and stability, collaboration and professional workflows, and target users. Where helpful, practical examples and recommendations are provided.
Summary comparison (quick view)
| Category | DesignSpark PCB | Autodesk Eagle | KiCad | Altium Designer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (for many users) | Subscription / paid; free for hobbyists/limits | Free (open-source) | Paid (high-end; subscription/perpetual) |
| Ease of use | Beginner-friendly; simple UI | Familiar; moderate learning curve | Moderate; improving UI | Professional-grade; steep learning curve |
| Features | Solid 2D routing, mixed-mode simulation via add-ons | Strong schematic/board integration; ULPs | Rapidly expanding; powerful features | Comprehensive advanced features (3D, high-speed, SI) |
| Libraries & parts | Decent built-in; RS Parts integration | Large 3rd-party libraries; SparkFun, Adafruit | Growing community libraries | Extensive manufacturer libraries & data links |
| Community & support | Good forums; RS support | Large user base; Autodesk support | Large OSS community; active dev | Professional support; ecosystem vendors |
| Collaboration | Basic file formats; limited PLM/ECAD integration | Cloud options (Fusion) | Git-friendly; IPC-2581, Gerber | Enterprise collaboration, versioning, PLM integration |
| Target users | Hobbyists, small teams, electronics educators | Makers, prosumers, small businesses | Hobbyists to professionals | Professional engineers, enterprises |
Cost and licensing
- DesignSpark PCB: Free to download and use for most individuals and small teams; no subscription required. This makes it highly attractive for hobbyists, students, and small businesses.
- Eagle: Transitioned to subscription licensing under Autodesk. There are free tiers for hobbyists and students but with limitations (board size, layers, or schematic sheets).
- KiCad: Free and open-source (GPL). No restrictions on commercial use; active community updates.
- Altium Designer: Proprietary commercial software with substantial licensing costs (subscription or perpetual + maintenance). Targeted at professional and enterprise users.
Cost influences selection: for low budgets, DesignSpark PCB and KiCad are the most accessible. Eagle fits intermediate budgets or users in the Autodesk ecosystem. Altium is for teams needing advanced capabilities and willing to pay.
Ease of use and learning curve
- DesignSpark PCB: Clean, straightforward UI focused on 2D PCB design. Learning curve is gentle — suitable for beginners and educators. Many common tasks are simplified, with fewer advanced options exposed by default.
- Eagle: Relatively approachable, especially for those who’ve used older EDA tools. Scriptable with ULPs (User Language Programs), which adds power but increases complexity.
- KiCad: Historically more technical, but recent versions (6 and 7) significantly improved usability and workflow. Still slightly steeper learning curve than DesignSpark but closing the gap.
- Altium: Powerful and feature-rich, which leads to a steeper learning curve. Interface is dense but efficient for experienced PCB engineers.
If you want to get up and running quickly with minimal setup, DesignSpark PCB or Eagle (for former Eagle users) are good choices. For long-term growth into professional workflows, KiCad or Altium may be better investments.
Core features and capabilities
Schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, design rule checking (DRC), and manufacturing outputs are table-stakes. Differences appear in advanced features:
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DesignSpark PCB:
- Strong in basic schematic capture and board layout.
- Autorouting available (basic).
- 3D view is limited compared to top-tier tools.
- No native high-speed analysis or advanced signal integrity (SI) tools.
- Add-on support (some simulation/utility plugins).
-
Eagle:
- Good schematic-to-board integration.
- Supports scripts and ULPs for automation and custom functionality.
- Add-ons and integrations for CAM outputs and Fusion 360 interoperability.
-
KiCad:
- Robust schematic/PCB suite with push-and-shove router, interactive router, 3D viewer, and decent DRC.
- Supports SPICE simulation through integration with external tools.
- Ongoing development adds features like differential pair routing and improved interactive tools.
-
Altium Designer:
- Advanced feature set: high-speed design, signal/power integrity tools, advanced 3D modeling, MCAD integration, constraint-driven design, and manufacturing-focused tooling.
- Strong simulation and analysis integrations, including SI/PI and constraint management.
For hobby and basic professional projects, DesignSpark PCB covers most needs. For complex, high-speed, or enterprise projects, Altium is unmatched; KiCad offers an increasingly competitive middle ground.
Libraries, components, and manufacturer support
-
DesignSpark PCB:
- Integration with RS Components parts database is a major advantage — direct access to component images, footprints, and ordering info.
- Library management is adequate but less extensive than some competitors.
-
Eagle:
- Large ecosystem of third-party libraries (SparkFun, Adafruit, element14 etc.).
- Users often rely on community-created parts; Autodesk has increased library offerings.
-
KiCad:
- Rapidly growing official libraries and community-contributed parts. The KiCad library repo is extensive and improving in quality.
- Footprint and symbol management tools are mature, and library formats are open.
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Altium Designer:
- Extensive libraries and managed content; strong manufacturer links and component lifecycle management.
- Integration with managed content servers, PLM, and supply-chain data.
If you frequently design with components stocked by RS, DesignSpark’s integration saves time. For the widest third-party library availability, KiCad and Eagle have large ecosystems; Altium excels in enterprise content management.
Community, documentation, and learning resources
- DesignSpark PCB: Active forums, RS-produced tutorials, and a helpful community of hobbyists and educators. Good starter documentation.
- Eagle: Large user community, many tutorials, YouTube content, and Autodesk’s documentation.
- KiCad: Vibrant open-source community, extensive tutorials, and rapidly growing documentation. Many books and courses now cover KiCad.
- Altium: Professional documentation, training programs, and vendor-led webinars; many corporate users share best practices.
For self-learners, KiCad and Eagle have the most third-party tutorials; DesignSpark offers focused beginner resources.
Performance, stability, and file formats
- DesignSpark PCB: Stable for small-to-medium projects. Handles typical hobby and low-complexity professional boards well. File formats are somewhat proprietary but export standard Gerber and ODB++ outputs.
- Eagle: Mature and stable; supports common manufacturing outputs.
- KiCad: Modern versions are stable and performant; supports common open formats (IPC-2581, Gerber, ODB++, KiCad native files).
- Altium: Optimized for large complex designs; robust file handling and enterprise-grade stability.
For collaboration across different tools, KiCad and Altium’s support for open formats and interchange standards may be advantageous.
Collaboration, version control, and professional workflows
- DesignSpark PCB: Basic collaboration capabilities. Export formats allow handoff to manufacturers; less focused on enterprise workflows, PLM, or advanced versioning.
- Eagle: Offers cloud features via Autodesk and reasonable options for collaboration.
- KiCad: Naturally integrates with Git and other VCS; open formats make collaboration straightforward.
- Altium: Superior collaboration tools — Altium 365, PLM/ERP integration, managed components, and supply-chain visibility.
Teams needing strict revision control, component lifecycle management, and enterprise integrations will prefer Altium; open-source teams or distributed collaborators often favor KiCad.
When to choose each tool
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Choose DesignSpark PCB if:
- You need a free and easy-to-learn tool for hobby projects, education, or small production runs.
- You value RS Components integration for quick part ordering.
-
Choose Eagle if:
- You’re working within Autodesk’s ecosystem (Fusion 360) or prefer a mid-level tool with extensive community parts.
- You like scriptability via ULPs.
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Choose KiCad if:
- You want a free, open-source tool capable of professional-quality boards without licensing constraints.
- You plan to collaborate using Git or need open file formats.
-
Choose Altium Designer if:
- You’re designing high-speed, complex PCBs and need advanced SI/PI tools, MCAD integration, and enterprise collaboration.
Practical example — porting a small design between tools
A common workflow: prototype in DesignSpark PCB or KiCad, then move to Altium for advanced refinement.
Steps to port:
- Export Gerbers and BOM from the source tool.
- Recreate or import schematics if full schematic transfer is needed (use intermediate formats where supported — e.g., KiCad netlists).
- Re-assign footprints and run DRC in the target tool.
- Verify component models and 3D alignment if moving to a 3D-capable tool like Altium.
Note: Direct schematic import between proprietary formats is often lossy; use neutral formats (Gerber for PCB, IPC-2581 or ODB++ when available) for board-level transitions.
Final recommendations
- For learners and hobbyists who prioritize simplicity and cost: DesignSpark PCB or KiCad. DesignSpark is simpler to start with; KiCad scales better toward professional needs.
- For makers already in Autodesk/Fusion ecosystems: Eagle.
- For professional/enterprise development, high-speed designs, and integrated PLM: Altium Designer.
Each tool has trade-offs; pick based on project complexity, budget, team workflows, and preferred ecosystem.
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