EasyEDA vs KiCAD vs Altium: The Ultimate PCB Tool Showdown (And Why KiCAD Wins for REAL Engineers)

By Muhammad Mirza, Founder of Embedded Edge Academy

A crucial decision arises when you choose to design your first PCB: do you go with the power of industry titans, the freedom of open-source, or the ease of use of cloud tools?

Having trained engineers at Embedded Edge Academy and designed multiple boards, I have seen the emotional rollercoaster:

"I became overconfident due to EasyEDA's ease."
"The cost of Altium caused me to doubt my career."
"I fell in love with PCB design because of KiCAD's depth."

Let's analyze each of the three and show you why KiCAD is starting a revolution that we are honored to support.

Contender 1: EasyEDA – The Cloud-Based Comfort Zone

"Quick, Simple, and Trapped in a Browser"

EasyEDA, which began as a web-based tool for hobbyists, entices with:

• Zero-Install Magic: Create PCBs using any tablet or Chromebook.

• Integrated Component Library: LCSC/JLCPCB synchronized with over a million parts.

• Order boards straight from the canvas with One-Click Fabrication.

The harsh reality is that Talha, an Embedded Edge student, ran into walls while designing a motor controller in EasyEDA:

• No Offline Access: Lost productivity results from an Internet outage.

• Restricted High-Speed Tools: No control over impedance or length tuning.

• Vendor Lock-In: Designs locked in a proprietary format (no local backups!).

"EasyEDA is training wheels. Helpful up until you have to ride over rough terrain."

Contender 2: KiCAD – The Open-Source Juggernaut

"Free as in Freedom, Powerful as in Professional"

KiCAD 7+, created by CERN scientists and improved by thousands of engineers, is revolutionary:

The Reasons Behind Engineers' Switch:

• 100% Offline = True Ownership. Your hard drive is where your designs are stored.

• No artificial restrictions on the number of layers, pins, or board size.

Contemporary Superpowers:

• Altium-style push-and-shove routing

• 3D detection of collisions

• Integration of SPICE simulation

• Gerbers exportable to ANY factory, not just JLCPCB
  

Real-World Power: Designed entirely in KiCAD, Ayesha's 4-layer STM32 industrial controller passed EMI tests on its first try. How much did she cost? Software licenses total zero dollars.

"KiCAD asks for your creativity rather than your credit card information."

Contender 3: Altium Designer – The Corporate Titan

"The $7,000/Year Gatekeeper of Elite PCB Design"

• Smooth Ecosystem: Schematic → PCB → MCAD → DFM with a single click.

• Signal Integrity Wizardry: TDR analysis, DDR tuning.

• Real-Time Collaboration: Altium 365 Cloud enables seamless team co-design.

The Suffering Under the Polish:

• Cost Barrier: More costly ($7,145/year) than a used car.

• Overkill for 90%: Is an Arduino shield really in need of IBIS models?

• Steep Learning Cliff: It takes more than six months to master.
  

"Until you look at maintenance costs, Altium is the Formula 1 car of PCB tools—glorious."

The Brutal Comparison Table

The Turning Point: Why KiCAD is Winning 2024

(And Why We’re Betting Our Academy On It)

KiCAD became unstoppable due to three seismic shifts:

Version 7 Revolution: Push-and-shove routing, differential pairs, and a UI rivaling Altium.

Industry Adoption: Used by Arduino, CERN, Tesla.

The Cost Apocalypse: $7k/year Altium fees no longer justified in shrinking-margin markets.

Conclusion:

• Hobbyists: For fast wins, use EasyEDA.

• Experts: Altium if your business covers it.

• Visionaries: KiCAD for power and freedom.

Announcing: Embedded Edge Academy’s Flagship KiCAD Mastery Program

After 6 months of development, we’re launching the most comprehensive KiCAD course ever created – designed to transform you from beginner to pro PCB designer.

What Makes Our KiCAD Course Different?

Your KiCAD Journey Starts Here

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓’𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 2?
- Improved real-world project-based learning
- More focus on advanced routing techniques
- Additional Q&A support for troubleshooting

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔’𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍
- Fundamentals of PCB design workflows
- Component placement and schematic capture
- Creating custom footprints for schematic and PCB layout
- Designing multi-layer PCBs (up to 4 layers)
- Layout optimization and routing techniques
- Preparing designs for manufacturing

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋?
- Engineering students (Highly Recommended)
- Hobbyists and makers looking to enhance PCB design skills
- Professionals stepping into PCB design

𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒
- Hands-on practical training with real-world applications
- Recorded lectures and project files
- Live Q&A sessions and personalized guidance
- 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒
𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: 1 month (8 classes, 1 hour each)
𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: 12 PM – 1 PM (GMT + 5) (Weekends: Saturday and Sunday)
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: June 28, 2025
𝐅𝐄𝐄: PKR 4500

Why Learn KiCAD NOW?

The market is a loud voice:

• Job Trends: KiCAD job mentions up 400% since 2022

• Cost-Effectiveness: Startups save $20k+ vs. Altium

• Future-Proofing: Space tech & OSHW dominated by open-source
  

"KiCAD is a declaration of independence, not just a tool."

Special Invitation: Join the KiCAD Revolution

Early-Bird Launch: June 21, 2025

👉 [Book Your Place: KiCAD Professional Mastery Program]

Last Word of Wisdom

Final Wisdom: Choose Tools Like Your Career Depends On It

Having trained engineers from dozens of countries:

• Students: Use KiCAD – it's free, so you can keep practicing.

• Professionals: Put KiCAD on your CV – it's what companies want.

• Founders: Use KiCAD to scale without license worries.
  

"I learned PCB design from Altium. I learned how to think like an engineer thanks to KiCAD."
– Omar R., Senior Hardware Designer, Embedded Edge Woekshop Attendee.

Create with courage. Take possession of your tools. Create the future.
– Embedded Edge Academy, founded by Muhammad Mirza

P.S.

My "KiCAD Keyboard Shortcut" Cheat Sheet (worth $49) is free for the first 100 students who sign up!
Inquiries? Just reply to this email – I read all of them.