LibrePCB
Free cross-platform schematic and board editor from a Swiss developer, no account needed
Summary table
| Company | LibrePCB project (lead developer @ubruhin) |
|---|---|
| Category | PCB Design Software |
| Headquarters | Switzerland (city not stated), Switzerland |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Switzerland |
| Data Location | Local files on your computer; no online account required |
| Open Source | Open source (licence page not read) |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Runs locally on your computer |
| Main Features | Schematic editor, board editor, output jobs, library management, command-line interface, fabrication service |
| Pricing | Free: the site states no costs, no restrictions and no online account |
| Best For | Makers, students and professionals who want a free PCB tool without an account |
| Replaces | Altium Designer, Autodesk EAGLE |
Review in detail
LibrePCB is a free, cross-platform electronic design automation suite for drawing schematics and designing printed circuit boards. The About page says the founder and lead developer, an electrical engineer from Switzerland, started it in 2013.
The first official stable release came in 2018, and version 2.1.1 was released on 12 June 2026. The lead developer now works on the project full time and asks for donations.
How LibrePCB handles schematics, boards and libraries
LibrePCB has a schematic editor, a board editor and output jobs for manufacturing files. Library management and a library editor are part of the site's feature list.
The software is written in C++20, Rust and Qt and is available in 15 languages. A command-line interface exists for scripted work.
What LibrePCB costs and what it asks of you
LibrePCB states: no costs, no restrictions, no online account. Support through the help section is free, and commercial support is available on request.
LibrePCB Fab is a linked fabrication service. We did not read its prices or terms.
LibrePCB as a European alternative to Altium Designer
LibrePCB suits users who want a free tool and no vendor contract at all. There is no legal entity on the pages we read, only a named lead developer in Switzerland.
The project is a single-maintainer effort, which is a different risk profile from a company with a support department.
Known limits
LibrePCB is led by one developer who has worked on it beside a full-time job in the past, and no company, imprint or support contract is shown on the pages we read. Advanced features of Altium Designer such as integrated team workspaces are not described. For commercial support with an invoice, a company such as Pulsonix may fit better.
Best suited to users of LibrePCB
Individual engineers, students and small teams that want a free local tool and can live without a vendor support contract.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Free with no account
- Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS
- Available in 15 languages
- Library manager and command-line interface
- Full-time development funded by donations
Cons
- No legal entity named on the pages we read
- Single lead developer
- Licence text not read for this review
- Commercial support only on request
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free with no account
- Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS
- Available in 15 languages
- Library manager and command-line interface
- Full-time development funded by donations
Cons
- No legal entity named on the pages we read
- Single lead developer
- Licence text not read for this review
- Commercial support only on request
Alternatives to LibrePCB
More European pcb design software you can weigh against it:
See all European pcb design software or compare them directly against Altium Designer on our alternatives page.
Common questions
The site states no costs and no restrictions. We did not read the licence text, so check it before commercial use.
The About page says the founder and lead developer is an electrical engineer from Switzerland.
No. The site states there is no online account.