CircuitMaker
CircuitMaker is a free, professional-grade PCB design software operated by Altium Limited, targeting electronics makers, hobbyists, students, and the open-source hardware community. It provides schematic capture, PCB layout, autorouting, 3D visualization, and cloud collaboration via Altium 365, distributed globally as a no-cost download with no commercial usage restrictions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLa Jolla, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What CircuitMaker does
CircuitMaker is a free, professional-grade PCB (printed circuit board) design software product operated by Altium Limited, targeting electronics makers, hobbyists, students, and the open-source hardware community. The product is offered at no cost with no commercial usage restrictions and no artificial limits on layer counts or board dimensions, supporting 16 signal layers plus 16 plane layers. It is headquartered in La Jolla, California, operates with 1-10 employees, and is distributed globally as a self-serve desktop download with no disclosed geographic restrictions.
The software is built directly on Altium Designer's proprietary schematic and PCB editor engines, providing a streamlined interface that wraps professional-grade capabilities including Native 3D visualization, Situs topological autorouting, push-and-shove routing, multi-sheet schematic editing with hierarchical design blocks, and DRC/DFM-validated CAM output generation (Gerber, NC Drill, ODB++, IPC test point reports). The component library is community-driven and backed by Octopart's real-time component database, providing hundreds of thousands of searchable parts by manufacturer part number or design parameters. Cloud collaboration, project sharing, and community forking are delivered through integration with the Altium 365 platform, with a one-click PCB manufacturing and quoting feature listed as an upcoming capability through partnered fabricators.
CircuitMaker functions as a community-led go-to-market product within Altium Limited's broader EDA portfolio rather than as an independently monetized business. The product is positioned to drive organic adoption among makers and open-source hardware developers through word-of-mouth, project sharing, forking, rating, and forum engagement, with the implicit strategic intent of expanding Altium's reach into the hobbyist and prosumer segments that may later convert to Altium's paid professional tools. No standalone revenue, funding, or capital structure for CircuitMaker is disclosed in the available source material.
CircuitMaker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CircuitMaker
- Legal name
- Altium Limited
- Website
- https://circuitmaker.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CircuitMaker is a free, professional-grade PCB design software operated by Altium Limited, targeting electronics makers, hobbyists, students, and the open-source hardware community. It provides schematic capture, PCB layout, autorouting, 3D visualization, and cloud collaboration via Altium 365, distributed globally as a no-cost download with no commercial usage restrictions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CircuitMaker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD)
Keywords
Where CircuitMaker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Jolla
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CircuitMaker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Free Software with Ecosystem Monetization: CircuitMaker is free to use with no commercial clause restrictions, allowing users to earn revenue with their designs. Revenue generation appears to be indirect through the broader Altium ecosystem, driving adoption that feeds into Altium's paid professional tools and services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Professional-Grade PCB Design Tool |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
CircuitMaker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CircuitMaker is a free PCB design software that provides professional-grade schematic capture and PCB layout capabilities, supporting 16 signal layers plus 16 plane layers with no board-size limits and no commercial-clause restrictions. It is built on Altium Designer technology and includes Native 3D visualization, Situs topological autorouting, push-and-shove routing, multi-sheet hierarchical schematics, DRC/DFM-validated Gerber/ODB++ outputs, and a community component library backed by the Octopart real-time database, with project sharing and forking via the Altium 365 platform.
Product overview
CircuitMaker is a single unified free PCB design software product built on Altium Designer technology. The core offering includes the CircuitMaker Desktop application with full schematic and PCB layout capabilities, backed by a community-driven component library powered by Octopart. The software integrates with Altium 365 for cloud-based collaboration and team project management. No separate modules or add-ons are offered—all features are included in the free version with no artificial design restrictions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CircuitMaker (Free PCB Design Software) Free desktop PCB design software for makers, hobbyists, students, and open-source hardware designers, providing full schematic and PCB layout capability with 16 signal + 16 plane layers, no board-size limits, and no commercial-clause restrictions.
- CircuitMaker Desktop The downloadable desktop application version of CircuitMaker, delivering the full schematic and PCB layout editor with no artificial restrictions on layer counts or board area.
- CircuitMaker Component Library Community-driven component library integrated into CircuitMaker with hundreds of thousands of components searchable by manufacturer part number or design parameters, backed by Octopart's real-time database, and supporting custom parts and mechanical components.
- Altium 365 Collaboration Platform (integrated with CircuitMaker) Cloud-based team collaboration platform integrated with CircuitMaker that enables project creation, sharing with team members or community, project forking, and prepares users for upcoming one-click manufacturing quoting with partner PCB manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 16 signal layers plus 16 plane layers with no board dimension restrictions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CircuitMaker
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CircuitMaker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature7 records
CircuitMaker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AltiumcoreAltium is the parent company behind CircuitMaker. CircuitMaker is built on Altium Designer technology, sharing the same schematic editor and PCB editor engine. The platform is integrated with Altium 365 for collaboration features.
- OctopartcoreOctopart provides the comprehensive real-time component database that backs CircuitMaker's community component library, enabling component search by manufacturer part number or design parameters.
- Altium 365coreAltium 365 platform enables team collaboration, project sharing, and is the foundation for upcoming one-click manufacturing features.
- PCB ManufacturersminorPartnered with select PCB manufacturers to provide one-click manufacturing button for direct board quoting - bare board prototype or full PCB fabrication and assembly.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CircuitMaker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- PCBWay: PCB fabrication, assembly, and stencil service with design tool integrations for hobbyist and prosumer customers. Comparable to the PCB manufacturer partnerships CircuitMaker is building toward its upcoming one-click manufacturing feature.
- JLCPCB: Large-scale PCB prototype and assembly manufacturer integrated with EasyEDA, providing design-to-fabrication workflow. Comparable to CircuitMaker's one-click manufacturing partner ambition and represents the ecosystem layer CircuitMaker is moving into.
Direct peers
- DipTrace: Affordable PCB design software with a free non-commercial tier and low-cost paid versions targeting hobbyists and small businesses. Competes with CircuitMaker in the price-sensitive segment of the EDA market.
- EasyEDA: Free web-based EDA tool tightly integrated with JLCPCB and LCSC for one-click PCB manufacturing and component sourcing. A direct peer given its free pricing, community component library, and integrated manufacturing flow — directly comparable on all three vectors.
- KiCad: Open-source EDA suite for schematic capture and PCB layout with no licensing fees and a strong contributor community. The closest direct competitor to CircuitMaker in the free PCB design space, particularly for hobbyists and open-source hardware developers.
- Autodesk Fusion 360 Electronics (formerly Eagle): Autodesk's EDA offering that replaced the discontinued Eagle product, targeting makers and professional engineers with both free and paid tiers. Competes directly with CircuitMaker in the hobbyist/prosumer PCB design segment and benefits from Autodesk's broader mechanical CAD ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Cadence OrCAD / Allegro: Industry-standard professional EDA platforms used by enterprise engineering teams for complex PCB and system design. Provides overlapping PCB design capability to CircuitMaker but is targeted at large organizations rather than the maker and prosumer segment.
- Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics): Major professional EDA vendor offering PCB design tools (PADS, Xpedition) used in aerospace, automotive, and high-reliability electronics. Adjacent competitor addressing an enterprise segment that CircuitMaker does not target.
- Altium Designer: Altium's flagship professional EDA suite — the paid, full-featured product on which CircuitMaker's technology is built. Serves the same underlying PCB design use case but at a much higher price point and with deeper enterprise/professional capabilities.
Emerging players
- Fritzing: Open-source initiative focused on PCB design for makers, students, and education with a strong breadboard-style visual approach. Overlaps with CircuitMaker's hobbyist and education segments but with a more limited professional feature set.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CircuitMaker social profiles
Digital presenceCircuitMaker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CircuitMaker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CircuitMaker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CircuitMaker M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CircuitMaker
What does CircuitMaker do?
CircuitMaker is a free PCB design software that provides professional-grade schematic capture and PCB layout capabilities, supporting 16 signal layers plus 16 plane layers with no board-size limits and no commercial-clause restrictions. It is built on Altium Designer technology and includes Native 3D visualization, Situs topological autorouting, push-and-shove routing, multi-sheet hierarchical schematics, DRC/DFM-validated Gerber/ODB++ outputs, and a community component library backed by the Octopart real-time database, with project sharing and forking via the Altium 365 platform.
Is CircuitMaker a public or private company?
CircuitMaker is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CircuitMaker founded?
CircuitMaker was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CircuitMaker based?
CircuitMaker is headquartered in La Jolla, United States, in the North America region.
How does CircuitMaker make money?
One revenue line is on record: free Software with Ecosystem Monetization.
Who are CircuitMaker's main competitors?
Others on record are PCBWay and JLCPCB. Direct peers are DipTrace, EasyEDA, KiCad and Autodesk Fusion 360 Electronics (formerly Eagle). Broad incumbents are Cadence OrCAD / Allegro, Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) and Altium Designer. Fritzing is listed as an emerging player.
Does CircuitMaker have an API?
No public API is recorded for CircuitMaker.
What industry is CircuitMaker in?
CircuitMaker's product category is Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAD, System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA).