Audience
Users and engineers who need to design, validate, and manufacture custom circuit boards faster with AI assistance
About Trace
Trace is an AI-native PCB design platform that takes hardware teams from idea to manufactured board. It combines professional schematic capture and PCB layout tools with intelligent agents that understand hardware in context. Users describe what they want to build in natural language, and Trace can research the problem, generate hierarchical multi-sheet schematics, parse datasheets, suggest components, check real-time availability, place parts, route multi-layer boards, tune matched-length signals, and run ERC, DRC, and design reviews. Its component library includes more than 30,000 symbols and footprints, with sourcing data from major distributors. Plan Mode researches complex tasks, asks clarifying questions, creates a step-by-step plan, and executes only after approval, while TraceRules preserves component preferences, layout constraints, and manufacturing targets across conversations.
Other Popular Alternatives & Related Software
ProtoFlow
ProtoFlow is an AI-native desktop electronic design automation (EDA) tool for schematic capture and PCB design. Describe a circuit in plain language to create an editable first draft, search real electronic parts and footprints, inspect datasheets, clean up wiring, and continue manually in familiar schematic and board editors. ProtoFlow supports ERC/DRC review, 3D board inspection, Git-backed versioning and visual diffs, comments and collaboration, plus manufacturing outputs including Gerber, drill, BOM, and placement files. Designs remain normal editable geometry, and users should verify symbols, footprints, connections, and manufacturing data before production. ProtoFlow can read and write native KiCad files and export to established EDA workflows. A free plan is available without a credit card, with paid options for higher AI usage. It is built for hardware engineers, makers, students, educators, researchers, and electronics startups.
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KiCad EDA
With the schematic editor you can create your design without limit, there are no paywalls to unlock features. An official library for schematic symbols and a built-in schematic symbol editor help you get started quickly with your designs. Make professional PCB layouts with up to 32 copper layers. KiCad now has a push and shove router which is capable of routing differential pairs and interactively tuning trace lengths. KiCad includes a 3D viewer which you can use to inspect your design in an interactive canvas. You can rotate and pan around to inspect details that are difficult to inspect on a 2D view. Multiple rendering options allow you to modify the aesthetic appearance of the board or to hide and show features for easier inspection. KiCad’s schematic capture is efficient, with all the tools you can expect for such a task. The interface focuses on productivity. There are no complexity limits, as large designs can be divided into hierarchical subsheets.
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Flux
Flux is browser-based PCB design software (EDA) with an AI hardware design assistant. It combines schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, simulation, and design rule checks in one workspace.
Describe a circuit in plain language to generate a schematic, then refine it in the editor. AI helps research parts, place components, route traces, and review designs. Engineers set constraints and approve the final board.
Teams edit projects together in real time, share comments, manage permissions, and reuse community parts and designs. Live component pricing and availability support sourcing. Export Gerber, BOM, and pick-and-place files for manufacturing.
Import Altium ASCII and Cadence EDIF schematics or KiCad component libraries; these imports do not include PCB layouts. Flux runs in a web browser without a desktop installation.
A 14-day trial includes limited AI usage. Paid plans are required afterward for private-project editing/export and AI.
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DipTrace
DipTrace is professional EDA software for schematic capture and PCB layout by Novarm Ltd, used by over 30,000 engineers in 50+ countries in aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial electronics.
The PCB editor features interactive push-and-shove editing: moving a component on a routed board pushes surrounding traces and vias aside in real time, and an edited trace walks around pads and keepouts. Also included: shape-based autorouter, real-time DRC, differential pairs, length matching, 3D preview with STEP export, via stitching, panelizing, IPC-7351 pattern generator. The schematic editor supports hierarchical designs, ERC, and a Digital SPICE Simulator.
DipTrace 5.3 adds a native XML project format suitable for version control, component search with Mouser integration, and SnapEDA access to 10M+ parts.
Imports Altium, KiCad, Eagle, OrCAD, PADS. Exports Gerber X2, ODB++, IPC-2581, STEP.
Windows, macOS, Linux. Perpetual license from $75, no subscription.
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Pricing
Starting Price:
$20 one-time payment
Company Information
Trace
Founded: 2025
United States
buildwithtrace.com
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Product Details
Platforms Supported
Windows
Training
Documentation
Videos
Support
Online
