KiCAD PCB Viewer vs Protoboard Designer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
KiCAD PCB Viewer
This tool allows users to view and review KiCAD-generated PCB design files on mobile devices. It offers multi-layer browsing, interactive verification, and design rule checks to ensure manufacturing standards. Features include real-time zoom, pan, rotation, and annotation for collaborative design.
- View KiCAD PCB files on mobile
- Multi-layer browsing and analysis
- Interactive design verification
- Design Rule Check (DRC)
- Annotation and marking for collaboration
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- AI model integration via MCP
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This is a lightweight APP for viewing KiCAD 3 - 10 generated pcb files in a mobile environment. No matter what questions, opinions or ideas you have, you can send an email to xjerry248@gmail.com . KiCAD PCB Viewer is a highly professional tool developed specifically for viewing and reviewing PCB design files generated by KiCAD. The tool integrates an advanced graphical interface that allows users to deeply browse PCB designs in a multi-layer view mode, supporting comprehensive analysis and verification of complex boards. Users can view the component layout, electrical connections, and signal paths of each layer in detail, and perform interactive design verification and troubleshooting. KiCAD PCB Viewer provides real-time zoom, pan, and rotation capabilities, enabling users to precisely locate and inspect every detail of the board. At the same time, the tool supports various display modes, including transparent view, high brightness display and inter-layer contrast, helping users to quickly identify and solve potential problems. KiCAD PCB Viewer also has a powerful Design Rule Check (DRC) feature that automatically detects and flags design violations to ensure that your board design meets industrial manufacturing standards. In addition, the tool supports annotation and marking capabilities, which facilitate team collaboration and design review. To improve the user experience, KiCAD PCB Viewer integrates cross-platform support and is able to run smoothly on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. Its efficient file handling capability and optimized user interface make it an ideal choice for PCB design engineers in the design, verification and optimization process. You can access the Web interface of the APP directly in the browser, easily manage, upload and download the PCB design file generated by KiCAD, and achieve cross-platform convenient and efficient file operation. KiCAD PCB Viewer supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Through this protocol, it can provide AI models with the necessary context from PCB files to enhance circuit analysis. Engineers can connect KiCAD PCB Viewer with AI - driven functions like automated design analysis and intelligent verification. This allows them to more effectively identify potential PCB design issues and improve the overall quality of their PCB designs. KiCAD PCB Viewer provides engineers with comprehensive support to ensure high quality, reliability, and manufacturability of PCB designs, whether at the beginning of design, mid-development, or final review before production. By using KiCAD PCB Viewer, engineers can more efficiently perform design verification, optimization, and fault diagnosis, improving overall design efficiency and product quality.
Protoboard Designer
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Go from circuit idea to production-ready Gerber file in minutes. No netlist. No learning curve. Just open the app and start building. Protoboard Designer is a WYSIWYG PCB layout editor for makers, hobbyists, students, and anyone who finds KiCad or Altium overwhelming. Place components, route copper traces, and export your board — on your phone, tablet, or directly in your browser at protoboarddesigner.com. Available on iOS and Web — your projects sync seamlessly across all your devices. KEY FEATURES • WYSIWYG PCB Layout — what you place on screen is exactly what gets manufactured. No surprises at the fab house. • Gerber & PDF Export — send production-ready Gerber files directly to any PCB fab, or export a PDF to etch your own board at home. • KiCad Footprint Import — use the built-in component library, import KiCad footprints, or add any public GitHub repository as a footprint source. • Cloud Project Sync — your boards are automatically backed up and synced across iOS and Web. Start on your phone, finish in the browser — or vice versa. • No Netlist Required — skip the schematic step entirely and jump straight to layout. PERFECT FOR • Makers and hobbyists designing perfboard, stripboard, or custom PCB layouts • Students learning electronics and circuit board design • Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32 tinkerers moving beyond breadboards • Anyone wanting to go from idea to fabrication without weeks of learning software WHY NOT KICAD OR ALTIUM? Traditional EDA tools are powerful — but they're designed for professional engineers managing complex multi-layer boards. They take weeks to learn and are desktop-only. Protoboard Designer strips away everything you don't need for hobby and prototype work, so you can focus on building, not learning software. Try the web app for free at protoboarddesigner.com — no install required. Or download now and sign in with Google to get started in seconds. No credit card required. Terms of Use (EULA): https://protoboarddesigner.com/terms-of-service.html Privacy Policy: https://protoboarddesigner.com/privacy-policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Protoboard Designer at Free against KiCAD PCB Viewer's $1.99. Protoboard Designer also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). KiCAD PCB Viewer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#144 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Protoboard Designer is free to download; KiCAD PCB Viewer costs $1.99 up front. Protoboard Designer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. KiCAD PCB Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.
KiCAD PCB Viewer ships an update every 3 weeks, Protoboard Designer daily. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | KiCAD PCB Viewer | Protoboard Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 15.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #144 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 明杰 曾 | Protoboard Designer Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag |
In-app purchases
KiCAD PCB Viewer
No in-app purchases
Protoboard Designer
- Maker$5.991 Month
- Engineer$12.991 Month





