DXFViewer vs Protoboard Designer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DXFViewer
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CADLens is a local CAD viewer for fast DXF and SVG review on mobile. Import DXF files, open SVG files, inspect layers, zoom and pan smoothly, add annotations, measure geometry, and export clean outputs in PNG, PDF, or SVG, all without account sign-in or automatic cloud upload. The current release focuses on practical local viewing and export, with future updates planned for broader DXF support, stronger layer tools, and a more polished professional workflow. Year VIP: $19.99. Monthly VIP: $5.99. Annual VIP: $9.99. Monthly VIP supports Family Sharing. ELUA: https://alluring-cornucopia-e64.notion.site/EULA-1b93a026438880b2b7bff9c491893917?pvs=74 Email: personalbum@outlook.com
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 update cadence: Protoboard Designer at every 4 days against DXFViewer's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. DXFViewer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Protoboard Designer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
DXFViewer ships an update every 3 weeks, Protoboard Designer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DXFViewer | Protoboard Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 楠楠 李 | Protoboard Designer Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag |
In-app purchases
DXFViewer
- MonthVip$5.991 Month
- YearVip$19.991 Year
- Lifetime$9.99
Protoboard Designer
- Maker$5.991 Month
- Engineer$12.991 Month
Questions
Is DXFViewer free?
Is Protoboard Designer free?
Do DXFViewer or Protoboard Designer have ads?
Which is updated more often, DXFViewer or Protoboard Designer?
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