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Electronics
Kerf vs Altium Designer
Industrial-grade PCB design — Situs router vs MIT open-core EDA.
38/38in Kerf today
36/38in Altium Designer (included)
0behind a paid tier
2026-05-19last reviewed
| Capability | Kerf | Altium Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Schematic capture (KiCad round-trip, ERC)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/schematic/capture.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Hierarchical schematic (multi-sheet, port-based)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/hier_schematic.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Multi-channel schematic (repeated blocks)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/hier_schematic.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| ERC depthD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/erc.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Component library managementD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/lib_mgmt.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Design variants / BOM variantsD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/variants.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Interactive PCB editing (route/place)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/routing/push_shove.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Push-and-shove router (Situs engine)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/shove_router.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Autoroute (FreeRouting)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/autoroute.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Differential pairs routing + length tuningD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/diffpair.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Net classes and design rulesD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/net_classes.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| DRC / ERCD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/drc_presets.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| HDI stack-up (buried/blind/micro-via)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/stackup/impedance.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Impedance-controlled stack-upD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/stackup/impedance.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Rigid-flex PCB stack-upD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/flex_stackup.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Multi-board design (MB3D workspace)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/plugin.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| 3D PCB editor (STEP import, clearance)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/fab.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Via stitching / copper pour / teardropsD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/via_stitching.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| PanelisationD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/panelize.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| SPICE simulation (mixed-signal)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/routes_spice.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Signal integrity (Z0/crosstalk/eye/IBIS)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/si_eye_wizard.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| PDN (DC IR-drop + AC sweep)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/pdn_wizard.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| EMC (radiated/shielding/limits)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/emc_wizard.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| PCB thermal (board-level)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/thermal_board.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Analog PVT corner simulationD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/analog/pvt.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Antenna / link budgetD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/antenna/tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Gerber / Excellon NC drill outputD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/fab.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| ODB++ outputD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/odbpp_export.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| IPC-2581 outputD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/fab_bundle.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| IPC-D-356A netlist outputD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/ipc_netlist.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| IDF MCAD bridgeD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/idf_export.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| PCB layer tools (flip/mirror/layer mapping)D6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/pcb_layer_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Test point managementD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/testpoint.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Silicon synth (Yosys) / STA / GDS / formalD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/formal/equiv.py
|
no source ↗ |
| Wiring/harness (WireViz + 3D router)D10 |
yes
packages/kerf-wiring/src/kerf_wiring/wireviz_runner.py
|
unknown source ↗ |
| ActiveBOM / Octopart supply-chain integrationD7 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/bom_cost.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| DFM checks (PCB)D7 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/dfm/rules.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Trace current / IPC-2221 ampacityD7 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tracecurrent/ampacity.py
|
yes source ↗ |
- yes shipped
- partial works with limits
- paid tier present, but behind an add-on or meter
- no not available
Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/altium.md and every claim in it carries a link.