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Electronics

Kerf vs KiCad

Open-source EDA suite — GPL vs MIT, deep vs integrated.

33/33in Kerf today
16/33in KiCad (included)
0behind a paid tier
2026-05-19last reviewed
CapabilityKerfKiCad
Schematic capture (KiCad round-trip, ERC)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/schematic/capture.py yes source ↗
PCB layout (tscircuit, KiCad round-trip)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/kicad_io.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 routerD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/routing/push_shove.py yes source ↗
Autoroute (FreeRouting)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/freerouting/freerouting.py yes source ↗
Differential pairs / length tuningD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/diffpair.py yes source ↗
DRC / ERCD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/drc.py yes source ↗
SPICE simulationD6 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 no source ↗
EMC (radiated/shielding/limits)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/emc_wizard.py no source ↗
PDN (DC IR-drop + AC sweep)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/pdn/ac_impedance.py no source ↗
PCB thermalD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/thermal_board.py no source ↗
Stackup / impedance calculatorD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/stackup/impedance.py yes source ↗
Gerber / Excellon exportD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/gerber.py yes source ↗
IPC-2581 exportD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/ipc2581.py yes source ↗
ODB++ exportD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/odbpp/writer.py yes source ↗
3D PCB viewer (STEP export)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/board_step.py yes source ↗
ECAD importers (Allegro / PADS / gEDA / Eagle)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/kicad_io.py yes source ↗
Component / symbol libraryD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/atopile/library.py yes source ↗
Design variantsD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/variants.py yes source ↗
PanelisationD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/panelize.py no source ↗
Monte-Carlo SPICE corner analysisD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/sim_corner.py no source ↗
Analog PVT-corner simD6 yes packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/analog/pvt.py no source ↗
Silicon synth (Yosys) / STA / GDS / DRC / LVSD6 yes packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/bridges/yosys_bridge.py no source ↗
Antenna / link budgetD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/antenna/element.py no source ↗
Battery/BMS, motor/gate/LED driver sizingD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/charger/bms.py no source ↗
Wiring/harness (WireViz + 3D router)D10 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/harness3d/router.py no source ↗
PLC IEC 61131-3 (ST/Ladder/FB/motion)D10 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/routes_spice.py no source ↗
Solar PV (system + partial shading)D10 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/routes_spice.py no source ↗
Constraint sketcher (geo + dim)D1 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/board_step.py no source ↗
Assemblies — matesD1 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/fab/board_step.py no source ↗
Should-cost (6 processes, Boothroyd-Dewhurst)D14 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/bom_cost.py no source ↗
Material selection (Ashby)D14 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/tools/bom_cost.py no source ↗
  • yes shipped
  • partial works with limits
  • 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/kicad.md and every claim in it carries a link.