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I am trying to find a free program for designing circuit diagrams. Is Autodesk's Eagle program any good or is that just for designing PCBs. I've had a look at Microsoft Visio but I don't really want to spend $20 a month. I'm looking for a program that is for making basic circuit diagrams that have symbols. Thanks.

  • too subjective, but look into KiCAD –  Dec 27 '18 at 09:17
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    Visio is not a circuit design program even if it has some of the symbols. – pjc50 Dec 27 '18 at 09:54
  • See also https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1024/good-tools-for-drawing-schematics – pjc50 Dec 27 '18 at 09:56
  • Give EXPRESSPCB a look. Simple but free. – Robert Endl Dec 27 '18 at 12:09
  • I second ExpressSch, part of the ExpressPCB family, for schematic capture. Easy to use, easy to make up your own symbols if needed. https://www.expresspcb.com/expresssch/ I use Eagle myself as I then create PCBs from the schematics, examples can be seen here http://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17 – CrossRoads Dec 27 '18 at 14:11
  • The is no best without requirements. http://www.pcbweb.com/ except free and simple in your case – Tony Stewart EE75 Dec 27 '18 at 15:58

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If you want only schematics entry and free, then I think you only have 2 well supported options: Eagle or LTspice. Free Eagle is an entry level full eCAD program, so it also supports schematic entry and does it well with a huge online library.

LTspice is the other option. It's a simulation program but simulations need schematic entry too. LTspice probably has a slightly easier learning curve. YMMV.

gommer
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At our university, UG students use the open source circuit drawing tool Xcircuit

This might be what the OP is looking for since unlike Eagle and LTspcice it is purely a tool to create schematics.

The software is compatible with Latex and the software produces a .tex file that can be added to a Latex source file to give annotations and captions that are dynamic and not frozen into the schematic.

Fair Warning: The software is buggy and keeps crashing randomly. Be sure to save your work frequently.

ijuneja
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Since you need a drawing tool without any circuit design features (like Visio), try Inkscape, the general purpose open-source vector graphics editor. There are many free electrical symbols libraries and extensions for Inkscape, e.g. Electrical symbols library, or circuitSymbols.

Davor
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  • I use Inkscape for drawings but wouldn't dream of using it for a schematic. Wiring would have to be redrawn and checked every time a component is moved. Hopeless. – Transistor Dec 27 '18 at 13:23
  • True, but if Visio is good enough, Inkscape will also do the job ("making basic circuit diagrams that have symbols"). – Davor Dec 28 '18 at 10:34
  • Visio does have attachment points though and the wires will remain attached to some extent. I've never tried using it for schematics but I imagine it will move the wiring to the incorrect nodes in an attempt to be clever. – Transistor Dec 28 '18 at 13:28