KiCad for MAC
Free, open-source electronics design suite for Mac: draw schematics and lay out printed circuit boards, with Gerber and IPC-2581 output.
KiCad Overview
KiCad is an open-source software suite for electronic design automation (EDA). It covers the whole path from idea to circuit board: draw your circuit as a schematic, then lay out the printed circuit board (PCB) and export Gerber or IPC-2581 files to send to a board maker. KiCad aims to be the best cross-platform electronics design application for professional designers, while hiding the complexity of advanced features so that it stays approachable for beginners.
KiCad runs on Mac, Windows and Linux and is developed by the KiCad project, governed by its lead development team. Version 10.0.7 is a bug-fix release with minor improvements. KiCad is free and open source, mostly under the GPL-3.0 license. The Mac download is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. It is a large download, about 1.3 GB.
Key Features
KiCad takes your electronics from idea to circuit board.
- Schematic capture: draw your circuit.
- PCB layout: design the printed circuit board.
- Manufacturing output: Gerber and IPC-2581 files.
- For professionals: built for professional electronics designers.
- Approachable: advanced features stay out of a beginner's way.
- Cross-platform: Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Universal: native on Apple Silicon and Intel.
- Free and open source: no licence fees.
What’s New in Version 10.0.7
KiCad 10.0.7 is a bug-fix release.
- Bug fixes and other minor improvements since the previous release
KiCad FAQ
Is KiCad free?
Yes. KiCad is free and open source, mostly under the GPL-3.0 license.
Which macOS version does KiCad need?
KiCad 10.0.7 needs macOS 12 Monterey or later.
Does KiCad run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. The Mac download is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel.
What is KiCad used for?
Designing electronics: drawing schematics and laying out printed circuit boards.
Can I send my board to a manufacturer?
Yes. KiCad exports Gerber and IPC-2581 files, which board makers use.
Is KiCad good for beginners?
It is built for professionals but aims to stay approachable for new users.
Why is the download so big?
KiCad is a full design suite, and the universal Mac download is about 1.3 GB.
Does KiCad run on Windows and Linux?
Yes. KiCad runs on Mac, Windows and Linux.
Can I install KiCad with Homebrew?
Yes. Run brew install --cask kicad.
Where does the KiCad download on kicad.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official KiCad macOS download page at https://www.kicad.org/download/macos/. kicad.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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