Compare DipTrace vs. PCBWeb

DipTrace is a professional PCB design suite from Novarm Ltd, in continuous development since 2004 and used by over 30,000 engineers across 50+ countries. Companies in aerospace, defense, medical devices, and industrial electronics rely on it for production work. The suite covers the full design flow in one environment. Schematic Capture handles multi-sheet hierarchical projects with electrical rule check, a Digital SPICE Simulator for analog and digital circuits, and cross-selection with the board. PCB Layout provides interactive push-and-shove editing, where moving or rotating a placed component displaces neighbouring traces and vias as you work, and dragged traces route themselves around pads, keepouts, and existing copper. Designers choose whether design rules are enforced at all times or violations are permitted deliberately. High-speed work is supported through differential pair routing, length matching, layer stackup management, and a PCB calculator. Manufacturing output covers Gerber X2, ODB++, IPC-2581, NC Drill, and STEP for mechanical CAD. Version 5.3 introduced a native XML project format that mirrors the binary format feature for feature, making designs practical to keep under Git or another version control system. Component sourcing runs through a database-powered search with Mouser integration and SnapEDA access to more than 10 million parts. Projects import from Altium, KiCad, Eagle, OrCAD, EasyEDA Pro, Pulsonix, and PADS. DipTrace runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Licensing is perpetual — bought once, with no subscription or maintenance fees — across five editions starting at $75. Technical support is provided to every user, including those on the free edition.

Navigating the schematic and layout within PCBWeb Designer can be accomplished using either your mouse or keyboard. To adjust the zoom level, you can utilize the scroll wheel or the page-up and page-down keys to zoom in and out of the active design area. If you wish to return to a zoom level that fits your entire design, you can either click on the designated icon located in the lower right corner of the interface or simply press the home key. Panning through the PCBWeb Designer interface is achieved by holding down the right mouse button while moving your mouse, and alternatively, you can also navigate using the standard scroll bars situated at the bottom and side of the application. Additionally, PCBWeb Designer features a comprehensive component catalog that allows you to effortlessly search, filter, and place components that include both a symbol and footprint, enhancing your design efficiency. This integrated functionality streamlines the design process, making it easier for users to find exactly what they need without unnecessary delays.