Make the Switch and Import from KiCad to Altium Designer

PCB design software is available with diverse capability and, of course, diverse pricing models. One of the most commonly-used platforms for PCB design among the maker, student, and freelancer community is KiCad, an open-source design platform for PCB design. The tool includes all the basics a PCB designer needs to create circuits, components, and a PCB layout, and eventually export the manufacturing files required to produce a PCBA.

Although KiCad is popular among many in the design community, there is a major case to make for migrating into a paid platform like Altium Designer. For students and hobbyists, there is also CircuitMaker, a free Altium product that implements the same workflow and basic PCB layout tools found in Altium Designer.

 

Who Needs to Migrate to Altium Designer?

Altium Designer is used by PCB designers of all skill levels and experience levels, from students to professionals with decades of experience. KiCad users who start working in Altium Designer often need to migrate their existing data into Altium’s file formats in order to update existing projects or start new projects.

Altium allows multiple conversions of KiCad files:

• Individual KiCad schematics (.kicad_sch files)
• Individual KiCad PCB layouts (.kicad_pcb files)
• Entire KiCad project files (.kicad_pro files and associated documents)
• Entire KiCad libraries (.kicad_lib files)

The most common case where users migrate KiCad data is to update an old project into a new revision or for purposes of circuit reuse. To learn more about migration and to see a step-by-step process, read this article or view the Altium documentation.

What Projects Can You Access With Altium Designer?

Altium Designer is used across all industries and verticals, and by businesses of all sizes. Individual freelancers, small engineering services companies, and large OEMs/ODMs all use Altium Designer to create designs of any complexity level.

With KiCad being a free tool, why would anyone use a paid program like Altium Designer? From the business and career perspectives, the answer is simple: Altium Designer is an investment in your career and your earning potential. Designers who use professional PCB design software consistently work on higher-value projects and command higher salaries than those using free tools.

For freelancers and consultants, this translates directly to revenue. Professional design firms regularly secure five-figure and six-figure projects using Altium Designer, working on advanced hardware that goes beyond simple development boards. These projects involve complex technologies: 

• High-speed digital interfaces
• RF design
• Power electronics
• High-density, high-layer count PCBs
• Products destined for volume manufacturing

The clients pursuing these projects specifically request Altium Designer experience because they understand the tool's capabilities match the complexity of their requirements.

For employed designers, the pattern is equally clear. Companies building advanced products or manufacturing at volume invest in professional tools, and they hire designers who know how to use them. These positions involve sophisticated designs for industries like medical devices, aerospace, automotive, and industrial controls—projects that demand the advanced features and reliability that professional PCB design software provides.

The reality is that purchasing Altium Designer isn't just buying software; it's gaining access to a different tier of work. The investment pays for itself through higher-value projects, better client relationships, and improved career opportunities that simply aren't available to designers limited to free tools.

Today, users can sign up for Altium Develop, the newest platform that bundles Altium 365 and Altium Designer. Altium 365 is already widely used as the primary cloud platform and PDM tool by companies across industries, including high-value industries like medical devices and aerospace.

How KiCad-to-Altium Migration Works

A migration from KiCad to Altium is straightforward and it will allow conversion of an entire KiCad project into Altium’s file format. This includes library files, which may be converted as part of a project conversion or as a standalone library conversion.

1. Decide What to Import

Are you importing a small number of reference designs, your component library, or your entire list of KiCad archives? Most companies migrate their library so that all parts can be reused in new projects, but projects are migrated on an as-needed basis. Decide which files you are going to import.

2. Install/Enable the KiCad Importer in Altium Designer

To migrate from KiCad, you must have the KiCad Importer extension installed/enabled. This importer (and other PCB design file format importers) are installed from inside of Altium Designer.

3. Import using Altium’s Import Wizard

The Import Wizard is accessed from the main File menu inside Altium Designer. Users can then select the KiCad files they want to import and click through the Wizard to complete the migration.

4. Review the Migrated Altium Files

Compare the converted Altium files to the original KiCad files. Sometimes, a few KiCad objects do not convert perfectly and will need to be redrawn in the converted project. This includes components in the schematic and objects in the PCB layout. If needed, redraw the PCB objects with the standard routing or drawing tools in Altium’s PCB editor.

For corrections to symbols or footprints, these may need to be modified in the converted libraries. If there was no dedicated KiCad project library as part of the conversion, export an IntLib from the converted design and perform the update to the converted symbols/footprints.

If you don’t have time to run full conversions of your KiCad projects, but you want to reuse your KiCad libraries, the Import Wizard in Altium Designer allows users to only select a set of KiCad library files for conversion. Once converted into Altium’s file format, these components can be immediately used in a new Altium project.

Still Want Free PCB Design Software? Try CircuitMaker

It’s understandable that part-time consultants, students, and hobbyists can’t justify the full cost of an Altium Designer license. Thankfully, Altium has produced a free PCB design software solution: CircuitMaker. This platform contains the same high-quality schematic capture and layout/routing features in Altium Designer, and it runs on the same underlying design rules engine. This “Altium-lite” platform focuses on the circuit design, placement, and routing features that designers want without the higher level SI or supply chain features required by full-service engineering businesses and enterprises.

CircuitMaker Features

Here are the basic features found in CircuitMaker:

• Component creation, including starting from generic packages
• Full schematic capture with multiple sheets per project
• Complete PCB placement toolset, including hotkeys for align, moving, copying, and reusing circuit designs
• PCB routing features, including any-angle, arc routing, and differential pairs
• A personal cloud workspace with integrated version control for saving and sharing projects
• Free access to manufacturer-verified components
• Instant view of component inventories from worldwide distributors

Users can access simulation tools in free professional-grade SPICE simulators like LTspice, while additional sourcing and procurement support is available for free through Octopart. Users can implement a design workflow that takes designs from concept to manufacturing without ever purchasing a software license.

CircuitMaker vs. KiCad Features

The comparison table below shows how CircuitMaker is already superior to KiCad. The two platforms contain the same basic circuit design, layout, and routing features, as well as the ability to export manufacturing deliverables.

The important capabilities CircuitMaker users have available are supply chain integration and cloud integration. These features gives individual designers, part-time consultants, and freelancers a serious edge over KiCad users and brings CircuitMaker closer to the realm of supporting commercial projects, even as a free PCB design application.

These sourcing tools are exactly what small teams and freelancers need to stay maximally efficient and quickly create a high-quality BOM that can be sent for quote with any manufacturer. This takes a PCB designer out of manufacturing simple designs from JLCPCB and moves them closer to the commercial world.

From CircuitMaker to Altium Designer

If you ever plan to switch to Altium Designer in the future, you won’t lose your CircuitMaker projects or files. Altium Designer can seamlessly import CircuitMaker file formats and instantly convert them to Altium projects; there is no migration process or post-conversion cleanup required. All CircuitMaker components can also be instantly imported into Altium Designer with a simple import, allowing all your parts to be reused in new projects.

Whether you need to build reliable power electronics or advanced digital systems, use Altium’s complete set of PCB design features and world-class CAD tools. Altium provides the world’s premier electronic product development platform, complete with the industry’s best PCB design tools and cross-disciplinary collaboration features for advanced design teams. Contact an expert at Altium today!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a student or hobbyist. What is the best PCB design tool for students?

If you can’t justify the cost of an Altium Designer license, the best option is CircuitMaker. It’s a free schematic + PCB layout tool built on Altium Designer’s core technology, with online collaboration and project storage through an Altium 365 Personal Space. CircuitMaker offers more features than KiCad thanks to its library tools, access to millions of manufacturer-verified components, and instant visibility of distributor inventories inside CircuitMaker.

 

Can students access an educational license of Altium products?

Yes, students can use their institutional email address to get access to a student license of Altium Designer; visit education.altium.com for more information.

 

Why should I use CircuitMaker for hobby/student work instead of KiCad?

The great part of using CircuitMaker is that the workflow is very similar to Altium Designer, so it prepares users for a transition to Altium’s higher-level commercial tools. 

 

If I’m a freelancer or consultant, how does paying for Altium Designer help me win higher-value projects?

Higher-value projects typically require more than just circuit design and basic routing tools. For example, high-paying clients carry supply chain constraints, require collaboration with mechanical designers, and an intentional approach to manufacturability. Altium Designer gives much more control over a project’s supply chain thanks to direct visibility throughout the project while also giving full control over stackup and DFM.

In addition, higher-value projects require more advanced features that programs like KiCad and CircuitMaker simply don’t have. For example, ultra-accurate impedance control, integration with MCAD software, timing analysis in high data rate parallel interfaces (like DDR), automated creation of professional drawings, and flex/rigid-flex design and modeling are all possible inside Altium Designer. An Altium Designer license is an investment that gives access to these advanced designs, all of which carry higher value and generate more revenue.

 

I want to make sure I’m advancing in my career. What are my job prospects if I learn to use Altium products?

A big advantage of CircuitMaker is that it uses the same workflow and tools found in Altium Designer, so it prepares you to use Altium Designer as part of a regular job. In contrast, KiCad is rarely listed as a required skill at high-paying jobs.

 

What is “supply chain visibility” in Altium Designer and CircuitMaker, practically?

It means component models and component inventory from worldwide electronics distributors are accessible inside the design environment rather than handled as a separate spreadsheet/process. This means users only need to put the purchasing information into a component once, and then it will always automatically update with the latest inventory information. This allows out-of-stock or obsolete parts to be identified immediately while working in the design, something which is not possible in KiCad.

 

Can I do paid work in CircuitMaker, or do I need Altium Designer?

Yes, CircuitMaker users can use the application for client projects. There is no “non-commercial” clause in the terms of service for CircuitMaker.