Online PCB viewers, ranked · Methodology
How the viewers are ranked
Each viewer is judged on six criteria: file formats, layers, 3D, BOM, privacy and sharing. Every fact comes from the vendor's own published pages, linked under each entry, so you can check it yourself. Rendering accuracy and speed were not tested.
The criteria, and how each was checked
| Criterion | The question | How it was checked |
|---|---|---|
| File formats | Which design and manufacturing files open natively, and which are converted on the way in? | Read from the file types each viewer's own page or README lists, and whether it says the format is native, beta or converted. Versions are noted where the vendor states them (for example KiCanvas: KiCad 6 and later). |
| Layers | Can you turn copper, silkscreen, mask and drill layers on and off, and inspect or measure? | Whether the vendor describes layer controls, inspection or measurement in the board view. |
| 3D | Is there a 3D view of the assembled board? | Whether the vendor lists a 3D view of the board. |
| BOM | Can you see the parts list (bill of materials) next to the design? | Whether the vendor lists a BOM, parts list or assembly view next to the design. |
| Privacy | Where do your files go, how long do they stay, and can you keep a board private? | What the vendor's page or privacy policy says about where files are processed, how long they are kept, and whether a board can be private. |
| Sharing | Can you send someone a view-only link, and control who sees it and for how long? | Which kinds of link the vendor offers (public, link-only, password, time-limited, named accounts with roles) and whether a design can be embedded. |
Each cell in the comparison table carries one of four marks: Yes (the vendor states it), Partly (stated, with a limit given in the cell), No (the vendor says it is not offered, or it is plainly outside what the tool does, such as 3D in a Gerber viewer) and Not stated (the vendor does not say; check its site).
How the order is decided
The ranking answers one question: which viewer lets you open a board in the browser and do the most with it, without installing anything. Viewers that open design files (schematic and layout) and cover all six criteria rank above viewers that read only manufacturing files or cover fewer. Between viewers with the same coverage, the one with fewer stated limits on the common case ranks higher.
- BoardRepo ranks first: it covers all six criteria for KiCad projects (schematic, PCB, 3D, BOM, private boards, unlisted and password links, organization access) and adds saved versions. Its limits are listed with it: KiCad is best supported, Altium is converted, some uploads do not render fully.
- Altium 365 Viewer covers all six with the widest format list, but uploads are temporary, shared links expire and KiCad is in beta.
- KiCanvas opens KiCad 6+ design files natively but has no 3D view and is early alpha.
- EasyEDA covers the criteria as an editor, but needs an account and converts designs from other tools.
- Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer and tracespace view read manufacturing files only. Ucamco ranks above tracespace because it is maintained and checks the format itself; tracespace is on hiatus.
No viewer is given a score out of ten or a star rating: the order and the stated facts are the ranking.
What was not tested
- Rendering accuracy on a fixed set of test boards, in every viewer
- Speed, file-size limits and behaviour on very large boards
- Mobile browsers
- Privacy claims beyond what vendors publish: where a vendor states how files are handled, that statement is quoted, not audited
- Prices not published on a vendor's site: those entries say where to check instead
- Paid tiers and enterprise features beyond what the vendor lists publicly
If you rely on one of these for a decision, open your own board in the two or three viewers that fit and compare. The checklist helps tell a viewer's fault from a file's.
What is included
A viewer is listed if it opens PCB design or manufacturing files in a desktop browser without installing software, and is publicly available. Gerber previews built into a single manufacturer's ordering flow are mentioned in the file-type guide rather than ranked, because they are a step in ordering, not a viewer you choose.
The ranking is reviewed as vendors change their tools. The date at the top of each page says when its facts were last checked.
Send a correction
Something out of date, or a viewer that should be here? Send it with a link where it can be checked.