Online PCB viewers, ranked · #3 of 6
KiCanvas
Verdict: The quickest open-source way to look at a KiCad 6+ schematic or board, or embed one on your own page; early alpha, with no 3D view.
KiCanvas is an interactive, browser-based viewer for KiCad schematics and boards, written in TypeScript and drawn with Canvas and WebGL. You can open files at kicanvas.org or embed the viewer in your own site.
It is the lightest option on this list for KiCad: nothing to sign up for, nothing to configure. The trade-off is maturity. The project calls itself early alpha, reads only KiCad 6 and later, and has no 3D view.
Who it suits
KiCad users who want to glance at a schematic or board, or embed one in documentation or a project page.
What it costs
Free and open source, funded by sponsors.
Best for
- A quick look at a KiCad 6+ schematic or board
- Embedding a board in documentation, a README site or a blog post
Not for
- KiCad 5 projects
- Reviews that need the 3D model or the parts list
- Sharing with access control or keeping versions
Strengths
- Interactive KiCad schematic and board views in the browser
- Embedding API for putting a live board on your own website
- Open-source code you can read, run or contribute to
Limits
- Early alpha: its own README says to expect bugs and missing features
- KiCad 6 and later only; KiCad 5 files do not open
- Some KiCad 7 features, such as custom fonts in schematics, may not be implemented
- No 3D view; a BOM view is not among its listed features
- Tested on desktop Chrome, Firefox and Safari only
On the six criteria
| Criterion | KiCanvas |
|---|---|
| File formats | PartlyKiCad 6 and later schematics and boards only. |
| Layers | YesBoard layers can be shown and hidden. |
| 3D | NoNo 3D view. |
| BOM | Not statedNot listed as a feature: check kicanvas.org. |
| Privacy | Not statedOpen source, so how files are handled can be read in the code. No privacy terms are stated on kicanvas.org. |
| Sharing | PartlyEmbed on your own pages through the embedding API; no access control of its own. |
Sources
Checked against these pages on 10 November 2026. Look there for anything that may have changed since.