| Name | Platforms | Description |
|---|---|---|
| LTSpice here |
Windows, macOS | Free SPICE software provided by Analog Devices. Barebones UI, but that is to be expected from ECAD. |
| Qucs-S here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Continuation of Qucs. Uses 4 different SPICE backends including XYCE. Plethora of simulation options |
| QucsStudio here |
Windows | Alternative to Qucs-S. Closed source and updated infrequently, however the simulation engine it uses is phenominal for RF especially Harmonic Balance. Has phenominal example projects on the website that cover the majority of functionality. |
| Micro-cap here |
Windows | Formerly propriety software. Made free with end of life in 2021. Plethora of examples and lots of functionality. Dated UI |
| Digital here |
Java | Not a very searchable name. By Hneemann on GitHub. Excellent digital simulation software with support for HDL via GHDL and IcarusVerilog |
| GHDL here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Free and open source VHDL simulator. Can be used in conjunction with yosys and icestorm to synthesize VHDL code to FPGAs. Supports most of VHDL-2008 as of October 24 2024 |
| Icarus Verilog here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Free and open source Verilog simulator. Supports to the 2012 standard which supports SystemVerilog |
| Verilator here |
Linux, BSD | Industry grade verilog simulator. Converts Verilog to HLS code |
| GTKWave here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Waveform viewer for mainly verilog. However GHDL can generate a format that can be used for VHDL testbenches |
| yosys here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | RTL synthesis tool for verilog, but plugins can make it interface with VHDL via GHDL. Backbone of the open source FPGA synthesis toolchain |
| nextpnr here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Place and route tool for Lattice's iCE40, ECP5, and Nexus FPGAs |
| icestorm here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Used to program the bitstream to iCE40 FPGAs. |
| KiCAD here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Excellent schematic layout and PCB designing tool. Includes features engineers would have killed someone for just a decade ago. Includes calculators for EMI and RF related uses. |
| Magic VLSI here |
Linux, BSD | Extremely famous VLSI layout tool. Made by the inventor of the Tcl scripting language. Used in DARPA's OpenROAD project |
| Electric VLSI here |
Java | Another free VLSI tool. Development ceased in 2017 |
| Octave here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Matlab clone |
| openEMS here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | FDTD field solver. No GUI, uses either Matlab, python, or Octave as a scripting interface. Tons of plugins to implement it in CAD. Even Blender has a plugin. |
| GNU Radio here |
Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Allows the simulation and implementation of software defined radios. |