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CAD · head to head

KiCad vs OGRE

KiCad logo

KiCad

CAD

Free open source schematic capture and PCB layout with no seat, board size or layer limits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OGRE logo

OGRE

Game Development

Object-Oriented Graphics Rendering Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: KiCad there is no vendor obligation behind the free software, so a blocking bug is escalated to a volunteer community unless you separately buy a contract from KiCad Services Corporation.; OGRE no commercial support tiers; open source community support only
  • They diverge on capability: KiCad covers Schematic capture, OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KiCad and OGRE actually diverge.

Attributes where KiCad and OGRE differ
AttributeKiCadOGRE
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefree
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios
CategoryCADGame Development
FoundedUnknown2000

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in KiCad

  • Schematic capture
  • PCB layout
  • No design limits
  • 3D viewer
  • Manufacturing output
  • Scripting

Only in OGRE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Shader system
  • Material system
  • Lighting and shadows
  • Particle effects
  • Scene graph
  • Skeletal animation
  • Terrain rendering

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

KiCad

  • A hardware startup designing a multi-layer board without paying for an Altium seatnot OGRE
  • A university teaching PCB design where per-student licences are unaffordablenot OGRE
  • An open hardware project that needs design files anyone can open and modifynot OGRE
  • An engineer prototyping a board at home who needs commercial rights on the outputnot OGRE

OGRE

  • 3D game developmentnot KiCad
  • Graphics applicationsnot KiCad
  • Visualization projectsnot KiCad

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

KiCad

  • There is no vendor obligation behind the free software, so a blocking bug is escalated to a volunteer community unless you separately buy a contract from KiCad Services Corporation.
  • High speed design support, including advanced constraint management, differential pair and impedance tooling, remains behind Altium and Cadence, which matters as soon as boards carry fast interfaces.
  • Rigid-flex and complex stack-up design is weak, so products with flex circuits usually need a commercial package.
  • Component library and part sourcing integrations are thinner than the commercial tools, so parts data and availability checking is manual work someone has to own.
  • Multi-engineer design data management is not provided; teams end up assembling Git workflows themselves, and merge handling on binary-adjacent design files is awkward.

OGRE

  • No commercial support tiers; open source community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

KiCad

Free
  • KiCadFree
    • Full suite under GPL
    • No board size, layer or component limits
    • Commercial use permitted
  • Commercial support$undefined/year
    • Support contracts sold separately by KiCad Services Corporation
    • Priority issue handling and consulting
    • Not included with the free software

OGRE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full rendering engine
    • C++ support
    • Graphics pipeline

Which should you pick?

Choose KiCad if

  • You need schematic capture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want pcb layout.
KiCad review

Choose OGRE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
  • You also want shader system.
OGRE review

Questions people ask

Is KiCad or OGRE better?
Neither clearly leads. KiCad starts at Free and OGRE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KiCad or OGRE?
KiCad starts at Free and OGRE at Free.
Does KiCad or OGRE run on more platforms?
KiCad runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. OGRE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
Can I use KiCad for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is KiCad best used for?
KiCad is most often used for a hardware startup designing a multi-layer board without paying for an altium seat, a university teaching pcb design where per-student licences are unaffordable, an open hardware project that needs design files anyone can open and modify, an engineer prototyping a board at home who needs commercial rights on the output. Of those, a hardware startup designing a multi-layer board without paying for an altium seat and a university teaching pcb design where per-student licences are unaffordable are not what OGRE is typically brought in for.
What can KiCad do that OGRE cannot?
KiCad covers Schematic capture, PCB layout, No design limits, 3D viewer. OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering, Shader system, Material system, Lighting and shadows.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KiCad: Is KiCad really free for commercial work?

Yes. It is GPL licensed with no restriction on commercial use, board size, layer count or component count.

OGRE: Is OGRE 3D free to use?

Yes, OGRE is completely free. The 3D graphics engine is released under the MIT License, a permissive open source license with no licensing costs.

Source
KiCad: Can I buy support?

Yes, but not from the project. KiCad Services Corporation sells commercial support contracts separately; CERN moved to exactly that arrangement after ending its donation programme.

OGRE: What are the licensing requirements for using OGRE?

OGRE requires only that you distribute the license text included in the distribution with any software using OGRE. There are no costs or restrictions beyond this attribution requirement.

Source
KiCad: How is development funded?

Through donations and sponsors administered via The Linux Foundation, plus contributed engineering time.

OGRE: Can small teams use OGRE without paying licensing fees?

Yes, OGRE's open source MIT License allows small teams to use cutting edge 3D technology without licensing fees, making it valuable for teams on tight budgets.

Source
KiCad: Is it good enough to replace Altium?

For most low and medium speed boards yes. For high speed, rigid-flex and heavily constrained designs, the commercial tools still hold a clear lead.

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