Online Gerber viewers, ranked

Six browser tools for opening Gerber and drill files, ranked on six stated criteria and by what you have: the design source, or Gerbers only. Who each suits, what it can't do and a one-line verdict.

Last reviewed

Short answer: have the KiCad project? Open it in BoardRepo. Only have Gerbers? Use Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer. Files must stay on your computer? Use tracespace view.

  1. #1BoardRepoWith the KiCad project in hand, open it here: you see the board and the design behind it. With Gerbers alone, use Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer.
  2. #2Ucamco Reference Gerber ViewerThe best pure Gerber viewer here: when the Gerbers are all you have, start with it.
  3. #3Altium 365 ViewerThe most versatile multi-format viewer: pick it when files arrive from many CAD tools, less so for KiCad-first work.
  4. #4KiCanvasGood for looking at or embedding a KiCad file; it cannot check your Gerbers, and BoardRepo does more with the same project.
  5. #5tracespace viewThe best private quick look: nothing leaves your browser, but don't expect measuring or source files.
  6. #6PCBWay Online Gerber ViewerFine as a preview on the way to a PCBWay order; for checking your files, use Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer or tracespace view.

The ranking in full

The order starts from what you have. With the design source, the order is BoardRepo, KiCanvas, Altium 365 Viewer. With Gerbers only, it is Ucamco Reference Gerber Viewer, Altium 365 Viewer, tracespace view, PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer. The overall list takes each tool's best place in either. The rule, step by step →

  1. #1

    BoardRepo

    boardrepo.com ↗
    Who it suits
    Engineers and makers who have the KiCad project, not just the Gerbers, and want to inspect, share and review it in a browser.
    Cost
    Free plan at $0 a month, with public and private repositories. Team and Enterprise plans are custom-priced.
    Place by situation
    With the design source: #1 · Gerbers only: not listed (doesn't say it opens Gerbers)

    Strengths

    • Opens the KiCad project itself: schematic, PCB, 3D view and BOM, with no CAD install for whoever you share it with.
    • Keeps saved versions and compares them visually, so a reviewer sees what changed between revisions.
    • Private repositories on the free plan; share public, by link only, or with a password.
    • PCB view with layer controls and a measure tool.
    • KiCad has the most complete support; Altium sources are kept and converted for viewing.

    What it can't do

    • It is not a fabrication service: it does not quote, make or assemble boards.
    • Some uploads do not render fully. Compare what it shows against your own files before relying on it.
    • Built around design source files. If all you have is a folder of Gerbers, a dedicated Gerber viewer is the better tool.
    • You sign in to upload (signing in creates the account).

    VerdictWith the KiCad project in hand, open it here: you see the board and the design behind it. With Gerbers alone, use Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer.

    You have the KiCad projectTop of the design-source list: the only tool here marked Yes on both source files and upload privacy. Schematic, PCB, 3D and BOM in one link, with saved versions to compare.
    You only have Gerber and drill filesNot the tool for the job. Open the package in Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer, or in tracespace view if the files must stay on your computer.

    BoardRepo against each criterion, with sources →

  2. #2

    Ucamco Reference Gerber Viewer

    gerber-viewer.ucamco.com ↗
    Who it suits
    Anyone holding a Gerber package without the design source, especially buyers and fab-side engineers who need to know exactly what the data says.
    Cost
    Free. Ucamco describes it as freeware.
    Place by situation
    With the design source: not listed (doesn't open source files) · Gerbers only: #1

    Strengths

    • Made by the developer of the Gerber format, as the reference for how a file should be drawn.
    • Opens Gerber X1 and X2, Excellon, XNC, NC and IPC files.
    • Shows X2 attributes and the information attached to each object.
    • Measures distances and clearances.
    • Has included a formal syntax checker since 2022, so it can flag files that break the specification.

    What it can't do

    • Cannot open design source files: no schematic, no parts list, no design intent.
    • Files go to Ucamco's web service. Read its terms before uploading a confidential design.
    • It shows what the data says, not whether that is what you meant: a missing layer or wrong outline still needs your eye.

    VerdictThe best pure Gerber viewer here: when the Gerbers are all you have, start with it.

    Ucamco Reference Gerber Viewer against each criterion, with sources →

  3. #3

    Altium 365 Viewer

    altium.com/viewer ↗
    Who it suits
    Engineers and buyers who receive designs from many CAD tools (Altium, EAGLE, ODB++, Gerber) and want one browser viewer for all of them.
    Cost
    The viewer page shows no price or plan. Check altium.com/viewer before relying on it.
    Place by situation
    With the design source: #3 · Gerbers only: #2

    Strengths

    • The widest format list here: Altium (SchDoc, PcbDoc), EAGLE (SCH, BRD), Gerber RS-274X and X2, ODB++, KiCad in beta, and ZIP, 7z or RAR packages.
    • Gerber Compare shows two Gerber sets against each other before you send one to the fab.
    • 2D PCB measurements between two points.
    • By default the design is removed when you close the browser tab.

    What it can't do

    • KiCad support is labelled beta.
    • Files are uploaded to Altium; uploading means agreeing to its privacy policy and terms of use.
    • Shared links last only for a limited period, and keeping a design needs an Altium 365 personal space.
    • A viewer, not a place to keep or continue a KiCad project.

    VerdictThe most versatile multi-format viewer: pick it when files arrive from many CAD tools, less so for KiCad-first work.

    Altium 365 Viewer against each criterion, with sources →

  4. #4

    KiCanvas

    kicanvas.org ↗
    Who it suits
    KiCad users who want to show a schematic or board in a browser or embed it on a web page. It is not a Gerber viewer.
    Cost
    Free and open source.
    Place by situation
    With the design source: #2 · Gerbers only: not listed (doesn't say it opens Gerbers)

    Strengths

    • Interactive schematic and board views straight from KiCad files.
    • An embedding API to show a design on your own web page.
    • Free and open source.

    What it can't do

    • Does not open Gerber or drill files at all.
    • Early alpha, by its own README: expect bugs and missing features.
    • KiCad 6 and later only; KiCad 5 files do not open.
    • No saved versions, sharing controls or BOM workspace.

    VerdictGood for looking at or embedding a KiCad file; it cannot check your Gerbers, and BoardRepo does more with the same project.

    KiCanvas against each criterion, with sources →

  5. #5

    tracespace view

    tracespace.io/view ↗
    Who it suits
    Makers who want a quick, private look at a Gerber ZIP and a rendered top and bottom of the board.
    Cost
    Free and open source (MIT licence).
    Place by situation
    With the design source: not listed (doesn't open source files) · Gerbers only: #3

    Strengths

    • Files stay in your browser: its privacy policy says they are kept client-side and not sent anywhere. Usage tracking is opt-in.
    • Drop in Gerber and drill files, or a ZIP, and see a rendered top and bottom of the board as well as each layer.
    • Open source under the MIT licence; its libraries power other viewers too.

    What it can't do

    • No design source files.
    • No measuring tool documented. Check in the app if you need one.
    • It guesses each file's layer from its name. Check every file landed on the right layer.
    • The code repository was last updated in January 2025, so fixes arrive slowly.

    VerdictThe best private quick look: nothing leaves your browser, but don't expect measuring or source files.

    tracespace view against each criterion, with sources →

  6. #6

    PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer

    pcbway.com/project/OnlineGerberViewer.html ↗
    Who it suits
    People about to order from PCBWay who want a look at their files on the way to a quote.
    Cost
    No price stated. It is one of the free online tools listed on PCBWay's site.
    Place by situation
    With the design source: not listed (doesn't open source files) · Gerbers only: #4

    Strengths

    • One click from PCBWay's instant quote, so the preview and the order live in one place.
    • Credits the author of tracespace, whose open-source libraries render Gerbers in the browser.
    • PCBWay offers an online 3D viewer next to it.

    What it can't do

    • PCBWay says the viewer is "just for reference with some features still being improved".
    • A preview is not the manufacturer's engineering review: problems can still come back after you order.
    • No design source files.
    • Where files go and how long they are kept isn't stated on the page. Check PCBWay's privacy policy.

    VerdictFine as a preview on the way to a PCBWay order; for checking your files, use Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer or tracespace view.

    PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer against each criterion, with sources →

The criteria behind the ranking

Every viewer is judged on the same six questions, in this order of weight. Tools that open the design source are ordered by the source-files mark first, then the other criteria. Tools that open Gerbers are ordered by the first five criteria, with ties going to the one that documents more checks on Gerber data. The overall list takes each tool's best place in either, with the design-source list's top pick first. Each claim comes from the tool's own site or documentation, linked on its page. Where a tool doesn't say, we write “Not documented” instead of guessing. How we rank, in full →

  1. 1. File supportWhich formats does it open: Gerber RS-274X, Gerber X2, Excellon and other drill formats, ZIP packages, other CAD or manufacturing formats?
  2. 2. Layer accuracyDoes it draw every layer as the data says, assign each file to the right layer, and let you look at layers one at a time?
  3. 3. Drill and outline handlingDoes it open drill files alongside the copper, line the holes up with the pads, and show the board outline clearly?
  4. 4. Privacy of uploadsWhere do your files go? Are they processed in your browser, kept on a server, shared by link, or deleted at the end of the session?
  5. 5. Measuring toolsCan you measure distances, clearances and board size, and inspect individual objects?
  6. 6. Source files as wellCan the same tool open the design source (a KiCad project, Altium or EAGLE files), so you can see the schematic, nets and parts behind the Gerbers?

Comparison table

The six viewers against each criterion. Scroll sideways on a small screen.

ViewerFilesLayersDrill & outlinePrivacyMeasuringSource filesCost
1. BoardRepoPartlyKiCad projects, with the most complete support; Altium sources converted for viewing. Built for source projects rather than loose Gerbers.PartlyDraws the PCB from the design itself, layer by layer, alongside the schematic and 3D view. Some uploads do not render fully.PartlyHoles and outline appear in the PCB and 3D views, read from the design rather than from exported drill files.YesPrivate repositories on the free plan; sharing is public, link-only or password-protected.YesMeasure and layer tools in the PCB view.YesIts main purpose: schematic, PCB, 3D and BOM from the KiCad project.Free plan at $0 a month, with public and private repositories. Team and Enterprise plans are custom-priced.
2. Ucamco Reference Gerber ViewerYesGerber X1 and X2, Excellon, XNC, NC and IPC files.YesMulti-layer, from the developer of the format; shows X2 attributes.YesExcellon, XNC and NC drill files open with the layers.PartlyFiles are uploaded to Ucamco over HTTPS; Ucamco states it offers robust privacy and security. Not processed only in your browser.YesMeasures distances and clearances; shows object information.NoManufacturing data only.Free. Ucamco describes it as freeware.
3. Altium 365 ViewerYesAltium, EAGLE, Gerber RS-274X and X2, ODB++, KiCad (beta), archives.YesLayer views for Gerber and PCB data, plus a layer stack view.YesGerber and drill files are listed as supported.PartlyUploaded to Altium; removed when the tab closes unless you share a link, which lasts a limited period.Yes2D measurements between two points in the PCB view.PartlyAltium and EAGLE design files; KiCad in beta.The viewer page shows no price or plan. Check altium.com/viewer before relying on it.
4. KiCanvasPartlyKiCad 6+ schematics and boards only. No Gerbers.PartlyBoard layers from the KiCad file, not from Gerbers.NoReads the board file, not drill files.Not documentedNot stated in its README; check kicanvas.org.Not documentedNone documented.YesKiCad schematics and boards; KiCad 6 and later.Free and open source.
5. tracespace viewPartlyGerber and drill files, singly or as a ZIP. No design source formats.YesRenders each layer and a stacked top and bottom board view.YesDrill files render with the board.YesFiles kept client-side in browser storage, per its privacy policy.Not documentedNone documented.NoManufacturing data only.Free and open source (MIT licence).
6. PCBWay Online Gerber ViewerNot documentedSupported formats are not listed on the page. Try your package.PartlyPCBWay labels it for reference, with features still being improved.Not documentedNot documented on the page.Not documentedNot stated on the viewer page; see PCBWay's privacy policy.Not documentedNot documented on the page.NoManufacturing data only.No price stated. It is one of the free online tools listed on PCBWay's site.

Questions people ask when choosing

What is the best online Gerber viewer?

It depends on what you have. If you have the KiCad project, BoardRepo shows the board and the design behind it: schematic, PCB, 3D and BOM. If you only have Gerber and drill files, Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer is the strongest pure Gerber viewer, from the developer of the format. If the files must not leave your computer, tracespace view keeps them in your browser.

Is there a free online Gerber viewer?

Yes. Ucamco's Reference Gerber Viewer is freeware, tracespace view and KiCanvas are free and open source, and BoardRepo has a $0 plan. PCBWay's viewer states no price. Altium's viewer page shows no price either, so check altium.com/viewer.

Is it safe to upload Gerber files to an online viewer?

Gerbers are a full copy of your board's copper, so treat them like the design. Check where the tool processes files. tracespace view says files stay in your browser. Altium says designs are removed when you close the tab unless you share a link. Ucamco states its viewer offers robust privacy and security over HTTPS. BoardRepo offers private repositories. For anything else, read the tool's privacy policy before uploading.

Can an online Gerber viewer open KiCad files?

Most can't: Gerbers are a manufacturing export, and a KiCad project is a different format. BoardRepo is built for KiCad projects, Altium 365 Viewer opens KiCad files in beta, and KiCanvas opens KiCad 6+ schematics and boards but no Gerbers.

Why does my board look wrong in the viewer?

Usually the export, not the viewer. The common causes: a layer was left out of the plot, the drill file uses a different origin or unit from the Gerbers, the board outline is not closed, or the viewer guessed a file's layer wrongly from its name. Our checklist walks through each one.

My fab shows a preview after upload. Do I still need a viewer?

A fab's preview shows how that fab read your files, which is worth seeing. A separate viewer lets you check before you upload, measure, and look at one layer at a time. Neither replaces the fab's own engineering review.

What about desktop Gerber viewers?

If you'd rather not use a browser, KiCad ships with GerbView, a free desktop Gerber viewer. This guide ranks tools that run in a browser.

Before you open your files

Spotted something out of date?

Viewers change. If a tool has added a feature, changed its price or dropped one we list, tell us where to check and we'll review it against the same criteria.