Ranked #1 of 6

BoardRepo

BoardRepo is a browser viewer for KiCad-centered projects. Upload the project and it shows the schematic, the PCB, a 3D view and the bill of materials, keeps every saved version, and lets you share the board publicly, by link or behind a password. You keep editing in desktop KiCad.

Last reviewed · Made by BoardRepo

#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 →

BoardRepo on each criterion

CriterionMarkWhat we found
File supportPartlyKiCad projects, with the most complete support; Altium sources converted for viewing. Built for source projects rather than loose Gerbers.
Layer accuracyPartlyDraws the PCB from the design itself, layer by layer, alongside the schematic and 3D view. Some uploads do not render fully.
Drill and outline handlingPartlyHoles and outline appear in the PCB and 3D views, read from the design rather than from exported drill files.
Privacy of uploadsYesPrivate repositories on the free plan; sharing is public, link-only or password-protected.
Measuring toolsYesMeasure and layer tools in the PCB view.
Source files as wellYesIts main purpose: schematic, PCB, 3D and BOM from the KiCad project.

Where to check this

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