Ranked #4 of 6

KiCanvas

An interactive browser viewer for KiCad schematics and boards, with an embedding API for putting a design on your own site. It reads KiCad files, not Gerbers, and its README calls it early alpha.

Last reviewed 11 November 2026 · Made by Thea Flowers, open source

#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 →

KiCanvas on each criterion

Criterion	Mark	What we found
File support	Partly	KiCad 6+ schematics and boards only. No Gerbers.
Layer accuracy	Partly	Board layers from the KiCad file, not from Gerbers.
Drill and outline handling	No	Reads the board file, not drill files.
Privacy of uploads	Not documented	Not stated in its README; check kicanvas.org.
Measuring tools	Not documented	None documented.
Source files as well	Yes	KiCad schematics and boards; KiCad 6 and later.

Where to check this

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