What PCB Tools does
PCB Tools is a free online Gerber viewer and editor for electronics engineers, PCB designers and makers. It reads the fabrication files your EDA tool exports and lets you check them before you order boards: every copper, solder mask, silkscreen and outline layer is drawn on top of the others, drill hits are shown in place, and you can zoom into individual pads to confirm that clearances and annular rings look right. Nothing has to be installed and no account is needed.
How to check your Gerber files in four steps
- Export the Gerbers from your design tool. In KiCad this is File → Fabrication Outputs → Gerbers; Altium, EasyEDA, Eagle and Fusion 360 have an equivalent fabrication output.
- Compress them into one ZIP or RAR file, including the Excellon drill file. Many tools create this archive for you.
- Load the archive with the button at the top right or drop it on the page. The layers are identified from their file names and listed in the sidebar.
- Inspect the board. Click a layer to bring it to the front, compare copper against solder mask openings, and verify that the outline, drills and silkscreen are where you expect them to be.
Supported files and EDA tools
The viewer accepts ZIP and RAR archives up to 15 MB containing RS-274X Gerber files and Excellon drill files. It recognises the usual Protel-style extensions (.GTL, .GBL, .GTS, .GBS, .GTO, .GBO, .GKO, .GM1, inner layers .G1 to .G9) as well as the descriptive names written by KiCad, such as F.Cu, B.Mask or Edge.Cuts. Multilayer boards are supported, with inner copper layers shown in stack order. Files from KiCad, Altium Designer, EasyEDA, Eagle, Fusion 360 and other tools that write standard Gerber output load without extra configuration. The guide to Gerber file extensions explains how each name maps to a physical layer.
Editing and exporting
Editor
The editor works on one active layer at a time. You can add traces, freehand copper, filled rectangles and circles, text and drill holes, erase areas or delete individual objects, and then export the modified Gerbers as a new ZIP. It is intended for quick corrections and small additions, not as a replacement for your EDA tool.
Gerber to 3D
The 3D export builds a model of the board from the Gerber data and a configurable stackup (board, copper, solder mask and silkscreen thickness). Output formats are OBJ with materials, 3MF, PLY, one STL per layer or a single combined STL, which is useful for enclosure design and for renders.
Gerber to PDF
The PDF export produces a vector document at true 1:1 scale with a combined top view, a combined bottom view and one page per layer, together with a scale legend. It is suitable for printing assembly references and for design reviews.
Privacy and file handling
Uploaded archives are processed on the server in a temporary working session, are deleted automatically shortly afterwards and are never shared or used for any other purpose. No registration is required. The full details are in the privacy policy; the conditions of use are in the terms of use. Results are an aid: always check your files with your manufacturer before ordering boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is PCB Tools really free?
Yes. All four tools are free to use. There is no account, no paid plan and no advertising.
Why does a layer not appear?
Layers are identified by file name. If a file uses an unusual extension, rename it to a standard one (for example board.GTL for top copper) and load the archive again.
How can I check my board before sending it to the manufacturer?
Follow the checklist in how to check Gerber files before ordering a PCB.