8 November 2026 · Soldr
Circuit simulator or real hardware? A guide for Indian students
Use a simulator to learn the idea cheaply. Use real hardware when you need to show a working project, because a board on your desk meets real wires, real power and real mistakes. Soldr is for the second case: you describe the build, and it gives the wiring and code with parts you can buy from Compoden.
PhET
PhET is from the University of Colorado. Its site calls its simulations fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations. They are written in HTML5 (with some legacy ones in Java or Flash), can be run online or downloaded, and are open source.
The Circuit Construction Kit: DC simulation lets you build circuits with batteries, resistors, light bulbs, fuses and switches. You can take measurements with an ammeter and a voltmeter, and view the circuit as a schematic or a lifelike picture. It is a teaching tool for Ohm's law and series circuits. Its page does not mention microcontrollers. We found no statement on accounts in the pages we read.
Tinkercad
Tinkercad's own site describes itself as "a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding." It has a Circuits section where you can build and simulate Arduino circuits in the browser, and its help centre explains how to download your code as an Arduino (.ino) file.
Proteus
Labcenter's site says Proteus combines schematic capture and PCB layout in one suite. It says you can test and debug embedded systems in the schematic before ordering a physical prototype. Its VSM line is described as simulating microcontrollers on the schematic, with "over 750 supported micro-processor variants". The demo is time-limited for simulation. Labcenter lists commercial and education pricing on its site. Proteus is the heavier, professional option.
Soldr
You describe the build in plain words. Soldr selects parts, checks voltage, logic levels, I2C addresses, pin count and power budget, then gives a pin-by-pin wiring table, a schematic and code. The code is compiled on Soldr's server for your board. You flash it from Chrome or Edge on a laptop. There is no IDE to install for boards that flash from the browser, which include common ESP32 boards, Uno, Nano, Mega and Raspberry Pi Pico. Some clone boards with CH340 or CP2102 chips can need a one-time USB driver.
Example prompts:
- I want to build a touchless dustbin with an Arduino Uno.
- I want to build a weather display with an ESP32, a DHT22 and a 0.96 inch OLED.
- I want to build an LED pattern light with a Raspberry Pi Pico, 3 patterns, 8 s each.
Sign in and get 100 credits free. Delivery of parts is across India.
Side by side
| PhET | Tinkercad | Proteus | Soldr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made by | University of Colorado | Tinkercad | Labcenter Electronics | Compoden Electronics |
| What it is | Science simulations | App for 3D design, electronics and coding | Schematic, PCB and simulation suite | Wiring, schematic and code from a description |
| Simulation or real boards | Simulation | Simulation in the browser; code downloads as .ino | Simulation, with VSM microcontroller models | Real boards, flashed from Chrome or Edge |
| Account | Not stated on pages we read | Not stated on pages we read | Not stated on pages we read | Sign in required |
| Price | Described as free | Described as free | Price lists on labcenter.com | Sign in and get 100 credits free. |
When a simulator is the better choice
- You are learning Ohm's law or a series circuit before the lab. PhET fits.
- You have no board yet and want to see if the logic works. A simulator costs nothing.
- Your syllabus or college lab already uses Proteus. Then use Proteus.
A simulator cannot show a loose jumper, a weak USB supply or a noisy sensor reading. Those are the problems that eat the last night before an exhibition.
When to build on real hardware
- You need a project for a science fair or final-year demo.
- You want to see the code run on the actual chip.
- You want to learn to debug: wrong pin, wrong address, wrong power.
A sensible path: simulate the idea, then build a small version with a board. Check the output like an engineer: compare the pin list with your wiring, and check the supply covers peak draw.
FAQ
Is there a Tinkercad alternative for India? Several. PhET and Proteus are covered above. Soldr is the one that ends in a real board, with parts delivered across India.
Can I do my whole course in a simulator? Check your syllabus. Many labs expect real hardware at some point.
Does Soldr simulate circuits? No. It gives wiring, a schematic and code for real boards.
What do I need to flash a board with Soldr? A laptop with Chrome or Edge, and sometimes a USB driver for CH340 or CP2102 boards.
Related
- Tinkercad alternative for India: build the real circuit
- Science exhibition projects with Arduino and ESP32
Sources
All read on 2026-11-08.
- PhET about: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/about
- PhET Circuit Construction Kit: DC: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/circuit-construction-kit-dc
- Tinkercad home: https://www.tinkercad.com/
- Tinkercad Circuits: https://www.tinkercad.com/circuits
- Labcenter (Proteus): https://www.labcenter.com/
- Labcenter simulation: https://www.labcenter.com/simulation/
- Soldr home: https://soldr.ai/
- Soldr llms.txt: https://soldr.ai/llms.txt
- https://www.tinkercad.com/circuits (Tinkercad Circuits page description: "build and simulate real electronics"; read 2026-11-08)
- https://www.tinkercad.com/help-center/exporting-arduino-code (Tinkercad Help Center, "Exporting Arduino code": Download as .INO; read 2026-11-08)