8 November 2026 · Soldr

Fritzing alternative: get the wiring diagram and the code together

Fritzing is a desktop app where you draw the circuit yourself. Soldr works the other way: you describe the build in plain words, and it gives you the wiring and the code, which you can flash from Chrome or Edge. If you already know your circuit and want a clean diagram or a PCB, Fritzing is the better fit.

What Fritzing does

Fritzing describes itself as an open-source hardware initiative that makes electronics accessible as a creative material. Its site says it offers a software tool, a community website and services. The stated uses include documenting prototypes, sharing them, teaching electronics in a classroom, and laying out and manufacturing PCBs.

The learning page groups tutorials by Breadboard View, Schematic View and PCB View. So the usual flow is simple: you place parts on a virtual breadboard, check the schematic, and, if you want, design a PCB. It also has a section on attaching programming code.

Fritzing is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. The current version on the download page is 1.0.8, released 12 August 2026. The source code is on GitHub. The download page lists paid download options and says a purchase funds ongoing development; check the page for what each option includes. The pages we read do not describe circuit simulation, so we make no claim about it either way.

Where students get stuck

Fritzing draws what you tell it to draw. It does not decide which pin should go where. A beginner who does not yet know that an OLED sits on I2C has to find that out first. Then comes the code, written in a separate IDE.

That is the gap Soldr tries to close. It does not replace the learning. It gives you a first working version that you can read and change.

What Soldr does

On soldr.ai, the flow is:

  1. You describe the build in plain words, optionally naming the board.
  2. Soldr selects parts and checks them against each other for voltage, logic levels, I2C address conflicts, pin count and power budget.
  3. It gives you a pin-by-pin wiring table and a schematic. The code uses the same pin plan.
  4. The code is compiled on Soldr's server for your board.
  5. You flash the board from Chrome or Edge on a laptop, or copy the code into Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.

There is no IDE to install for the boards that flash from the browser: 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. The parts it picks are ones you can buy from Compoden, with delivery across India.

Sign in and get 100 credits free.

Example prompts

Start with "I want to build ..." and name the board and main parts:

Numbers help. Soldr's own guide on describing a build says that "3 patterns, 8 s each" gives a clearer result than "make the LEDs do cool patterns".

Side by side

FritzingSoldr
How you startYou place parts and draw wiresYou describe the build in plain words
ViewsBreadboard, schematic, PCBWiring table, schematic, code
CodeHas a section on attaching programming codeWrites and compiles it, then flashes from Chrome or Edge
Runs asDesktop app: Windows, macOS, LinuxWeb app at app.soldr.ai; flashing needs a laptop with Chrome or Edge
PCB layoutYes, per its siteNot what Soldr is for
PricePaid download options (see fritzing.org)Sign in and get 100 credits free.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Fritzing if you want a tidy breadboard picture for a report, if you already know the circuit, or if you plan to make a PCB. Its manufacturing service is aimed at that.

Pick Soldr if you have an idea but no circuit yet, and you want wiring and working code in one place. Many students could use both: Soldr to get the first version, and a drawing tool for the report.

Whichever you use, check the output yourself. Compare the pin list at the top of the sketch with your wires, and check the power supply covers peak draw, not only steady draw.

FAQ

Is there a free Fritzing alternative? Soldr lets you sign in and get 100 credits free. We have not compared the price of Fritzing's options beyond what its download page lists.

Does Soldr draw a breadboard picture like Fritzing? Soldr gives a pin-by-pin wiring table and a schematic. We do not claim it produces a breadboard-view picture.

Can I use the code outside Soldr? Yes. Soldr's site says you can copy the code into Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.

Does it work on a phone? You can plan builds and buy parts on a phone. Flashing needs a laptop with Chrome or Edge.

Related

Sources

All read on 2026-11-08.