A board, not a plan
In our test, ChatGPT stopped at a plan, an adapter board or a simplified design. siliXon delivered a routed board for every idea.
The ChatGPT alternative that hands you a real board
ChatGPT is a great place to think through an idea. Ask it for a PCB, though, and you get a plan, a draft parts list and example code. In our test it never produced the board we asked for, and it said so itself. siliXon designs the actual board: describe it in plain English and get a routed, checked design with a schematic, Gerbers, drill files, a priced BOM and pick-and-place data, in minutes.
Free plan. Runs in your browser.
Head to head
Who leads on what matters when you want a board.
siliXonYou design it, in the browser
ChatGPTA general AI chat assistant
Starting point
siliXon: A plain-English description
ChatGPT: A chat prompt
Even.Skills you need
siliXon: None
ChatGPT: PCB CAD skills to finish the board
siliXon leads.Who does the work
siliXon: siliXon; you steer and edit
ChatGPT: It plans; you lay out the board
siliXon leads.What you get
siliXon: An editable PCB and fab files
ChatGPT: Notes, a draft parts list and example code
siliXon leads.Time to first board
siliXon: Minutes
ChatGPT: No orderable board in our test
siliXon leads.Board complexity
siliXon: Up to 4 layers
ChatGPT: Simple adapter and LED boards
siliXon leads.Layout prep
siliXon: None
ChatGPT: You lay out the board yourself
siliXon leads.
Verdict
Choose siliXon to turn an idea into a checked board you can order, in minutes.
Choose ChatGPT to talk through an idea, explain a circuit or draft example code.
siliXon todaysiliXon is in early beta and builds two- and four-layer, mostly digital boards. Review every design before fabrication.
Where ChatGPT is strongerIt explains electronics clearly, suggests parts and writes example code, and it says plainly when its files are not ready to order.
Time to a prototype
siliXon
4 to 6 minutes
ChatGPT
No orderable board in our test
From an idea to a board you can send to a fab, on one scale from zero. Measured in our test.
What changes when you switch from ChatGPT
Minutes, not follow-ups
siliXon finished each board in 4 to 6 minutes. ChatGPT needed four follow-ups per idea and still advised against ordering.
Checked before you order
Five automatic checks run on every siliXon board, including a review against each part's datasheet.
siliXon vs ChatGPT: feature comparison
| Feature | |  |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | A plain-English description | A chat prompt |
| AI generation | Generates the whole board | Plans, part ideas and example code |
| PCB layout | Editable in 2D and 3D | Simple adapter and LED boards only |
| Copper layers | Up to 4 | Two, on simple boards |
| Part selection | Real, available parts picked for you | Suggests parts, without supplier part numbers |
| Design checks | Connectivity and manufacturing checks | None; it says so |
| Fab outputs | Gerbers, drill, BOM and pick-and-place | Draft files it advises not to order |
| Firmware | Programmable over USB, with flashing steps | Example code |
| Layout prep | None; answer a few questions | You finish the layout in a CAD tool |
| Runs in | Browser | Browser and apps |
siliXon is in early beta and builds two- and four-layer, mostly digital boards. Review every design before fabrication.
So far creating my first project for 10 min - onboarding seems quite smooth
I like the self validation and how it explains everything too, makes it easier for me to quickly cross reference and learn on the go
Response is very meaningful, I like how it asks you questions to verify and gives you the options to choose the answers with the recommended on the one it thinks is a better option
Good so far. It is helpful and gives me advice
I have to say I love the UI and UX, the front end is really fun to interact with, with the little dynamic touches etc
Super helpful and easy to use
Really good actually better than Flux ai
Compare siliXon with other tools
siliXon vs KiCadFree, open-source desktop EDA for schematics and PCB layout
siliXon vs Altium DesignerProfessional EDA for complex, multi-layer production boards
siliXon vs SchematikAI that turns a prompt into Arduino, ESP32 and Pico projects
siliXon vs Blueprint.ioAI build plans with parts, wiring and assembly steps
siliXon vs Flux.aiBrowser ECAD with an AI agent that designs alongside you
siliXon vs DiodeAI-assisted board design service, from spec to production
siliXon vs QuilterAI placement and routing from your finished schematic
siliXon vs SnapMagicAI copilot for Altium, built on the SnapEDA parts library
siliXon vs CELUSAI that turns requirements into schematics and a BOM
siliXon vs atopileCode-native electronics design, with an agent in the browser
siliXon vs tscircuitOpen-source framework for designing PCBs in TypeScript
siliXon vs ClaudeAnthropic's general AI assistant, which can write and run codesiliXon vs ChatGPT: your questions answered
Can I just use ChatGPT to design a PCB?
Not in our test. We gave ChatGPT's chat three ideas on 30 October 2026. It gave plans, draft parts lists and example code, and twice made files for a simplified board. Each time it advised against ordering them.
How did we test?
siliXon, ChatGPT and Claude got the same three ideas: a temperature logger with an SD card, a garden sensor that texts you, and a bike light that gets brighter as you brake. Each prompt ended: “Design the PCB and give me the files to order it from JLCPCB: Gerbers, drill file, BOM and pick-and-place.” ChatGPT ran in a normal chat at its default Instant setting, and Claude ran Opus 5.5 at the Extra effort its app showed. Each tool got one reply asking it to pick sensible defaults, up to three requests to continue and 45 minutes. We downloaded and checked every file.
What is ChatGPT good for in hardware?
Explaining circuits, comparing parts and drafting firmware. Use it alongside siliXon, which designs and checks the board.
Is this test still accurate?
AI assistants change often. This page reflects ChatGPT's chat app at its default setting on 30 October 2026. We rerun the test before updating the page.
Sources
What this page says about ChatGPT comes from our own test of ChatGPT's chat app at its default setting, run on 30 October 2026, with every file downloaded and checked.
ChatGPT is a trademark of its owner. siliXon is not affiliated with or endorsed by ChatGPT.