Tinkercad Alternatives for Circuits: 4 Simulators (2026)
Tinkercad Circuits alternatives compared: Wokwi, SimulIDE, Falstad and LTspice, with prices, platforms and which one fits Arduino code or analog accuracy.
•3 min read•3D & CAD
Verdict:Pick Wokwi if you want to run real Arduino or ESP32 code in a browser, LTspice if analog accuracy matters, SimulIDE for a free local simulator, and Falstad to see how a circuit behaves.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wokwi | Free Community plan (EUR 0, public projects); Hobby EUR 5.6/month billed annually | Web | Running real Arduino, ESP32 or STM32 code in a browser simulator | Docs only |
| SimulIDE | Open source (AGPLv3); no price listed | — | A local real-time simulator for AVR, PIC and Arduino circuits | Docs only |
| Falstad Circuit Simulator | Free to use in the browser (no price listed) | Web | Watching current and voltage move through a circuit you are learning | Docs only |
| LTspice | Free | Windows, macOS | Analog and power circuits where simplified models are not enough | Docs only |
Independent comparison. Paid placements are labelled separately; editorial links earn no affiliate commissions. Learn more.
Good fit if
- You use Tinkercad Circuits and want a simulator that runs your own microcontroller code
- You need more accurate analog results than a classroom simulator gives
- You want a free or open-source circuit tool that can run on your own computer
Not ideal if
- You want the Tinkercad breadboard look with drag-and-drop parts and blocks
- You are looking for 3D modeling instead of circuits
- You need to lay out a printed circuit board rather than simulate
Short answer: for Arduino or ESP32 work, move to Wokwi, which runs your own code in a browser simulator. For accurate analog results, use LTspice. For a free local program, try SimulIDE. To learn how a circuit behaves, Falstad animates it. None of these copies Tinkercad's breadboard look, so decide which part of Tinkercad you actually need to replace.
What matters when you leave Tinkercad Circuits
Readers who search this are usually unhappy with one of four things: the simulation is too simple, the code workflow is limited, the tool only runs online, or they outgrew the beginner interface.
According to a 2018 review by Norwegian Creations, Tinkercad's analog simulation is simplified, some component properties are locked or not simulated, and a circuit that works on screen may fail on real hardware. The same review found no undo for code. A 2022 Maker.io comparison notes that Tinkercad needs a free Autodesk account and runs in the browser. Both articles are older, so check whether these points still apply to you.
The criteria used below: runs your microcontroller code, analog accuracy, price and free limits, offline use, and how easy it is for a beginner.
Wokwi
Wokwi is an online electronics simulator for Arduino, ESP32, STM32 and other boards, according to its documentation. The docs also list simulating projects directly from VS Code.
According to Wokwi's pricing page, the Community plan costs EUR 0 and includes unlimited simulations and unlimited public projects. Projects on it are visible to everyone. Hobby is EUR 5.6 per month on annual billing and adds unlisted projects and custom libraries, Hobby+ is EUR 8.1 per month and adds Wokwi for VS Code, and Wokwi Pro is EUR 20 per seat per month.
Wokwi is not breadboard-based, per Maker.io, so it will not feel like Tinkercad. Teachers who want private student work need a paid plan. A 2021 Arduino Forum thread in which someone asked for free sites other than Tinkercad names Wokwi as the main answer.
LTspice
LTspice is a free SPICE simulator from Analog Devices that includes schematic capture and a waveform viewer, according to its product page. The page lists Windows 10/11 (x64), macOS and Windows 11 ARM64 builds.
Choose it when the question is analog: a power stage, a filter or an amplifier. It does not simulate an Arduino sketch running on a board, and it has no breadboard view, so it suits readers who already understand schematics.
SimulIDE
SimulIDE calls itself a simple real-time electronic circuit simulator, according to its website. It lists support for PIC, AVR, Arduino and other microcontrollers, and the license is AGPLv3. That makes it the open-source option here.
Its site links a Downloads section with official versions and tester builds, which points to a program you install, but it does not name supported operating systems, so check the download page before you commit. Use it if you want microcontroller simulation without a subscription.
Falstad Circuit Simulator
Falstad's simulator runs in the browser through JavaScript. It shows voltage as color and current as moving dots, per the simulator page, which also links standalone offline versions and an AVR8js version.
It is the best of the four for understanding why a circuit works, for example when a teacher wants to show a capacitor charging. It is less suited to testing a full Arduino project with libraries, where Wokwi is the closer match.
Comparison
| Tool | Runs microcontroller code | Analog focus | Price on official page | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wokwi | Yes (Arduino, ESP32, STM32) | Not its focus | EUR 0 Community (public projects); Hobby EUR 5.6/month | Browser, VS Code on Hobby+ |
| LTspice | Not its focus | Yes (SPICE) | Free | Windows, macOS |
| SimulIDE | Yes (PIC, AVR, Arduino) | Not stated | AGPLv3, no price listed | Download listed, OS not stated |
| Falstad | AVR8js version linked | Not stated | Free to use, no price listed | Browser, offline versions linked |
How to choose
If you are a student or hobbyist writing Arduino or ESP32 code and want to share a link, start with Wokwi's free plan and accept that projects are public. If you are a teacher who needs student work private, price the Hobby plan or use a local tool such as SimulIDE.
If you design power supplies or filters and found Tinkercad too simple, use LTspice. If you want to explain how current flows in a circuit, open Falstad. For board layout rather than simulation, see KiCad alternatives. For a wider list, see the free circuit simulator roundup and the open-source circuit simulator guide. If you came here for 3D modeling, read free 3D modeling software instead.
Limits of this review
No tool was installed or run, and no accounts were created. Tinkercad's own pages could not be opened, so claims about Tinkercad come from the two third-party articles, one of them from 2018. No Reddit thread was available for this query.
FAQ
Is there a free Tinkercad Circuits alternative?
Yes. According to Wokwi's pricing page, its Community plan costs EUR 0 with unlimited simulations, but projects are public. LTspice is described by Analog Devices as free, and SimulIDE is released under the AGPLv3 license. Falstad's simulator runs in the browser with no price listed.
What is a Tinkercad alternative for Arduino?
Wokwi is the closest match. Its docs describe an online simulator for Arduino, ESP32, STM32 and other boards, and a 2021 Arduino forum thread, in which someone asked for sites other than Tinkercad, names it as the main answer. SimulIDE also lists Arduino, AVR and PIC support, with an AGPLv3 licence.
Is there an open-source Tinkercad alternative for circuits?
SimulIDE is the clearest one: its site lists the AGPLv3 license and support for PIC, AVR and Arduino. Wokwi, LTspice and the Falstad simulator are not shown as open source on their official pages, so treat them as free to use but not open source unless you find a license that says otherwise.
Can I use these alternatives offline?
LTspice is a desktop program for Windows and macOS, per Analog Devices. SimulIDE links a Downloads section on its site. Falstad's page links standalone offline versions. Wokwi is browser-based, though its Hobby+ plan adds Wokwi for VS Code, according to its pricing page.
Why do people leave Tinkercad Circuits?
A 2018 Norwegian Creations review found the analog simulation simplified, with some component properties locked or not simulated, so a circuit can work on screen and fail on a real board. It also noted there is no undo for code. Tinkercad may have changed since then, so test your own circuit before trusting any simulator.
Is there a Tinkercad alternative for 3D printing?
This page covers only the circuit side of Tinkercad. Circuits is a separate part of Tinkercad from its 3D editor, so the simulators here will not help with printable models. For 3D modeling, see our free 3D modeling software page, which lists tools for designing parts instead.
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Kevin Fan
Kevin Fan is a SaaS founder. He runs Free Instead Of, which tracks free and open-source alternatives to paid software and checks each price and free-plan limit against the vendor's own pages.
Methodology
Information comes from vendor pages for Wokwi (pricing and docs), SimulIDE, Falstad and LTspice, from a 2022 Maker.io comparison, a 2018 Norwegian Creations review of Tinkercad Circuits, and a 2021 Arduino forum thread, all read on 2026-10-26. Prices are those shown on the vendor pages that day.