GerbDiff
Visual diff tool for PCB Gerbers
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What is GerbDiff?
GerbDiff is a visual diff tool designed specifically for comparing PCB Gerber file revisions with pixel-level accuracy. It runs entirely locally on your machine, ensuring your design files never leave your computer or touch any server. The tool provides side-by-side and color-coded overlay views for comparing two Gerber projects with synchronized pan and zoom capabilities.
Key features include automatic layer matching that detects and pairs layers across project revisions (copper, soldermask, silkscreen, drill, and more), full Gerber support including X1, X2, aperture macros, step-and-repeat, and Excellon drill files from any EDA tool, a measurement tool for measuring distances in mils or millimeters, and the ability to export PNG screenshots or self-contained HTML diff reports. It also offers a free GitHub Action for automated pull request review that posts layer-by-layer diffs in PR comments.
GerbDiff is built for PCB engineers, hardware reviewers, and anyone working with PCB design revisions who needs to quickly identify changes between board versions. It supports Windows 10/11 (x64), macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon), and Linux (x64 Debian/Ubuntu), and has been built from scratch and tested on hundreds of real boards.
GerbDiff pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Start with a free 30-day trial, no credit card required. Monthly plan: $9/mo billed monthly for 1 seat, includes desktop app (Win/Mac/Linux), GitHub Action, all features, unlimited projects, email support, cancel anytime. Annual plan: $99/yr (~$8.25/mo) for 1 seat, includes everything in Monthly plus one month free vs monthly, priority email support, invoice on request. Team plan: $5/seat/mo with 5 seat minimum (from $25/mo), includes floating team seats, invoice billing & POs, custom terms & SLAs available, priority support.
GerbDiff pros
- Runs entirely locally - no file uploads to cloud
- 30-day free trial with no credit card required
- Automatic layer matching across revisions
- Supports Gerber X1, X2, and aperture macros
- Handles Excellon drill files natively
- Side-by-side and overlay view modes
- Synchronized pan and zoom between views
- Measurement tool in mils or millimeters
- Export PNG screenshots and HTML reports
- Free GitHub Action for PR reviews
- Works with Gerbers from any EDA tool
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Untested on hundreds of real boards
- Unlimited projects on paid plans
- Code-signed installer for Windows
- Supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Mac
- Floating team seats available
- Cancel anytime on monthly plan
GerbDiff cons
- macOS app not yet notarized (requires right-click to open)
- SmartScreen may warn on Windows while reputation builds
- Linux only available as Debian/Ubuntu package
- Team plan requires 5 seat minimum
- No free tier after 30-day trial
- Only 1 seat included in individual plans
- No web-based version available
- Email support only on monthly plan
Frequently asked questions about GerbDiff
What is GerbDiff?
GerbDiff is a visual diff tool for comparing PCB Gerber file revisions with pixel-level accuracy. It provides side-by-side and overlay views to detect changes between PCB design versions, running entirely locally on your machine without uploading files to any server.
Do I need to upload my Gerber files to the cloud?
No. GerbDiff is local-first and private. All parsing, rendering, and diffing happens entirely on your machine. Your Gerber files are never uploaded or stored externally.
What Gerber formats does GerbDiff support?
GerbDiff supports Gerber X1, X2, aperture macros, step-and-repeat, and Excellon drill files. It handles real-world production Gerbers from any EDA tool.
Does GerbDiff automatically match layers between revisions?
Yes. GerbDiff automatically detects and pairs layers across project revisions. It supports copper, soldermask, silkscreen, drill, and more layer types.
What operating systems does GerbDiff support?
GerbDiff is available for Windows 10/11 (x64), macOS (both Intel and Apple Silicon), and Linux (x64 Debian/Ubuntu). A 30-day free trial is available for all platforms.
How does the GitHub Action work?
The GerbDiff GitHub Action posts layer-by-layer diff comparisons in pull request comments whenever a PR touches Gerber files. You add it to your repo in five lines, and it compares Gerbers like a code review but for hardware.
Can I export diff reports to share with my team?
Yes. GerbDiff lets you export PNG screenshots or self-contained HTML diff reports that you can share with your team or archive for review.
Is there a free tier available?
GerbDiff offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. After the trial, you need to subscribe to one of the paid plans (Monthly at $9/mo, Annual at $99/yr, or Team at $5/seat/mo with 5 seat minimum).
Can I measure distances on the PCB in GerbDiff?
Yes. GerbDiff includes a measurement tool that lets you measure distances directly on the board in mils or millimeters. Click to place measurement points with live readout.
What support options are available?
Email support is included with the Monthly plan. Priority email support is included with the Annual and Team plans. Team plans also offer custom terms, SLAs, and invoice billing with POs.