Tools with "panel" in the name are not interchangeable. They do different jobs, and picking the wrong category is why teams either reach for a CAD suite to answer a question it was not built for, or never optimize panel cost at all. Here is what each kind of tool is actually for.
CAD and Gerber panelizers (for example Altium, KiCad with KiKit, and Zuken) take finished board designs and produce the physical panel and the manufacturing data a fabricator needs: rails, fiducials, mouse bites or V-scores, and Gerber or ODB++ output.
Free fab calculators give a quick, one-off count of how many boards fit on a panel for the dimensions you type in. Useful for a rough check. They do not search array options, model cost, or tell you what to change.
KwickFit is the upstream what-if step. Before you commit a board outline or build a panel, it finds the board size, array, and panel that maximize parts per panel and minimize cost. Auto Matrix Array finds the optimal array for each panel size, Analyze Part Size to Increase Yield finds the threshold where a small reduction in board size adds more boards per panel, and you can compare results across multiple panel sizes in seconds, with no CAD or Gerber files.
| Capability | KwickFit | CAD / Gerber panelizers | Free fab calculators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Optimize parts per panel and cost | Produce the fabrication panel and data | Quick board count |
| Needs a CAD layout or Gerber files | No | Yes | No |
| Finds the optimal array automatically | Yes (Auto Matrix Array) | Not its focus | No |
| Tests a smaller board to gain a row | Yes (Analyze Part Size) | No | No |
| Compares many panel sizes at once | Yes | Not its focus | No |
| Outputs Gerber / ODB++ for the fab | No | Yes | No |
| When you use it | Before you commit the layout | At or after layout, for production | A rough estimate, any time |
| Cost | 14-day free trial, then subscription | Usually part of a CAD suite | Free |
Comparison reflects KwickFit's understanding of publicly available information as of May 2026. Other tools' capabilities may change. All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners; this comparison is not endorsed by them.
Sending a panel to your fabricator? Use a CAD panelizer or your fab's tooling. That is the job they are built for.
Just want a rough count? A free calculator is fine for a one-off check.
Deciding the most cost-effective layout, or chasing parts per panel at volume? That is KwickFit. And it is complementary, not competing: optimize the board size, array, and panel in KwickFit first, then panelize the winning design in your CAD tool. You do the expensive optimization decision before it is locked into a layout.
No CAD or Gerber files. Enter your dimensions and find the most cost-effective layout in seconds.
No credit card required.
Related: The PCB Cost Cliff shows what these layout decisions are worth in real dollars, and why more arrays per panel does not mean more boards.