Best free PCB/Schematic software?

[Dr. K]

I've been monkeying around trying to find a decent free PCB/schematic drawing software. I tried Libre and Circuit Maker, but after installing every component library I could find, it still didn't have basic components (very common IC chips, for example. No 555? No lm324...)

Now I can't even find a download site for Eagle, which as I recall was pretty easy to use.

Sorry, it's probably a dumb question. But things are getting complicated enough, I would really like to have a good and readable schematic. And if I came up with anything cool enough, a local makers space has a PCB CNC routing machine. Perfect for making a handful of boards.

Thanks for the info.
I can't express how much I've appreciated the sage wisdom and suggestions over the past weeks. I'm scrambling to learn everything I can. Downloaded the Make book, re-read the 2 classics on circuit bending. Dug out my ancient copy of "the Art of Electronics". Picked up cheap but decent o-scope and some breadboards.

[mpa]

Try KiCAD: https://www.kicad.org/

It's really good -- quite a few people use it for commercial work.

EAGLE was bought by Autodesk and is now part of Fusion 360.

[elektrouwe]

+1 more for KICAD - nothing else !

[PHOBoS]

for schematics I use ExpressSCH.

still have an older version of EAGLE for schematic + PCB.
KiCad seems pretty decent, but I was already hooked on EAGLE when I tried it.

[Dr. K]

thank you! I will definitely give it a spin. It will really help, to have schematics of all the devices--to help in trouble shooting, or future repairs or upgrades. I ahd a box of pandemic era stuff, but the notebooks were lost to history. what a mess!

[Ruebezahl]

+1 for Kicad

In terms of open source software its by far the best!

[Cynosure]

+1 for Kicad. It's also not too difficult to make your own devices in it for things that you can't find in its default library or online.