Having just switched from EAGLE to KiCad I think I&#x27;m qualified to offer an answer to that question.<p>The short answer: it is better. If you are considering switching, do not wait, just switch. I should have done this sooner.<p>The longer answer:<p>Both tools have drawbacks and the user interface is bizarre in many ways in both of them. That said, KiCad at least is being regularly improved. I got tired of waiting for EAGLE to fix even the most ridiculous UI flaws. It seemed just as if EAGLE wasn&#x27;t really developed anymore, just stuck way back in the 90s.<p>My schematics look much better these days. Hierarchical sheets help, too.<p>The separation of symbols from footprints is a great idea. As a practical example, I already have a small library of Texas Instruments packages (DRC, DRV, etc), which means that I can often just draw a symbol and immediately assign a verified footprint to it. No copying, and the footprints are shared, so if you modify paste coverage once, all parts using that footprint can immediately benefit. This idea is a clear winner.<p>Routing boards takes significantly less time than in EAGLE. Mostly because of the push and shove router — I don&#x27;t think I&#x27;d even take on some boards I&#x27;m making these days without it.<p>The layers seem to be better organized: you don&#x27;t get a hundred layers with weird names, the set is clearly defined and it&#x27;s easy to understand what they are used for.<p>3D visualization is really great. I didn&#x27;t think it would be useful, but I can&#x27;t live without it these days. All the components in my libraries now have 3d models attached, even if the model is a simple cube. This helps greatly when designing small stuff that is supposed to go into real enclosures. Exporting to decent CAD packages isn&#x27;t quite there yet (you can do it, but it requires significant effort), but the ability to instantly visualize your board helps a lot already.<p>The library management is as bad as it was in EAGLE. Perhaps slightly better because you can use github repos as sources, but in general it&#x27;s a crappy experience. I hope this will improve in the future.<p>Finally, price is an important consideration. EAGLE is not free. If you do anything commercial, EAGLE suddenly starts to be quite expensive, especially if you want 4-layer boards or larger boards. Other commercial packages are even more expensive. So if you are a serious hobbyist who wants to produce small 4-layer boards at OSHpark, KiCad is really the best option.<p>In general, I see no compelling reason to stick to EAGLE unless you have zero time for learning new things.