For quick, secure, and reliable viewing , ViewMate Free is excellent. For netlist validation without paying for Pro, some engineers turn to KiCad’s Gerber viewer. But for professional contract manufacturers (CMs), ViewMate Pro is standard.
| Feature | ViewMate Free | KiCad Gerber Viewer (Free) | Online Viewers (e.g., PCBWay, Gerbv) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Windows only | Cross-platform (Windows/Linux/Mac) | Web browser | | Speed | Very Fast | Fast | Depends on internet | | Netlist Compare | No (Pro only) | No | No | | DRC Checking | No (Pro only) | Basic | No | | Data Security | Local only | Local only | Files uploaded to server | | Drill Layer Integration | Perfect | Good | Variable | | Price | Free | Free | Free | gerber viewer viewmate
is excellent for quick, no-fuss Gerber viewing and measurement on Windows. It is not suitable for : For quick, secure, and reliable viewing , ViewMate
Use ViewMate Free for daily checks, and advocate for ViewMate Pro for netlist verification during final release. Your team’s reputation—and budget—depends on it. | Feature | ViewMate Free | KiCad Gerber
Unlike basic image viewers, ViewMate allows you to load an entire PCB stackup (Top Copper, Bottom Copper, Top Solder Mask, Bottom Solder Mask, Top Silkscreen, Bottom Silkscreen, NC Drill) and toggle each layer on/off. You can change colors, transparency, and layer order instantly.