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LTspice

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description LTspice Overview

LTspice is Analog Devices' free SPICE simulator that has become the de facto standard for electronics simulation among hobbyists, students, and many professionals. It offers fast simulation times, robust convergence, and an extensive built-in component library. The optimized numerical engine handles large circuits efficiently, and its schematic capture is straightforward. While lacking some advanced features of commercial tools like Cadence Spectre, LTspice covers the vast majority of analog and mixed-signal simulation needs.

Its wide adoption means abundant community resources and example circuits are available.

help LTspice FAQ

Who currently develops and maintains the LTspice software?

LTspice is developed, maintained, and distributed by Analog Devices (ADI). Originally created by Linear Technology, the software remained free after Analog Devices acquired the company in 2017.

Does LTspice run natively on macOS and Linux operating systems?

No, LTspice XVII is officially a native Windows application, meaning it does not run natively on macOS or Linux. Apple and Linux users must run the software through a compatibility layer like Wine or a virtual machine.

Is LTspice completely free to use for commercial circuit design?

Yes, Analog Devices provides LTspice completely free of charge, and the license agreement allows for unrestricted commercial use. This makes it a highly popular tool for professional engineers designing analog electronics.

How do I add third-party or non-ADI SPICE models into LTspice?

You can easily add third-party models by either placing the '.lib' or '.sub' files into your LTspice directory or keeping them in your project folder. You then include a '.include' directive on your schematic to tell LTspice to load the model during the simulation.

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