# MakeIRL vs FreeDFM (AdvancedPCB): preflight gate or free file check?

Choose FreeDFM when you plan to fab with AdvancedPCB: it's a free, unlimited gerber file check aligned to their standard capabilities, and the emailed report includes a quote and a discount code toward the order. Choose MakeIRL when you want a fab-neutral, paid preflight of the KiCad source — ERC, DRC, schematic-to-PCB parity, and BOM lines checked against live distributor stock — independent of where you order.

FreeDFM is a manufacturer's intake check: free, gerber-based, and aligned to AdvancedPCB's own specification capabilities. MakeIRL is a fab-neutral release gate on the KiCad project itself, and it costs $79 where FreeDFM costs nothing.

## Side by side

|  | MakeIRL | FreeDFM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maker | MakeIRL | AdvancedPCB (Advanced Circuits) |
| Price | $79 one-time per board release, no subscription (as of July 2026) | Free and unlimited (as of July 2026) |
| Runs as | Online release gate; also runs from Claude Code / Cursor via MCP | Online file check |
| Input files | Native KiCad source: .kicad_sch + .kicad_pcb | Gerber files uploaded as a compressed folder |
| What it checks | ERC on the schematic, DRC on the layout, schematic ↔ PCB parity, BOM line completeness with MPN / package sanity and availability against live distributor stock, gerber / drill / placement export integrity, named heuristic checks (power, reset, programming, connector patterns) | File structure and completeness, trace width and spacing, drill and annular ring specifications, layer geometry, solder mask and silkscreen issues — aligned to AdvancedPCB's standard specification capabilities |
| How results arrive | Plain-English report with a BLOCKED / REVIEW / READY verdict; every report states explicitly that function is not proven | Email with a quote number, a discount code toward an AdvancedPCB order, and a downloadable PDF design report |
| Fab tie-in | Fab-neutral — the preflight is not tied to any one factory's ordering pipeline | Tied to AdvancedPCB quoting; reports include discount codes for subsequent AdvancedPCB orders |

Competitor facts checked against [AdvancedPCB (Advanced Circuits)’s public site](https://www.advancedpcb.com/en-us/tools/free-dfm-filecheck/) as of July 2026. Pricing and capabilities can change — verify before you rely on them.

## When each is the better pick

### When FreeDFM is the better pick

You plan to fab with AdvancedPCB and want a free file check that comes back with a quote and an order discount.

It is free and unlimited (as of July 2026), so if a gerber-level check is all you need, there is no cost to trying it.

### When MakeIRL is the better pick

You want one gate over the whole KiCad project before gerbers exist: ERC on the schematic, DRC on the layout, schematic ↔ PCB parity, and BOM lines checked against live distributor stock. It costs $79 one-time per board release (as of July 2026) and is fab-neutral.

Honest limits: KiCad projects only, it costs money while fab-side checkers are free, and it does not replace the manufacturer's own DFM review before production. When every check passes, the report reads “READY FOR MANUFACTURING — function not proven” — no automated check can prove a circuit does what you meant.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What does FreeDFM check?**
Per AdvancedPCB: file structure and completeness, trace width and spacing, drill and annular ring specifications, layer geometry, and solder mask / silkscreen issues — aligned to AdvancedPCB's standard specification capabilities. Results arrive by email with a PDF report, a quote number, and a discount code.

**Q: Does FreeDFM work for HDI or controlled-impedance boards?**
AdvancedPCB notes FreeDFM is intended for standard through-via designs and cannot reliably validate HDI, sequential lamination, controlled impedance, or advanced-material designs. MakeIRL's DRC runs whatever rules your KiCad board defines, but neither tool replaces the fab's own engineering review for advanced builds.

**Q: Is MakeIRL tied to a specific factory like FreeDFM is?**
The preflight itself is fab-neutral — it gates your KiCad files and hands you a report you can take to any manufacturer. FreeDFM is built around AdvancedPCB's quoting and capabilities, which is exactly what you want if that's where you're ordering.

Updated July 2026