Git LFS repositories are only partially supported.
Teams using Git LFS should validate their repository workflow before committing production design data.
Evidence source ↗
Altium Designer
Altium Designer is Windows-based electronic design automation software for schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation.
6 key claims verifiedOur editorial team checked this profile against product documentation, pricing information, vendor documentation. Supported by 5 documented sources.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
Feature assessment reflects documented schematic, PCB, simulation, manufacturing, and collaboration workflows. Value assessment reflects the listed $1,990-per-year Altium Develop package, which includes an Altium Designer Author license. Public ratings are for listings associated with Altium Develop, not a clean standalone Designer rating.
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Overview
Altium Designer is electronic design automation software for schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation. Its desktop authoring application runs on Windows, while connected Altium Workspace features support browser-based viewing and markup.
Altium’s currently listed $1,990 annual Altium Develop package includes one Altium Designer Author license and one Workspace. The listed amount is therefore a package price, not a separately verified standalone Designer price.
Altium Designer Decision Snapshot
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Best suited to
Electronics teams designing PCBs that need schematic-to-layout workflows, manufacturing outputs, and optional shared cloud review or ECAD-MCAD collaboration.
Look elsewhere if
Teams requiring native macOS or Linux authoring, or buyers seeking a free, cross-platform EDA application, should compare alternatives such as KiCad, and should evaluate alternatives such as KiCad or Autodesk Fusion instead.
Platforms
Cloud, GitHub, Web, Windows
TechZella assessment
7.5/10
Altium Designer — What Sets It Apart?
These are the product-specific differences that may matter when deciding whether the software fits your workflow. They are based on documented evidence rather than a universal ranking.
- Combines schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation in one design environment.
- Supports browser-based design viewing and markup alongside Windows-based authoring.
- Offers Workspace-mediated ECAD-MCAD collaboration with named supported mechanical design tools.
Altium Designer Pros & Cons
Pros
- Combines schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation.
- Supports browser-based design viewing and markup through connected Workspace features.
- Documents Git and Subversion workflows for design version control.
- Provides named integrations for ECAD-MCAD co-design.
Cons
- Desktop authoring requires Windows.
- Publicly listed pricing is for a package that includes Altium Designer, not a verified standalone license price.
- Git LFS support is partial and may risk data loss in some cases.
Altium Designer Gotchas & Operational Limits
These are documented constraints or practical friction points that may matter before you adopt the product.
The advertised $1,990 annual price is for Altium Develop and includes one Altium Designer Author license.
Buyers should confirm which product package and license terms apply rather than treating the bundle price as a standalone Designer quote.
Evidence source ↗Altium Designer Pricing & Plans
Altium Develop
$1,990
year
Includes one Altium Designer Author license, one Workspace, and unlimited Workspace users for review, commenting, task management, and BOM access. Additional Author seats are listed at $995 per year each.
Check current pricing →Altium Develop evaluation
$0
30 days
30-day evaluation; no credit card required to start.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Altium Designer Competitors & Alternatives
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
At a glance
Developer Tools| Decision factor | Altium Designer | KiCad |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Altium Designer desktop authoring requires 64-bit Windows; browser access supports viewing and markup. | KiCad runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Source ↗ |
| Pricing model | Altium Develop is listed at $1,990 per year and includes one Altium Designer Author license. | KiCad is free and open source under GNU GPL v3. Source ↗ |
| Core scope | Altium documents schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation in a unified environment. | KiCad documents schematic capture, PCB layout, and manufacturing output. Source ↗ |
Only factors supported by the available research are shown. The comparison is descriptive, not a ranking.
Direct competitors
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with Altium Designer.
Altium Designer Features
Electronics design
- Schematic capture
- PCB layout and routing
- Design rules and constraints
- Native 3D PCB visualization
- Rigid-flex PCB design
- Multi-board and harness design
Analysis and manufacturing
- Schematic SPICE simulation
- Bill of materials management
- Manufacturing file and release preparation
- Design comparison and change tracking
Collaboration and extensibility
- Workspace-based design storage and review
- Browser-based design viewing and markup
- ECAD-MCAD CoDesigner integrations
- Git and Subversion version control
- Scripting and SDK/API resources
Demo & Screenshots
Altium Designer Specifications
| Desktop operating systems | Windows 11 64-bit; Windows 10 64-bit supported |
|---|---|
| Minimum memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Recommended memory | 32 GB RAM |
| Storage requirement | 10 GB for installation and user files |
| Deployment | Windows desktop application with optional connected Workspace and browser-based viewing |
| Version control | Git and Subversion; Git LFS only partially supported |
| API and scripting | Altium Designer scripting documentation and developer SDK/API resources |
| ECAD-MCAD integrations | SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion; Siemens NX on Enterprise plan |
Deployment & System Footprint
Verified installation, hosting, administration, or environment details that can affect implementation.
| Desktop authoring | Installed Windows application; official requirements list Windows 11 64-bit and Windows 10 64-bit as supported. Source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Connected collaboration | Altium 365 Workspace provides browser access for design viewing and markup; authoring changes are made in Altium Designer. Source ↗ |
Migration & Lock-In
Documented portability, standards, export, or switching considerations. No switching-cost score is shown unless the evidence supports one.
External version control
Altium Designer supports Git and Subversion projects. Git repository creation and remote management rely on external tools.
Evidence source ↗Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
7.5/10Moderate confidence
Feature assessment reflects documented schematic, PCB, simulation, manufacturing, and collaboration workflows. Value assessment reflects the listed $1,990-per-year Altium Develop package, which includes an Altium Designer Author license. Public ratings are for listings associated with Altium Develop, not a clean standalone Designer rating.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Editorial transparency
Our Review Methodology
Key claims are linked to the sources used to verify them. This evidence record is separate from third-party user ratings.
TechZella evaluates software using documented product capabilities, pricing information, usability and value considerations, independent user evidence where available, and competitive context. The assessment is an editorial review, not a hands-on test unless one is explicitly identified. Our editorial assessment is based on 5 documented sources.
What TechZella adds
- Combines schematic capture, PCB layout, simulation, and manufacturing preparation in one design environment.
- Supports browser-based design viewing and markup alongside Windows-based authoring.
- Offers Workspace-mediated ECAD-MCAD collaboration with named supported mechanical design tools.
Important limitations
- The desktop authoring application requires Windows; the browser experience supports viewing and markup rather than full authoring.
- The available public price found is for Altium Develop, a package that includes an Altium Designer Author license, not a verified standalone Altium Designer price.
- Altium's documentation warns that its Git LFS support is partial and can cause data loss in some cases.
Evidence-backed claimsAltium Designer is offered within the Altium Develop package. Altium Develop is listed at $1,990 per year. The Altium Develop evaluation offers 30 days of access without a credit card. Altium Designer's documented desktop operating system support is Windows 10 and Windows 11, both 64-bit. Altium Designer supports external Git and Subversion version control. The Altium MCAD CoDesigner documentation lists supported tools including SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion, and Siemens NX.
The pricing page lists one Altium Designer Author license as part of Altium Develop.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The official pricing page displays the annual price and describes the included package.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The official page describes a 30-day evaluation and says no credit card is required to start.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10Official system requirements list Windows 11 64-bit and Windows 10 64-bit as supported.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The documentation describes Git and SVN project workflows and related in-application commands.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The documentation identifies these integrations and notes Siemens NX is limited to the Enterprise plan.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10FAQ
- Does Altium Designer have a free trial? The Altium Develop page offers a 30-day evaluation with no credit card required. The package includes Altium Designer.
- What operating system does Altium Designer require? Official requirements list 64-bit Windows 11 and continued support for 64-bit Windows 10.
- How much does Altium Designer cost? Altium publicly lists Altium Develop at $1,990 per year, including one Altium Designer Author license. This is a package price.
- Does Altium Designer support Git? Yes. The documentation describes Git and Subversion version control; Git repositories are managed using external tools.
- Does Altium Designer have an API? Altium documents scripting and developer SDK/API resources. The developer center describes Altium 365 API access and integration development resources.
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