The free license does not cover every Diamond-supported family.
A design targeting ECP5UM, LatticeECP3, or other subscription-only families requires a paid license rather than the free tier.
Evidence source ↗
Lattice Diamond
Lattice Diamond is a desktop FPGA design environment for selected Lattice device families. It combines HDL entry, synthesis, implementation, timing analysis, debugging, and device programming.
5 key claims verifiedOur editorial team checked this profile against vendor documentation, pricing information, company information. Supported by 2 documented sources.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
Official materials document a full FPGA design flow, scripting, analysis, IP reuse, and hardware debugging. Free licensing is useful for supported devices, but broader device support requires an annual subscription with no public price located. No reliable public review evidence was accessed; user sentiment is unassessed.
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Overview
Lattice Diamond is an installed FPGA design environment from Lattice Semiconductor. It supports design entry, synthesis, implementation, timing and power analysis, hardware debugging, and programming for listed Lattice device families.
The product page lists version 3.14, released October 16, 2024. Licensing is annual, and its free tier covers only specified devices. Buyers should verify their exact FPGA and operating-system requirements before committing to a design flow.
Lattice Diamond 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
Engineers developing designs for Lattice FPGA families supported by Diamond who need an installed environment for HDL synthesis, implementation, timing analysis, debugging, and programming.
Look elsewhere if
Teams targeting FPGA families not listed for Diamond, or buyers who need a current toolchain for newer Lattice device families, should check device support before adopting it. Lattice identifies Radiant as a separate tool for many newer families, and should evaluate alternatives such as AMD Vivado or Intel Quartus Prime instead.
Platforms
Linux, Windows
TechZella assessment
6.9/10
Lattice Diamond — 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 design entry, Lattice synthesis, implementation strategies, graphical timing analysis, power estimation, hardware debug, and programming in one installed design flow.
- Supports Tcl scripting and project implementations that let engineers explore different design strategies within a project.
- Free licensing covers a subset of supported Lattice devices; subscription licensing expands coverage to all Diamond-supported devices.
Lattice Diamond Pros & Cons
Pros
- Covers design entry, synthesis, implementation, analysis, debugging, and programming in one installed tool flow.
- Supports Tcl scripting and multiple implementation strategies for automation and design exploration.
- Includes timing, power, physical-analysis, and Reveal hardware-debug tools.
- A no-cost license is available for specified supported device families.
Cons
- Free-license coverage is limited to selected Diamond-supported devices.
- The documented licenses are annual and require regeneration after one year.
- The public product page does not disclose the paid subscription price.
- The documented OS versions and supported FPGA families should be checked against the intended project.
Lattice Diamond Gotchas & Operational Limits
These are documented constraints or practical friction points that may matter before you adopt the product.
MachXO3D security features require an Encryption Pack and either a Diamond Subscription license or a MachXO3D Security license.
Projects using those security capabilities may incur a separate license requirement beyond the basic free software license.
Evidence source ↗The annual license file must be regenerated after one year.
Users need to account for license renewal or re-registration to maintain licensed access.
Evidence source ↗Lattice Diamond Pricing & Plans
Free License
$0
year
No license fee for specified Diamond-supported devices. License period is one year; node-locked and floating license options are listed.
Check current pricing →Subscription License
year
Paid annual license for all Diamond-supported devices. Node-locked and floating options are listed. Public price was not found on the official product page.
Check current pricing →Evaluation License
$0
60 days
Lattice's licensing page describes a 60-day evaluation license for evaluating the full tool flow; check current eligibility through the licensing portal.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Lattice Diamond 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 | Lattice Diamond | AMD Vivado | Lattice Radiant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core device families | Targets listed Diamond families including ECP5, MachXO, LatticeECP, and CrossLink. | Targets AMD/Xilinx FPGA and adaptive SoC families, with available devices and features varying by license tier. Source ↗ | Targets many newer Lattice families, including Avant, Certus-NX, CrossLink-NX, and MachXO5-NX. Source ↗ |
| License model | Free license for a subset of Diamond-supported devices; annual subscription for all Diamond-supported devices. | Basic is listed as free; other tiers include annual subscriptions and perpetual options. Source ↗ | Free and subscription licenses are listed, with device and IP support varying by license. Source ↗ |
| Supported operating systems | Windows 10 or 11; RHEL 7.9 or 8.8; Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 LTS. | Windows 10 or 11 and several supported Linux distributions, including RHEL and Ubuntu; exact versions depend on the release. Source ↗ | Windows 11; RHEL 8.10 or 9.6; Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS. 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 Lattice Diamond.
AMD VivadoCore device families: Targets AMD/Xilinx FPGA and adaptive SoC families, with available devices and features varying by license tier.
Lattice Diamond Features
Design and implementation
- HDL text editor supporting VHDL, Verilog, EDIF, and Lattice Preference Language keywords
- Lattice Synthesis Engine
- Multiple implementations and built-in implementation strategies
- Tcl scripting support
Analysis and debugging
- Graphical timing analysis
- Graphical power calculator
- Netlist and physical-analysis views
- Reveal logic-analyzer insertion and waveform analysis
IP and tool ecosystem
- Clarity and IPexpress access to Lattice IP and reference designs
- Listed support for Siemens QuestaSim Lattice FPGA Edition
- Listed support for Mentor ModelSim Lattice FPGA Edition
- Listed support for Synopsys Synplify-Pro-E
Device programming
- Programmer for Lattice devices
- Generation and use of device programming files
Lattice Diamond Specifications
| Product version listed | 3.14, dated October 16, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Windows support | Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Linux support | RHEL 7.9 or 8.8, and Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 LTS, 64-bit |
| License period | One year |
| License types | Node-locked or floating |
| API and automation | Full Tcl scripting support is documented; no public REST API was identified in the reviewed product materials |
| Hosting | Locally installed desktop software |
Deployment & System Footprint
Verified installation, hosting, administration, or environment details that can affect implementation.
| Installation or hosting | Installed desktop software for Windows or supported Linux distributions; Lattice lists no hosted or browser-based Diamond deployment. Source ↗ |
|---|---|
| License type | Node-locked or floating annual licenses are listed for Diamond; the free license is also annual. Source ↗ |
Migration & Lock-In
Documented portability, standards, export, or switching considerations. No switching-cost score is shown unless the evidence supports one.
Project migration
Lattice provides a video describing how to import ispLEVER projects into Diamond, while noting that Diamond uses a different project structure.
Evidence source ↗Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
6.9/10Moderate confidence
Official materials document a full FPGA design flow, scripting, analysis, IP reuse, and hardware debugging. Free licensing is useful for supported devices, but broader device support requires an annual subscription with no public price located. No reliable public review evidence was accessed; user sentiment is unassessed.
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 2 documented sources.
What TechZella adds
- Combines design entry, Lattice synthesis, implementation strategies, graphical timing analysis, power estimation, hardware debug, and programming in one installed design flow.
- Supports Tcl scripting and project implementations that let engineers explore different design strategies within a project.
- Free licensing covers a subset of supported Lattice devices; subscription licensing expands coverage to all Diamond-supported devices.
Important limitations
- Device coverage differs between the free and subscription licenses, so buyers must check the specific FPGA family and part.
- The documented license period is one year, including for free licenses, and licenses must be regenerated annually.
- The current Diamond page lists version 3.14, dated October 16, 2024, and a 2025 ECP5U patch; buyers should verify device and OS support against their project requirements.
Evidence-backed claimsDiamond 3.14 is listed for Windows and Linux, with a release date of October 16, 2024. Diamond provides a free license and an annual subscription license. Diamond supports Tcl scripting, synthesis, implementation strategies, graphical timing analysis, power calculation, and Reveal hardware debugging. Lattice Semiconductor was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon. Lattice lists Siemens QuestaSim, Mentor ModelSim, and Synopsys Synplify-Pro-E as third-party software supported with Diamond.
The download table lists version 3.14 for Windows 64-bit and Linux 64-bit on that date.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The licensing section describes both license types and states that license files must be regenerated after a year.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The product feature list names these capabilities.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The company investor FAQ provides the founding year and headquarters address.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10The official Diamond page lists the tools in its support table.
View source ↗Verified 2026-11-10FAQ
Is Lattice Diamond free? A free license is available for specified supported device families; a subscription is required for the full Diamond device range.
Does Lattice Diamond support Windows 11? Yes. The product page lists Windows 10 and Windows 11, alongside specified Linux distributions.
Does Diamond have an API? Lattice documents full Tcl scripting support. The reviewed product materials did not identify a public REST API for Diamond.
Can Diamond be used for MachXO3D security features with only the free license? No. Lattice says those features require an Encryption Pack and either a Diamond Subscription license or a MachXO3D Security license.
How much does the Diamond subscription cost? The product page does not publish a price; it directs buyers to Lattice’s store or a sales representative.
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