Alternatives to Altium Designer

Professional PCB design suite covering schematics, layout, and simulation. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Altium Designer.

  • KiCad

    A full electronics design suite: draw the schematic, lay out the board, view it in 3D, send it to a fab.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    KiCad is free and open source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and has no board limits, though its simulation is more basic.

  • EasyEDA

    Design electronic schematics and printed circuit boards in a browser.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    EasyEDA runs in a browser with a freemium model and component libraries, while manufacturing orders and some services cost extra.

  • Horizon EDA

    Design circuit boards from schematics through manufacturing files.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    Horizon EDA is free GPL-3.0 software for Windows and Linux covering schematics, routing, design-rule checks and manufacturing files.

  • Fritzing

    Document electronics projects with breadboard, schematic and PCB views.

    PaidOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Fritzing focuses on documenting projects with breadboard, schematic and PCB views, is GPL-3.0 open source, and charges for official compiled downloads.

  • DipTrace

    Schematic capture and PCB layout software with constraint-driven design and interactive push-and-shove routing.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    DipTrace uses perpetual licensing instead of a subscription and offers push-and-shove routing and design rule checking, but only a Windows installer is shown.

  • Proteus Design Suite

    Electronics design software combining schematic capture, circuit and microcontroller simulation, and PCB layout.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    Proteus Design Suite adds microcontroller firmware simulation alongside schematic and PCB layout, remains Windows only and commercial, and does not list pricing on its homepage.

  • LibrePCB

    A free, open-source electronics design suite for drawing schematics and laying out printed circuit boards.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    LibrePCB is free and open source with a Git-friendly file format and no online account, but has fewer ready-made parts and no built-in circuit simulation.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Altium Designer as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • CircuitMaker

    Free schematic and PCB design software from Altium with a community component library.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    Altium Designer is the commercial Windows suite CircuitMaker is built on, adding simulation and full manufacturing workflows, but its licensing is expensive and aimed at professional teams.

  • DesignSpark PCB

    Schematic capture and printed circuit board layout software with a free plan and paid tiers.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    Altium Designer is a professional Windows suite covering schematics, simulation, layout and manufacturing files, with expensive commercial licensing instead of a free plan.

  • OrCAD X

    Cadence's commercial PCB design suite for schematic capture, simulation and board layout.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    Altium Designer is a Windows suite covering schematic, simulation, layout and manufacturing files, widely used by professional teams, with expensive commercial licensing.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.