Solidworks PCB vs. Altium — Your Complete PCB Design & Layout Comparison Guide

Your time and money are valuable, which is why it’s important to choose the right PCB software from the start. There are many free and enterprise tools available with varying capabilities, tools, and price tags.

In general, free software provides fewer capabilities and is often a scaled-down version of paid programs. Though it may not be compatible with other programs and services, free software can be a good resource, especially for those looking to experiment in PCB design without an added cost. Paid programs typically have greater capabilities, features, and support.

We’ll explore Altium, one of the most popular software programs on the market, but here are some additional options to consider:

• OrCAD and Allegro — These popular design tools are produced by the same company, Cadence. OrCAD is the most popular schematic capture tool in the Cadence suite, while Allegro is Cadence’s flagship PCB layout tool. OrCAD is essentially a trimmed-down version of Allegro PCB.
• EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) — This industry staple is a free software option that is compatible with paid design software. If you download EAGLE for free, you will work with a limited version that includes two schematic sheets, two signal layers, and an 80 cm2 board area.
• KiCad EDA — This free software boasts a 3D viewer so that you can review your design from multiple perspectives. The schematic editor doesn’t have any paywalls, and the company explains that “every effort is made to hide the complexity of advanced design features so that KiCad remains approachable by new and inexperienced users.”
• PADS — This is a top choice when it comes to PCB software. It’s in the realm of Altium Designer but has more functionality and is geared toward more complex PCB designs.

Solidworks PCB (formerly PCBWorks) was a PCB design tool from Dassault Systèmes, a French software company. It was developed jointly by Dassault and Altium Limited and launched in 2016, which means it’s a relatively new PCB design tool compared with some of the others on the market.

Solidworks PCB capabilities included:

• Modern schematic entry
• Real-time 3D clearance checking
• Design and data management
• ECAD-MCAD design collaboration
• Ability to create detailed revision comments

Altium, a global software company that provides PCB design tools and resources, calls itself as “a global market leader with the #1 PCB software tool in use today.”

• Altium CircuitMaker and Altium Designer — CircuitMaker is a free program that provides you with up to 16 signals and 16 plane layers plus no restrictions to the PCB dimensions. Altium Designer is a paid version that combines schematic, ECAD libraries, rules and constraints, BoM, supply chain management, ECO processes, and world-class PCB layouts.

Altium’s most popular product is Altium Designer, but other Altium products include:

• ​​Altium Concord Pro
• Altium 365
• Altium NEXUS
• CircuitMaker
• CircuitStudio
• Octopart
• TASKING

As detailed on Altium’s website, the software program has a variety of features and capabilities, including:

• Schematic capture
• Unified library management
• Board layout
• Interactive routing
• High-speed and high-density design
• Data management
• Mixed simulation
• MCAD collaboration
• Fabrication drawings
• Manufacturing outputs

Here’s what you need to know about this popular PCB design tool:

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At the end of the day, it comes down to preference, which software ecosystem you want to invest in, and which workflow/UI you prefer. There are many options on the market — both free and paid — so it’s important to do your homework and consult with a reputable PCB manufacturer, if possible.

Prices will vary, but keep in mind that a good design software program can cost around $3,000. Some offer details or discounts for paying annually or every few years. You also need to keep in mind whether the program will charge you for annual maintenance and factor that number into your budget.
Each piece of software should also come equipped with component libraries, but it’s always important to verify this before purchasing.
Layout design, circuit design, and schematic capture are all important factors to take into consideration, including how a bill of material will be generated. You also want to look at interactive routing and routing for signals.

Finally, it’s important to ask whether the software company offers any training for you and your employees, and if so, whether it’s included at an additional expense.

If you’re looking for more information, or you have general questions about the PCB layout process, please contact us. Our principal engineers have extensive experience developing layouts with numerous software platforms and will provide you with the answers you need. We look forward to hearing about your next project!