Altium Designer vs SOLIDWORKS
Both are on the Electrical Design Software list. Here is what each maker publishes, side by side.
 Altium Designer | SOLIDWORKS | |
|---|---|---|
| Place on the list | #8 5.9 | #2 7.0 |
| Maker | — | SOLIDWORKS |
| Starts at | $460 a month | $48 a year |
| Free | Free trial | Free plan |
| Runs on | Web, Windows | Mac, Web, Windows |
| Open source | No | No |
| Plans | Altium Designer 25: $460 a month | SOLIDWORKS Design Standard with Cloud Services: $2,820 a year SOLIDWORKS Design Professional with Cloud Services: $3,456 a year SOLIDWORKS Design Premium with Cloud Services: $4,716 a year SOLIDWORKS for Makers: $48 a year |
| Verdict | Altium Designer connects major PCB design stages with simulation, collaboration and supply-chain information. Confirm operating-system, internet and licensing requirements before selecting the 460.00 USD monthly starting plan. | SOLIDWORKS combines locally installed design tools with optional cloud collaboration and browser-based modeling. Its plans differ in included capabilities, and the listed Standard price is an annual single-device license. |
| Visit Altium Designer | Visit SOLIDWORKS |