Altium has adopted a flexible, subscription-based pricing model. For 2023, this is structured to cater to a range of users, from individual freelancers to large multinational teams. Understanding these tiers is key to making a cost-effective choice.
To evaluate the new features, we designed a 6-layer with:
The 2023 version introduces a powerful Power Analyzer by Keysight , allowing everyday PCB designers to catch voltage drops and thermal hotspots directly within the native design interface.
Altium Designer 24 (the 2024 release) is the current standard, building on the massive stability and cloud-integration leaps made in the 2023 version. altium designer 2023
Perhaps the most impressive addition is the panel. If a resistor or connector is out of stock, Altium Designer 2023 suggests drop-in alternatives with matching footprints and electrical specs. This turns a two-day sourcing headache into a ten-second correction.
The 2023 release includes the for all standard licenses (previously a paid add-on).
A standout feature is the ability to manage the electrical and mechanical domains within a single, cohesive system. The new functionality supports a fully bidirectional workflow, allowing you to push and pull the entirety of a design—including all boards, harnesses, and their relative orientations—into the mechanical domain. Adjustments made in your MCAD tool can be seamlessly pushed back into the electrical domain, eliminating tedious and error-prone manual synchronization. This integration ensures that mechanical constraints are always respected, drastically reducing design re-spins and time-to-market. To evaluate the new features, we designed a
Modern products often use multiple interconnected circuit boards. Altium Designer 2023 simplifies multi-board design by treating separate PCBs as a single system. You can connect logical schematic blocks across different boards and run system-level connectivity checks. The 3D multi-board editor allows you to import step files of your enclosure and verify the fit of all internal electronics simultaneously. Advanced Routing Technologies
All component libraries and design data are securely stored in the cloud, ensuring everyone is working from a single, verified source of truth.
Identifying thermal and voltage issues early prevents expensive hardware revisions. The 2023 software features deeper integration with simulation tools like Ansys. Designers can analyze power delivery networks (PDN) directly within the Altium interface to look for voltage drops and current density hotspots. The updated SPICE engine also simplifies schematic simulation before layout begins. Step-by-Step Workflow for a New Project If a resistor or connector is out of
: Add schematic sheets and place components using libraries or the Manufacturer Part Search.
Generating automated, high-quality manufacturing and fabrication drawings is faster than ever, reducing the time spent documenting the board.