Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5) – But only if you define "free" very loosely
KiCad has matured dramatically over the last five years, largely thanks to contributions from CERN (the particle physics lab) and Google.
Stop looking for "Altium Designer free software." It does not exist.
What exists is a professional tool for professionals and a set of deceptive search engine bait designed to get you on a sales call. If you have a serious budget (starting around $4,000), buy Altium. If you have no budget, download KiCad 7.0 right now.
KiCad can open Altium files. Altium cannot open KiCad files. That tells you everything you need to know about who is afraid of whom.
Don’t pirate. Don’t fall for trials. Use the right tool for your wallet.
Altium Designer is a high-end, professional PCB design tool, but there are several ways to access it for
legally. Below is a guide on how to get the software and a quick-start manual to get you designing. Part 1: How to Get Altium Designer for Free
Altium does not offer a permanent "free version" for professionals, but they provide several access points for students and hobbyists: 15-Day Free Trial: The most direct way to try the full suite is the Altium Designer Free Trial
. It is fully functional and includes all professional features. Altium Education (Student License):
If you are a student at a recognized university, you can apply for a free student license
. This license is renewable every year as long as you remain a student and includes access to the Altium Education curriculum CircuitMaker: While not Altium Designer itself, CircuitMaker completely free
community-driven PCB tool built by Altium. It uses the same underlying engine but requires you to share your designs publicly. Part 2: Quick-Start Guide to Your First Design Once you have the software installed via the Setup Assistant , follow these steps to create a project: 1. Start a New Project File > New > Project > PCB Project Right-click your project in the Projects Panel and select Add New to Project > Schematic Add New to Project > PCB 2. Capture the Schematic How to Create a PCB Schematic in Altium Designer
Altium Designer is widely considered the gold standard for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design, used by everyone from
to consumer tech giants. While it's typically a high-end, paid professional tool, there are several ways to access its powerful features for free. The "Free" Reality: Trials and Student Access
You won't find a permanent "freeware" version of the full Altium Designer suite, but you can get your hands on it through these legitimate channels: Free Trial: Altium offers a Full-Featured Free Trial altium designer free software
(typically 15 to 30 days) that gives you unrestricted access to the entire ecosystem. This is perfect for short-term professional projects or intensive learning. Altium Education: If you are a student, you can apply for a Free Student License . This includes access to the Altium Education
online curriculum, allowing you to learn industry-standard skills without the professional price tag. CircuitMaker: For hobbyists and the "maker" community, Altium provides CircuitMaker
, a completely free, community-driven version. It uses the same underlying technology as Altium Designer but requires designs to be shared publicly in their community gallery. Why Is It the Industry Choice?
The reason engineers seek out "free" versions of this specific software is its "all-in-one" unified environment. Unlike other tools where schematic capture and PCB layout are separate programs, Altium integrates: Advanced 3D Modeling:
See your board come to life in 3D to check for mechanical clearances. High-Speed Design: Specialized tools for complex HDI and rigid-flex designs Altium 365: A cloud platform that lets you share and collaborate on designs directly from your browser. Getting Started for Free
If you’ve just downloaded the trial or student version, the standard workflow follows a Three-Step Process Validate your Schematic: Ensure all connections and components are logically sound. Import Design Data: Transfer your components into the PCB editor. Configure Layer Stack:
Define the physical thickness and layers of your board before routing. versus the paid Designer version to see which fits your project? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more KB: Apply/renew student license - Altium
Students can apply for a free Altium Designer online curriculum and student license via the Altium Education program. Transforming PCB Design with Altium Designer and Altium 365
While the full Altium Designer is a paid professional suite, you can access its core technology for free through several official channels. Here are the best ways to use Altium software without a subscription: 1. CircuitMaker (Completely Free)
CircuitMaker is a free, community-driven PCB design tool built on the same powerful engine as Altium Designer. It is tailored for makers and open-source hardware enthusiasts. Best For: Hobbyists and open-source projects.
Key Feature: Unlimited layers and no board size restrictions, provided projects are shared in the public community. 2. Altium Designer Free Trial
If you need the full professional experience for a specific short-term project, Altium offers a Free Trial . Duration: Typically 15 to 30 days.
Access: Gives you full access to advanced features like multi-board assembly, rigid-flex design, and seamless Altium 365 cloud collaboration. 3. Altium 365 Viewer
For those who only need to inspect designs rather than create them, the Altium 365 Viewer is a free web-based tool.
Utility: Allows you to view, share, and print schematic and PCB files (including CAM/Gerber data) directly in your browser without installing software. 4. Education and Student Licenses Review: The Reality of "Altium Designer Free Software"
Students currently enrolled at accredited universities can often apply for a free six-month student license, which can be renewed for the duration of their studies. This provides the full Altium Designer experience for educational purposes. Quick Comparison: Free vs. Paid CircuitMaker Altium Designer (Trial/Student) Cost Free (Trial) / Paid Privacy Public Projects Only Private/Secure Complexity High (Streamlined UI) Professional Standard Industry Use Makers/Hobbyists NASA, Aerospace, Medical
If you find Altium's ecosystem too restrictive, reviewers on G2 often recommend KiCad EDA as the leading fully open-source (GPLv3) alternative that is free for any use. Altium Designer Free Trial Resources and Shortcuts
How to get the most from your free trial of Altium Designer * Sign up for the Altium Designer Free Trial. (if you haven't already) CircuitMaker: Free PCB Design Software
Altium Designer is professional-grade software with a high price point, there are several ways to access its power or its technology for free. Whether you are a student, a professional testing the waters, or a hobbyist, here is how you can get Altium Designer for free. 1. Altium Designer Free Trial
The most direct way to experience the full version of Altium Designer without cost is through their free trial What you get:
Full access to the professional suite, including advanced layout, routing, and simulation features. [21]
Professionals evaluating the software for a project or business before committing to a license. 2. CircuitMaker (Free Alternative by Altium) For hobbyists and the open-source community, Altium offers CircuitMaker
, a completely free PCB design tool built on the same engine as Altium Designer. [39] Key Features:
It uses the same schematic editor as the flagship product, allowing for complex multi-sheet and hierarchical designs. [39] Community Focused:
Projects are typically hosted in a public community workspace, making it ideal for open-source hardware developers. [22, 39] 3. Student and Educator Licenses
Altium provides significant support for academia. If you are a student or teacher at a verified educational institution, you can often apply for a free or heavily discounted student license. [18] Engagement:
Altium is used by student teams globally, such as the autonomous drone teams at Monash UAS , to power innovation. [18] 4. Altium 365 Viewer
If you don't need to design but just need to view or share files, the Altium 365 Viewer is a free, browser-based tool. [1, 3] Collaboration:
It allows you to view and share CAD drawings and PCB layouts in 2D or 3D without installing any software. [1] Embeddable: You can even embed your designs into your own blog or website with a few lines of code. [3] Comparison: Free vs. Paid CircuitMaker Altium Designer Paid (Trial Available) [10, 21] Ideal User Hobbyists/Makers [22] Professional Engineers [16] Public/Community projects [39] Private/Local/Cloud storage [10] Capabilities Core design features [39] Advanced High-Speed, Rigid-Flex, and Multi-board [5, 23] [5, 10, 16, 21, 22, 23, 39]
If you are looking for a completely open-source alternative that is free forever with no strings attached, many designers also consider for small to medium-sized designs. [34] to run Altium Designer smoothly? The Verdict Stop looking for "Altium Designer free
While Altium Designer is a professional-grade software that typically requires a paid subscription, there are several legitimate ways to access its technology for free, depending on whether you are a student, hobbyist, or professional evaluator. 1. Free Student Licenses
The most comprehensive way to get Altium Designer for free is through the Altium Education program. This is a fully functional, professional license—not a "lite" or "educational" edition—meaning it includes all the high-end features like 3D visualization and manufacturing output generation.
Eligibility: You must be a student currently enrolled at an accredited college or university with a valid institutional email address (e.g., .edu, .ac.uk).
Duration: The license is typically valid for 6 months to 1 year and is renewable as long as you remain a student. How to Get It: Visit the Altium Student Lab and click "Enroll for Free.". Register using your university email.
Verify your email and institution through the links sent to your inbox. Download the installer from the AltiumLive portal. 2. CircuitMaker (Altium's Free Version for Hobbyists)
For those who are not students but want Altium-style tools, Altium offers CircuitMaker. It is built on the same core technology and design engine as Altium Designer but is tailored for the open-source hardware community. Cost: Completely free with no subscription fees.
Private vs. Public: Historically, CircuitMaker required all projects to be public. However, CircuitMaker 2.0 now allows users to have up to 5 private projects.
Key Features: It supports up to 16 signal and 16 plane layers with no restrictions on PCB dimensions. It also includes 3D viewing and Octopart component library integration. Download: Available at CircuitMaker.com. 3. Professional Free Trial
If you need to test the software for a specific commercial project or evaluation, Altium offers a 30-day free trial of the full Altium Designer suite. Make the Switch and Import from KiCad to Altium Designer
It's understandable that part-time consultants, students, and hobbyists can't justify the full cost of an Altium Designer license.
Here are three options for a post about Altium Designer's free offerings, tailored for different platforms like LinkedIn, a tech blog, or a casual social media feed (Twitter/X).
Altium Designer itself—the full, commercial, industry-standard software—is never free. Licenses typically cost several thousand dollars per seat, plus annual subscription fees.
However, Altium provides two free alternatives under its brand:
None of these are the full Altium Designer. But depending on your needs, one might be enough.
There is no such thing as a free version of Altium Designer. Altium Designer is a professional, high-end PCB design tool that typically costs several thousand dollars per year for a license. If you see "Altium Designer free download," it is almost certainly a crack, a trial, or a misleading advertisement.
However, Altium does offer two legitimate "free" options—but neither is the full Altium Designer.
