# Altium Develop vs Ansys HFSS Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Ansys HFSS excels in its **ease of use** , particularly for complex electromagnetic simulations. Users appreciate its full wave solver capabilities and the intuitive graphical interface for object creation, which allows for precise control and visualization of results that align well with real measurements.
- **Users say** Altium Develop stands out for its **unified design environment** , which integrates schematic capture, PCB layout, and design verification in one platform. This feature significantly enhances team collaboration, as noted by users who value the real-time collaboration and version control that streamline their workflow.
- **According to verified reviews** , Ansys HFSS has received positive feedback for its **customer support** , with users highlighting the availability and responsiveness of the support team, which is crucial for tackling complex design challenges.
- **Reviewers mention** that Altium Develop's **Altium 365 web portal** is a game-changer for collaboration, allowing teams to share and work on designs seamlessly. This feature eliminates the confusion of managing multiple versions of files, making project management more efficient.
- **G2 reviewers indicate** that while both products have similar star ratings, Altium Develop's higher volume of recent reviews suggests a more consistent user experience, particularly in the small-business segment, where it has a larger market presence compared to Ansys HFSS.
- **Users highlight** that Ansys HFSS is particularly strong in **micro-level design implementation** , making it a preferred choice for users focused on detailed electromagnetic analysis, while Altium Develop is favored for its comprehensive library and modules that facilitate faster project completion without confusion.



| | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 1,038 | 41 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (59.0% of reviews) | Small-Business (48.6% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Altium Develop

Pros:
- Ease of Use (272 reviews)
- Features (218 reviews)

Cons:
- Learning Curve (93 reviews)
- Expensive (91 reviews)

### Ansys HFSS

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (853 reviews) | 9.1 (33 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.1 (871 reviews) | 8.5 (33 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (409 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.3 (138 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (762 reviews) | 8.6 (29 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (132 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (829 reviews) | 8.4 (29 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Altium Develop

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Altium Develop Pricing

Price: Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year

Description: Altium Develop offers subscription-based pricing starting at $1,990 per year per workspace, which includes one ECAD Design Author seat and a shared collaboration workspace for projects, libraries, and design data. Additional ECAD Design Author seats can be added for $995 per user per year, with support for up to four additional authors per workspace. The platform also includes unlimited free collaborator access for review, commenting, task management, and BOM visibility at no extra cost. This pricing model is designed to help teams scale design capacity through a per-seat subscription while enabling broad cross-functional collaboration without increasing overall costs.

Key Features:
- Unified Workspace & Collaboration: Cloud-based platform (Altium 365) for PCB design, schematics, MCAD models, and BOMs with real-time collaboration across teams
- Component & Library Management: Centralized component libraries with traceability, lifecycle management, and part request workflows
- Advanced PCB Design: Support for high-speed PCB design, HDI, rigid-flex, and 3D-MID using Altium Designer

[Learn more about Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Ansys HFSS

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.4/10 | 85 |
| **Ansys HFSS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | 8.5 (77 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Modeling** | 8.3 (74 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Visualize ** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering** | 8.3 (72 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | 8.1 (74 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Push/Pull** | 8.1 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Views** | 8.9 (70 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Grips ** | 8.0 (65 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | 8.7 (68 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Documentation ** | 8.5 (70 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Data Extract** | 8.2 (65 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Product Data Management (PDM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.5/10 | 50 |
| **Ansys HFSS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Metadata

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Repository** | 8.5 (42 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Taxonomy** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Types** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Data Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | 8.5 (48 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Alignment** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Workflows** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Lifecycle** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.7/10 | 757 |
| **Ansys HFSS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | 9.1 (705 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Schematic editor** | 9.2 (692 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | 7.6 (639 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Component placement** | 8.9 (672 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Library

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | 8.3 (696 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | 9.1 (668 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Layers** | 9.2 (675 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customization

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom commands** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Custom interface** | 7.8 (593 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Simulation & CAE

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |
| **Ansys HFSS** | 8.3/10 | 26 |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | Not enough data | 7.7 (23 reviews) | 
| **Drawing Tools** | Not enough data | 7.9 (23 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | Not enough data | 8.0 (22 reviews) | 
| **Rendering tools** | Not enough data | 7.9 (17 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Fluid analysis** | Not enough data | 8.5 (8 reviews) | 
| **Finite element analysis** | Not enough data | 9.1 (17 reviews) | 
| **Multibody dynamics** | Not enough data | 8.8 (8 reviews) | 

#### Work

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Discrete event modeling** | Not enough data | 8.7 (10 reviews) | 
| **Continuous event modeling** | Not enough data | 8.8 (11 reviews) | 
| **Mechanical event simulation** | Not enough data | 8.5 (8 reviews) | 
| **Manufacturing process simulation** | Not enough data | 8.5 (8 reviews) | 
| **Integrate** | Not enough data | 7.7 (10 reviews) | 

#### Environment

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | Not enough data | 8.1 (12 reviews) | 
| **Task** | Not enough data | 8.5 (16 reviews) | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | Not enough data | 8.3 (12 reviews) | 
| **Command Clarity** | Not enough data | 8.4 (17 reviews) | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.2/10 | 27 |
| **Ansys HFSS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 8.5 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering Tools** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 8.9 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.7 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | 8.0 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | 8.7 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Import Files** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Interoperability** | 8.2 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | 8.6 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | 9.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Scripts** | 7.5 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Menus** | 7.6 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Interface** | 7.8 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 8.5 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | 8.3 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 8.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | 8.6 (19 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Requirements Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 7.5/10 | 36 |
| **Ansys HFSS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Requirements Authoring and Structure - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Structured Requirements Authoring** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Hierarchical Requirements Organization** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Compliance and Governance - Requirement Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Regulated Industry Standards Support** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Requirements Listing** | 8.9 (32 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Centralized Information** | 8.5 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability** | 8.2 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration and Review - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Review and Approval Workflows** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Access Control** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Communication

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Stakeholder Communication** | 6.7 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internal Communication Enablement** | 7.3 (30 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Role-Based Access Co - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Baselining** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Procedural

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Automated Creation & Testing** | 5.9 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Bidirectional Traceability** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Impact Analysis** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability Matrix Generation** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### AI Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Suspect Link Detection** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **ALM and Project Management Tool Integration** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Change Management and Version Control - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Complete Audit Trail** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design)

**Unique to Altium Develop (4):** [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), [Product Data Management (PDM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-data-management-pdm), [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [Requirements Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/requirements-management)

**Unique to Ansys HFSS (1):** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Altium Develop | Ansys HFSS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 59.0% | 48.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 28.9% | 27.0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 12.1% | 24.3% | 

### By Industry

#### Altium Develop

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 21.8%
- **Automotive:** 10.8%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 10.0%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.6%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 6.2%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.0%
- **Research:** 3.3%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.1%
- **Higher Education:** 3.1%
- **Design:** 2.5%
- **Other:** 28.8%

#### Ansys HFSS

- **Wireless:** 18.9%
- **Research:** 18.9%
- **Higher Education:** 18.9%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 18.9%
- **Telecommunications:** 5.4%
- **Defense & Space:** 5.4%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.7%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 2.7%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 2.7%
- **Education Management:** 2.7%
- **Other:** 2.7%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Altium Develop

- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (520 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1936 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (707 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (613 reviews)
- [Designcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (628 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1327 reviews)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (351 reviews)
- [Teamcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/teamcenter/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1309 reviews)

### Alternatives to Ansys HFSS

- [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews)
- [COMSOL Multiphysics®](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (36 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (520 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (707 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (613 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (283 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (255 reviews)
- [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (69 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Altium Develop

- Title: [Who uses Altium?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-uses-altium) — 3 comments *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Designer is used mainly by those who create and work with printed circuit boards or PCBs. All electrical products, computers, toasters, remotes, and..."
- Title: [Is Altium Designer free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-altium-designer-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "No, Altium Designer is not free but there is a free viewer that can be downloaded. "
- Title: [What is Altium Designer used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-designer-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Desinger is a complete PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software package, which includes Schematic Capture, PCB Layout, Libraries, Manufacturing..."
- Title: [Is there a way to modelize in 3D the Pcb designs?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36429-is-there-a-way-to-modelize-in-3d-the-pcb-designs) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No or Yes, you can only place 3D bodies for components in PCB and get 3D view of your design. I think by placing components are your will. yes you can..."
- Title: [What is Altium 365 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-365-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Create circuit design & PCB Design"

### Ansys HFSS

- Title: [What is Hfss used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-hfss-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "HFSS is used for Full-wave EM simulation "

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/altium-develop-vs-ansys-hfss)