# Altium Develop vs AutoCAD LT Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that AutoCAD LT excels in creating precise 2D drawings, with users appreciating its **clean and focused interface**. Many find the installation and basic configuration straightforward, making it easy to get started with drafting plans.
- **Users say** that Altium Develop stands out for its **unified design environment** , which integrates schematic capture and PCB layout seamlessly. This feature allows for efficient design verification, making it a favorite among teams that require real-time collaboration and version control.
- **Reviewers mention** that AutoCAD LT's ease of use is a significant advantage, particularly for those transitioning from older versions. The intuitive menu and **dimension feature** enable users to create designs quickly, which is especially beneficial for small businesses looking for efficiency.
- **According to verified reviews** , Altium Develop's collaboration tools, such as the **Altium 365 web portal** , are highly praised. Users find it simplifies sharing and ensures that all team members are working with the most up-to-date designs, reducing confusion and delays.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that while AutoCAD LT is strong in 2D drawing capabilities, it may not be as robust in 3D modeling compared to Altium Develop, which offers better support for complex designs and modeling tasks.
- **Users report** that both products have their strengths in support quality, but Altium Develop edges out slightly with a higher rating. Reviewers appreciate the responsive support for troubleshooting, which is crucial for maintaining productivity in fast-paced environments.



| | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 1,038 | 286 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (59.0% of reviews) | Small-Business (51.8% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year | $760 every 2 years | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Altium Develop

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

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

### AutoCAD LT

Pros:
- Ease of Use (7 reviews)
- Easy Learning (4 reviews)

Cons:
- Lack of Features (5 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (4 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (853 reviews) | 8.6 (245 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.1 (871 reviews) | 8.5 (248 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (409 reviews) | 8.9 (58 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.3 (138 reviews) | 8.6 (37 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (762 reviews) | 8.2 (211 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (132 reviews) | 8.7 (38 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (829 reviews) | 7.3 (241 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

### AutoCAD LT

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: 2 Year Subscription

Price: $760 every 2 years

Description: Ideal for businesses that want consistent long-term pricing.

Key Features:
- Access to the latest software releases
- Enhanced 1-on-1 technical support by phone or chat
- Includes AutoCAD mobile app

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.4/10 | 85 |
| **AutoCAD LT** | 7.9/10 | 152 |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | 8.5 (77 reviews) | 9.5 (144 reviews) | 
| **Modeling** | 8.3 (74 reviews) | 6.8 (104 reviews) | 
| **Visualize ** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | 7.0 (113 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | 8.3 (72 reviews) | 5.9 (91 reviews) | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | 8.1 (74 reviews) | 8.9 (138 reviews) | 
| **Push/Pull** | 8.1 (67 reviews) | 7.4 (98 reviews) | 
| **Views** | 8.9 (70 reviews) | 7.8 (118 reviews) | 
| **Grips ** | 8.0 (65 reviews) | 8.3 (119 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | 8.7 (68 reviews) | 8.7 (128 reviews) | 
| **Documentation ** | 8.5 (70 reviews) | 8.3 (116 reviews) | 
| **Data Extract** | 8.2 (65 reviews) | 8.1 (112 reviews) | 

### Product Data Management (PDM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.5/10 | 50 |
| **AutoCAD LT** | N/A | N/A |

#### Metadata

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 |
| **AutoCAD LT** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

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

#### Tools

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

#### Library

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

#### Platform

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

#### Customization

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

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.2/10 | 27 |
| **AutoCAD LT** | N/A | N/A |

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 |
| **AutoCAD LT** | N/A | N/A |

#### Requirements Authoring and Structure - Requirements Management

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

#### Administration

| Feature | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **Baselining** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Procedural

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

#### Traceability - Requirements Management

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

#### Integration - Requirements Management

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

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

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

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad)

**Unique to Altium Develop (4):** [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design), [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)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Altium Develop | AutoCAD LT | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 59.0% | 51.8% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 28.9% | 35.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 12.1% | 12.6% | 

### 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%

#### AutoCAD LT

- **Architecture & Planning:** 19.6%
- **Construction:** 12.0%
- **Civil Engineering:** 10.9%
- **Design:** 10.1%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 7.6%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 4.3%
- **Industrial Automation:** 3.3%
- **Renewables & Environment:** 2.9%
- **Oil & Energy:** 1.8%
- **Automotive:** 1.4%
- **Other:** 26.1%

---
## 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 (711 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 AutoCAD LT

- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1327 reviews)
- [DraftSight](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (209 reviews)
- [MicroStation](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (416 reviews)
- [Octave BricsCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-bricscad/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (135 reviews)
- [ActCAD BIM](https://www.g2.com/products/actcad-actcad-bim/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (50 reviews)
- [TurboCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/turbocad/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [LibreCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/librecad/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (25 reviews)
- [QCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/qcad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (13 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (613 reviews)
- [nanoCAD Free](https://www.g2.com/products/nanocad-free/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (23 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"

### AutoCAD LT

- Title: [Is AutoCAD LT free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-autocad-lt-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Unless you have an student version, it is not free."
- Title: [What is AutoCAD LT used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-autocad-lt-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "To produce all drawings, documents needed for Electrical Engineering Design for Machines and Electrical panels. "
- Title: [What is LT version of AutoCAD?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-lt-version-of-autocad) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "I use AUTOCAD 2018 LT, 2022 LT also, C3D 2018 and 2022."
- Title: [Would it be possible to create and save symbols in AutoCAD?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/would-it-be-possible-to-create-and-save-symbols-in-autocad) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "yes"
- Title: [What is AutoCAD LT used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/autocad-lt-what-is-autocad-lt-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "2D Drafting and design"

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