Compare Altium Develop and Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (58.4% of reviews)
Small-Business (52.4% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year
No pricing available
Altium Develop
Star Rating
(993)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (58.4% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year
Free Trial is available
Learn more about Altium DevelopCreo Elements/Direct Modeling
Star Rating
(22)4.0 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (52.4% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Not enough data
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Creo Elements/Direct ModelingSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Altium Develop excels in providing a unified design environment, integrating schematic capture with PCB layout and design verification all in one place. This feature significantly enhances team collaboration and efficiency, as noted by users who appreciate the real-time collaboration and version control capabilities.
- Users say that Creo Elements/Direct Modeling offers a strong advantage in direct modeling features, allowing designers to create products in a shorter time frame. Reviewers highlight its user-friendly interface and the ability to work on models from different tools, making it a solid choice for those focused on precision and efficiency in 2D and 3D design.
- According to verified reviews, Altium Develop's extensive library and modules contribute to faster project completion without confusion. Users have praised how the platform supports them from planning to final documentation, making it a comprehensive tool for PCB design.
- Reviewers mention that while Creo Elements/Direct Modeling has a solid star rating, it faces challenges in meeting specific workflow needs, with some users noting configuration difficulties. However, its capabilities in analyzing thermal, stress, and fatigue factors in designs are seen as significant strengths.
- Users highlight that Altium Develop's 365 web portal enhances collaboration by ensuring that design versions are always up to date, eliminating the hassle of managing multiple file versions. This feature is particularly beneficial for teams working remotely or across different locations.
- G2 reviewers indicate that while both products have their strengths, Altium Develop's higher overall satisfaction ratings and recent user feedback suggest it may be better suited for teams looking for a robust PCB design solution, whereas Creo Elements/Direct Modeling is favored for its direct modeling capabilities in mechanical design.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Altium Develop
Altium Develop Pricing
Starting at $1,990.00
Per Year
Altium Develop is offered as an annual subscription starting at $1,990 per year, which includes one Altium Designer ECAD Design Author and a shared workspace for projects, libraries, and collaboration. The subscription provides unlimited workspace users at no additional cost, enabling broad participation in reviews, commenting, task management, BOM access, and change workflows.
Teams can add up to four additional Altium Designer ECAD Design Authors for $995 per Author per year, allowing organizations to scale active design capacity while keeping contributors and collaborators included at no extra charge.
- Unified Workspace & Collaboration: A secure, cloud-based platform (Altium 365) that hosts all design data, including schematics, PCB layouts, MCAD models, and BOMs, allowing for real-time co-creation between electrical, mechanical, and software teams.
- Component & Library Management: Transformation of file-based libraries into managed, traceable components, supporting, audit checks, and, part request workflows.
- Advanced PCB Design Tools: Access to Altium Designer for high-density interconnect (HDI) design, rigid-flex design, and 3D-MID (Three-Dimensional Molded Interconnect Devices).
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
No pricing availableFree Trial
Altium Develop
Free Trial is available
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.9
813
8.3
21
Ease of Use
8.1
831
7.9
21
Ease of Setup
8.3
368
Not enough data
Ease of Admin
8.3
137
Not enough data
Quality of Support
8.3
731
7.2
19
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
131
Not enough data
Product Direction (% positive)
8.9
795
8.9
21
Features by Category
Design
8.5
75
Not enough data
8.3
71
Not enough data
8.5
72
Not enough data
8.2
71
Not enough data
Edit
8.0
70
Not enough data
8.1
65
Not enough data
8.8
68
Not enough data
7.9
62
Not enough data
Collaboration
8.7
67
Not enough data
8.5
67
Not enough data
8.2
64
Not enough data
Metadata
8.3
38
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Data Management
8.5
42
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Design
9.1
681
Not enough data
9.2
675
Not enough data
Tools
7.6
630
Not enough data
8.9
661
Not enough data
Library
8.3
674
Not enough data
Platform
9.1
662
Not enough data
9.2
664
Not enough data
Customization
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.8
580
Not enough data
Design
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Work
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Environment
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.2
19
Not enough data
8.0
18
Not enough data
8.6
16
Not enough data
8.3
17
Not enough data
7.7
17
Not enough data
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.2
16
Not enough data
8.1
16
Not enough data
8.0
17
Not enough data
8.4
16
Not enough data
9.2
16
Not enough data
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.2
15
Not enough data
7.4
16
Not enough data
7.6
16
Not enough data
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.2
16
Not enough data
8.2
15
Not enough data
8.2
16
Not enough data
8.8
16
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Altium Develop and Creo Elements/Direct Modeling are categorized as General-Purpose CAD and Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Unique Categories
Altium Develop is categorized as PCB Design and Product Data Management (PDM)
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling is categorized as Simulation & CAE
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Altium Develop
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
22.2%
Automotive
10.8%
Consumer Electronics
10.3%
Aviation & Aerospace
6.4%
Medical Devices
6.3%
Other
44.0%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
42.9%
Design
19.0%
Higher Education
9.5%
Shipbuilding
4.8%
Oil & Energy
4.8%
Other
19.0%
Alternatives
Discussions
Who uses Altium?
3 Comments
Official Response from Altium Develop
Altium Designer is used mainly by those who create and work with printed circuit boards or PCBs. All electrical products, computers, toasters, remotes, and...Read more
Is Altium Designer free?
3 Comments
RO
No, Altium Designer is not free but there is a free viewer that can be downloaded. Read more
What is Altium Designer used for?
3 Comments
DR
Altium Desinger is a complete PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software package, which includes Schematic Capture, PCB Layout, Libraries, Manufacturing...Read more
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling has no discussions with answers
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