Compare Altium Develop and Microwave Office 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (58.4% of reviews)
Small-Business (50.0% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $995.00 Per Year
No pricing available
Altium Develop
Star Rating
(984)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (58.4% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $995.00 Per Year
Free Trial is available
Learn more about Altium DevelopMicrowave Office
Star Rating
(17)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (50.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Not enough data
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Microwave OfficeSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Altium Develop excels in providing a unified design environment, allowing users to seamlessly transition from schematic capture to PCB layout. This integration, along with real-time collaboration and version control, significantly enhances team efficiency during the design process.
- Users say that Microwave Office is particularly strong in simulation capabilities, with features like closed form circuit models and EM-based models that help save simulation time. Reviewers appreciate the speed and accuracy of results, which can be crucial for time-sensitive projects.
- According to verified reviews, Altium Develop has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its ability to meet user needs effectively. Users highlight the extensive built-in libraries and modules that facilitate faster project completion without confusion, making it a preferred choice for many small businesses.
- Reviewers mention that while both products have similar star ratings, Altium Develop's recent user feedback indicates a more robust and supportive community, with 31 recent reviews compared to Microwave Office's lack of recent activity. This suggests a more engaged user base for Altium Develop.
- Users highlight that Microwave Office offers flexibility with its modular approach, allowing users to add or remove features based on their specific needs. This adaptability can be beneficial for teams that require tailored solutions for their projects.
- G2 reviewers note that while Altium Develop has a higher ease of use rating, Microwave Office is still considered user-friendly. However, the feedback indicates that Altium's intuitive onboarding and collaboration tools, such as the Altium 365 web portal, provide a more streamlined experience for new users.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Altium Develop
Altium Develop Pricing
Starting at $995.00
Per Year
The annual Workspace subscription activates the shared Altium Develop workspace and provides access for both Authors and Collaborators, making it the essential starting point for using the platform. The subscription is priced at $995 per year. Altium Designer Authors are supported with up to five concurrent Author seats, which correspond to the number of paid licenses; each seat covers one Author at a time and can be shared across the team. Author seats are priced at $995 per Author per year. Collaborators, who cannot edit within Altium Designer but can fully participate in requirements, reviews, BOMs, comments, and task management, are included at no additional cost.
- 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).
Microwave Office
No pricing availableFree Trial
Altium Develop
Free Trial is available
Microwave Office
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.9
810
8.0
11
Ease of Use
8.1
828
9.1
11
Ease of Setup
8.3
365
Not enough data
Ease of Admin
8.3
137
Not enough data
Quality of Support
8.3
728
8.5
11
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
131
Not enough data
Product Direction (% positive)
8.9
793
7.7
10
Features by Category
Design
8.6
74
Not enough data
8.3
72
Not enough data
8.6
72
Not enough data
8.2
71
Not enough data
Edit
8.0
71
Not enough data
8.1
65
Not enough data
8.8
69
Not enough data
8.0
63
Not enough data
Collaboration
8.7
67
Not enough data
8.5
68
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
678
Not enough data
9.2
674
Not enough data
Tools
7.6
630
Not enough data
8.9
662
Not enough data
Library
8.3
675
Not enough data
Platform
9.1
663
Not enough data
9.2
665
Not enough data
Customization
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.8
580
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)
8.3
17
Not enough data
8.2
17
Not enough data
8.0
17
Not enough data
8.5
17
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 Microwave Office are categorized as PCB Design
Unique Categories
Altium Develop is categorized as General-Purpose CAD, Product Data Management (PDM), and Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Microwave Office is categorized as Other CAD
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Altium Develop
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Microwave Office
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
10.7%
Consumer Electronics
10.2%
Aviation & Aerospace
6.5%
Medical Devices
6.3%
Other
44.1%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
31.3%
Defense & Space
25.0%
Telecommunications
12.5%
Wireless
6.3%
Research
6.3%
Other
18.8%
Alternatives
Discussions
Is there a way to modelize in 3D the Pcb designs?
3 Comments
SQ
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...Read more
Who uses Altium?
3 Comments
JL
Electrical engineers, specifically embedded hardware design engineers. Read more
Microwave Office has no discussions with answers
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