# Altium Develop vs PADS Professional Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Altium Develop excels in providing a collaborative environment for electronics design teams, which significantly enhances project management, version control, and design reviews. Users appreciate its cloud-based collaboration features that integrate seamlessly with the Altium ecosystem, making workflows smoother and more efficient.
- **Users say** that PADS Professional offers advanced routing automation and rigid-flex design capabilities, which are particularly beneficial for hardware development. The inclusion of AI features has been highlighted as a time-saver, allowing users to streamline their design processes effectively.
- **Reviewers mention** that Altium Develop's task management capabilities are a standout feature, enabling structured task assignments within an agile framework. This functionality helps align development efforts between firmware and hardware teams, creating a more predictable workflow that many users find invaluable.
- **According to verified reviews** , PADS Professional is praised for its built-in simulation and constraint-driven design capabilities, which help catch issues early in the design process. This focus on improving design accuracy and reducing errors resonates well with users who prioritize reliability in their workflows.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that Altium Develop has a more intuitive user interface, making it easier for users to navigate through parts creation, schematics, and PCB layout. This fluidity in the system is often contrasted with PADS Professional, where some users find the interface less user-friendly.
- **Users express** mixed feelings about the quality of support for both products. While PADS Professional has a slightly higher support rating, Altium Develop's users appreciate its overall product direction and the responsiveness of its support team, indicating a strong commitment to user satisfaction and continuous improvement.



---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Altium Develop vs PADS Professional?

Altium Develop stands out for its higher G2 rating, stronger small-business adoption, and more frequent reviewer-cited strengths in collaboration and ease of use, while PADS Professional is noted for its simulation tools and cost-effectiveness.

| [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) | [PADS Professional](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.5/5 (1,050 reviews) | 4.1/5 (64 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 8.3 | 7.7 |
| 8.2 | 8.7 |
| Collaboration (136 all-time mentions) | Simulation Tools (5 all-time mentions) |



### How do the pricing models of Altium Develop and PADS Professional compare?

Altium Develop is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to PADS Professional.

- **Altium Develop:** In recent reviews, many small-business users highlight the lower subscription fees and improved cost-effectiveness compared to previous versions.
- **PADS Professional:** Reviewers describe it as cost-effective for beginners and note its lower price relative to higher-end tools, but some mention it can be expensive for startups and that additional features may require extra licenses.
- **Switching reasons:** Several reviewers cite Altium Develop's more affordable subscription as a key reason for switching from other PCB design tools.



### What are the best alternatives to Altium Develop and PADS Professional?

The top three alternatives to Altium Develop and PADS Professional are Autodesk Fusion, AutoCAD, and KiCad EDA.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1,050) | Small-Business | Lower subscription fees, improved cost-effectiveness | Collaboration (136 all-time mentions) |
| [PADS Professional](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/reviews) | 4.1/5 (64) | Small-Business | Cost-effective for beginners, but extra features may require additional licenses | Simulation Tools (5 all-time mentions) |
| [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) | 4.5/5 (520) | Small-Business | — | — |
| [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) | 4.4/5 (1,940) | Small-Business | — | — |
| [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) | 4.5/5 (69) | Small-Business | — | — |



### Which PCB Design features should I prioritize when comparing Altium Develop and PADS Professional?

Buyers should prioritize collaboration, version control, BOM management, simulation tools, and 3D modeling tools when comparing Altium Develop and PADS Professional.

- **Collaboration:** Altium Develop is cited for collaboration in 136 all-time reviews, while PADS Professional has 2 recent mentions.
- **Version Control:** Altium Develop is frequently praised for version control and cloud-based project management; PADS Professional has limited recent mentions.
- **BOM Management:** Altium Develop has 35 all-time mentions for BOM management; PADS Professional is noted for cost estimation and BOM tools in recent reviews.
- **Simulation Tools:** PADS Professional is cited for simulation tools in 5 all-time reviews; Altium Develop is less frequently mentioned for this area.
- **3D Modeling Tools:** Altium Develop offers 3D modeling tools for PCB design, a feature not listed for PADS Professional.



### What are the pros and cons of Altium Develop vs PADS Professional?

Altium Develop's headline strength is collaboration and ease of use, while PADS Professional is most noted for its simulation tools and cost-effectiveness.

- **Altium Develop strengths:** Collaboration (136 all-time mentions), ease of use (272 all-time mentions), PCB design (145 all-time mentions), BOM management (35 all-time mentions), integrations (80 all-time mentions), and cloud services (61 all-time mentions).
- **Altium Develop trade-offs:** Reviewers note slow performance (51 all-time mentions), performance issues (48 all-time mentions), and cloud-related issues (21 all-time mentions).
- **PADS Professional strengths:** Simulation tools (5 all-time mentions), features (6 all-time mentions), cost-effectiveness for beginners, and advanced routing automation.
- **PADS Professional trade-offs:** Reviewers cite a complex interface, a steep learning curve, and fragmented workflows as trade-offs.



### Is Altium Develop or PADS Professional better for small businesses?

Altium Develop is the better fit for small businesses, with a larger small-business segment and more favorable small-business reviewer sentiment.

- **Altium Develop:** Small-Business is the largest segment, and recent reviews highlight its lower subscription fees and improved affordability for small companies.
- **PADS Professional:** Small-Business is also the largest segment, but reviewers note that while it is cost-effective for beginners, additional features may require extra licenses, and some startups find it expensive.



### Which PCB Design platform has better integrations?

Altium Develop is favored for integrations, with more reviewer-cited mentions and integration-related strengths.

- **Altium Develop:** Integrations are cited in 80 all-time reviews, with recent reviewers highlighting integrations with CAD tools and cloud services.
- **PADS Professional:** Reviewers mention ECAD integration and cloud storage in recent reviews, but with fewer all-time mentions and less emphasis on integrations overall.



### How do Altium Develop and PADS Professional compare on customer support?

PADS Professional scores higher on Quality of Support by 0.5 points, a material difference over Altium Develop.

- **Altium Develop:** Reviewers describe support as generally helpful, with 82 all-time mentions, but some note slow or unresponsive support experiences.
- **PADS Professional:** Reviewers consistently praise customer support, with several citing fast and helpful responses and a Quality of Support score of 8.7.



### Which is easier to implement, Altium Develop or PADS Professional?

Altium Develop scores higher on Ease of Setup by 0.6 points, a material difference over PADS Professional.

- **Altium Develop:** Reviewers frequently describe setup as straightforward, with many citing quick onboarding and easy migration from other tools.
- **PADS Professional:** Reviewers note that setup can be overwhelming for beginners due to the extensive feature set, and some mention a steep learning curve during initial implementation.



### Which product has better Version Control?

Altium Develop is favored for Version Control, with more frequent reviewer-cited strengths and feature mentions.

- **Altium Develop:** Version control is frequently praised in recent reviews, with reviewers highlighting cloud-based project management and revision control features; 61 all-time mentions for cloud services and 136 for collaboration support this strength.
- **PADS Professional:** Reviewers mention version control and data management in recent reviews, but with fewer all-time mentions and less emphasis on this feature.



| | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.1 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 1,071 | 66 | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Altium Develop

Pros:
- Ease of Use (269 reviews)
- Features (217 reviews)

Cons:
- Learning Curve (93 reviews)
- Expensive (88 reviews)

### PADS Professional

Pros:
- Features (6 reviews)
- Simulation Tools (5 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Interface (2 reviews)
- Difficult Learning Process (2 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (880 reviews) | 8.3 (59 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.1 (898 reviews) | 7.9 (63 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (438 reviews) | 7.7 (29 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.3 (147 reviews) | 8.2 (15 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (783 reviews) | 8.7 (59 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (141 reviews) | 9.1 (15 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (853 reviews) | 8.6 (58 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

### PADS Professional

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: PADS Professional Term-Based

Price: Starting at $249.00 Per Month

Key Features:
- Additional features and license options may affect price.

[Browse all 2 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.4/10 | 87 |
| **PADS Professional** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | 8.5 (77 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Modeling** | 8.3 (75 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Visualize ** | 8.6 (78 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering** | 8.3 (73 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | 8.1 (74 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Push/Pull** | 8.1 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Views** | 8.9 (71 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Grips ** | 8.0 (65 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | 8.7 (68 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Documentation ** | 8.5 (71 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Data Extract** | 8.2 (65 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Image Editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Animation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reference Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configuration Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Annotations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **For 3D Printing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Modeling & Simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **For Manufacturers** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Format Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sketching and Annotation Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Projects** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **For Architects** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bill of Materials Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Design Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Rules-Based Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Capture and Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Projections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real Time Comparisons** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Component Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Branding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Updates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configurable Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Product Data Management (PDM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.6/10 | 54 |
| **PADS Professional** | N/A | N/A |

#### Metadata

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Repository** | 8.6 (46 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Taxonomy** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Types** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Data Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | 8.6 (51 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 | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Document Automation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Revision History** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supplier Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Metrics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Branding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bills of Material** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configuration Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Template Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Parts Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Catalog Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Sharing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Change Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-CAD editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **For Manufacturers** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Design Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Product Lifecycle Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Classification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Channel Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Metadata Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cost Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Requirements Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting/Notes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.7/10 | 785 |
| **PADS Professional** | 8.2/10 | 59 |

#### Design

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | 9.1 (723 reviews) | 8.3 (56 reviews) | 
| **Schematic editor** | 9.2 (702 reviews) | 8.2 (55 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | 7.6 (642 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Component placement** | 8.9 (680 reviews) | 8.5 (55 reviews) | 

#### Library

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | 8.3 (714 reviews) | 8.1 (56 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | 9.1 (673 reviews) | 8.3 (56 reviews) | 
| **Layers** | 9.2 (682 reviews) | 8.6 (56 reviews) | 

#### Customization

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom interface** | 7.8 (598 reviews) | 7.5 (55 reviews) | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Altium Develop** | 8.3/10 | 31 |
| **PADS Professional** | N/A | N/A |

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 8.6 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering Tools** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 9.0 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.7 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | 8.1 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | 8.7 (24 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Import Files** | 8.4 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Interoperability** | 8.3 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | 8.7 (21 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | 9.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **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 | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **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** | 7.8/10 | 38 |
| **PADS Professional** | N/A | N/A |

#### Requirements Authoring and Structure - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Structured Requirements Authoring** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Hierarchical Requirements Organization** | 7.9 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Compliance and Governance - Requirement Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Regulated Industry Standards Support** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Requirements Listing** | 9.0 (35 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Centralized Information** | 8.6 (33 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability** | 8.3 (33 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration and Review - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Review and Approval Workflows** | 7.9 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Access Control** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Communication

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Stakeholder Communication** | 6.7 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internal Communication Enablement** | 7.4 (31 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Baselining** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Procedural

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Automated Creation & Testing** | 5.9 (26 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Bidirectional Traceability** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Impact Analysis** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Traceability Matrix Generation** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### AI Traceability - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Suspect Link Detection** | 7.9 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration - Requirements Management

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **ALM and Project Management Tool Integration** | 7.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Complete Audit Trail** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Requirements Review** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Stakeholder Defined Attributes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Lifecycle Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Communication Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Application Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Status Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting/Notes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Fields** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Progress Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Projections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Updates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bug Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Project Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Prioritization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Project Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **To-Do List** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Assessment Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Change Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configurable Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Agile Methodologies** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Budgeting/Forecasting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Template Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **@mentions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Progress Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Project Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Projects** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | 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)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Altium Develop | PADS Professional | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 59.4% | 55.4% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 28.7% | 35.4% | 
| **Enterprise** | 11.9% | 9.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Altium Develop

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 21.5%
- **Automotive:** 10.7%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 10.1%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.6%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 6.1%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.3%
- **Research:** 3.2%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.1%
- **Higher Education:** 3.0%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 2.6%
- **Other:** 28.8%

#### PADS Professional

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 17.5%
- **Automotive:** 7.9%
- **Design:** 7.9%
- **Computer Software:** 7.9%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 6.3%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.3%
- **Defense & Space:** 6.3%
- **Semiconductors:** 4.8%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.8%
- **Airlines/Aviation:** 3.2%
- **Other:** 27.0%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Altium Develop

- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (2008 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (724 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (699 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (690 reviews)
- [Designcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (678 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 (1326 reviews)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (354 reviews)
- [Teamcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/teamcenter/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1481 reviews)

### Alternatives to PADS Professional

- [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (69 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Allegro X PCB Designer](https://www.g2.com/products/allegro-x-pcb-designer/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (30 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (699 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (724 reviews)
- [Autodesk EAGLE](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (77 reviews)
- [Altium CircuitMaker](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-circuitmaker/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (110 reviews)
- [OrCAD Capture](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-capture/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (34 reviews)
- [OrCAD PCB Designer](https://www.g2.com/products/orcad-pcb-designer/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (15 reviews)
- [DipTrace](https://www.g2.com/products/diptrace/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (46 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"

### PADS Professional

- Title: [What is PADS PROFESSIONAL used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-pads-professional-used-for) — 2 comments *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "PADS Professional is the ideal choice for individual engineers working on the design of complex hardware-based electronic products. It is a fully integrated..."
- Title: [Who makes PADS PCB?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-makes-pads-pcb) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Mentor Graphics. Currently acquired by SIEMENS"
- Title: [Which software is best for PCB design?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/pads-professional-which-software-is-best-for-pcb-design) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "PADS Proessional"

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