Altium Designer [extra Quality] — Free Software
Perfect for evaluating the software before a big purchase or for a one-month freelance project. It is not a long-term solution.
A complimentary license to the full professional version of Altium Designer.
Gives you full access to advanced features like multi-board assembly, rigid-flex design, and seamless Altium 365 cloud collaboration. 3. Altium 365 Viewer
What are you building (e.g., simple hobby board, high-speed digital, multi-layer RF)? altium designer free software
The free personal tier limits you to 2 schematic sheets, 2 signal layers, and an board area. Choosing the Right Tool for Your Workflow Altium Designer (Trial/Student) CircuitMaker Cost Free (Time-limited) License Type Commercial/Educational Open Source Freeware (Public Cloud) Best For Professional & Academic Use Independent & Commercial Labs Hobbyists & Open-Source Creators Data Privacy Private & Secure Local/Private Public Workspace
CircuitMaker is Altium’s official free tool, built on the same engine as Altium Designer. But the trade-offs are significant.
The trial version is the — no watermarks, no feature limitations, no fake demos. This makes it an excellent option for evaluating whether Altium Designer meets your professional needs before committing to a paid subscription. Perfect for evaluating the software before a big
If you don't need to design but just need to view or share files, the Altium 365 Viewer is a free, browser-based tool. [1, 3] Collaboration:
| Product | Cost | What It Is | Limitations | |--------|------|------------|--------------| | | Free | Web-based PCB viewer | View only. No editing, no schematic capture, no routing. | | Altium Designer Trial | Free for 15–30 days | Full version of Altium Designer | Time-limited. No commercial use. Watermarked outputs? (Check terms). | | CircuitMaker | Free | Community-based PCB design tool | Limited layer count (2 signal layers, 2 plane layers). No private projects (all are public). No professional output files (Gerbers via Community only). | | Altium Student License | Free for students | Full Altium Designer | Requires academic email. For learning only. No commercial use. |
This comprehensive guide explores how to get Altium Designer for free legally, reviews Altium's complimentary sister platforms, and highlights the best open-source alternatives for your engineering workflow. 1. How to Get Altium Designer for Free (Legally) Gives you full access to advanced features like
: Eligible college and university students with a valid institutional email (e.g., .edu ) can receive a fully functional, free license . Unlike typical trials, this is not a limited version; it includes access to Altium 365 cloud workspaces and the full component library.
For situations where you need to review, print, or cross-probe Altium Designer projects without editing capabilities, Altium provides a . This is a legitimate, perpetual viewer license available to any Altium User account at no charge.
Schematic and PCB layout are fully integrated, making it easy to manage changes.
Professionals evaluating the software before purchasing, or designers who need to complete a short, one-off project. Altium Student Licenses
