Altium
Altium provides unified electronics design software and cloud-based collaboration platforms for PCB development, serving professional engineers, enterprise R&D teams, and students globally. It now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation following a 2024 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersLa Jolla, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Altium does
Altium is a global provider of electronics design software and cloud-based collaboration platforms, best known for its flagship Altium Designer PCB design tool, which unifies schematic capture, PCB layout and routing, SPICE simulation, and manufacturing file generation within a single environment with native 3D capabilities. The company extends this core with Altium 365, a cloud workspace enabling real-time collaboration, version control, and component lifecycle management, and with Octopart for component search and supply chain intelligence. The product portfolio is tiered across user segments: Altium Develop for independent designers and SMBs, Altium Agile Teams for structured multidisciplinary collaboration, and Altium Agile Enterprise for governed enterprise-scale development. MCAD CoDesigner plugins integrate bidirectionally with SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion, and Siemens NX, and a newer integration extends the platform into PTC's cloud-native Onshape environment.
The company serves professional electronics engineers, PCB designers, enterprise R&D organizations in aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer electronics, and technology, and students at universities including MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Revenue is generated primarily through subscription-based licensing for professional and enterprise tiers, supplemented by professional training services and certification programs; pricing is quote-based with a 30-day free trial and free annual student licenses serving as a long-term pipeline for commercial conversion. Altium was acquired by Renesas Electronics Corporation in 2024 for approximately $5.9 billion and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary, with the jointly developed Renesas 365 platform launched in March 2026 integrating Altium's design environment with Renesas' silicon and embedded software portfolio across more than 550 RA microcontroller variants.
Altium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Altium
- Legal name
- Altium Pty. Ltd.
- Website
- https://altium.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Altium provides unified electronics design software and cloud-based collaboration platforms for PCB development, serving professional engineers, enterprise R&D teams, and students globally. It now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation following a 2024 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Altium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff) (HDAHAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- EDA Cloud/SaaS, Design Data Management & Collaboration (HDAHAFAJ), System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD)
Keywords
Where Altium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Jolla
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Altium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Altium Designer is sold as a professional PCB design tool requiring paid licenses for independent professional designers. The software runs only on Windows and offers subscription-based licensing through Altium 365 platform. Students can obtain free one-year licenses.
- Enterprise Platform Subscriptions: Altium Agile Enterprise and Altium Agile Teams are targeted at enterprise customers requiring structured collaboration and governed platforms, with subscription-based pricing.
- Professional Training Services: Altium offers flexible on-demand and instructor-led training courses that help engineers build and advance their PCB design skills, providing an additional revenue stream alongside software licensing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Professional/Commercial License |
| Freemium | Annual | Student License |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Altium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Altium develops and sells electronic design automation (EDA) software, primarily Altium Designer, a unified PCB design tool combining schematic capture, PCB routing, SPICE simulation, and manufacturing file generation. Its Altium 365 cloud platform extends this with real-time collaboration, design data management, and lifecycle management, while Octopart provides component search and supply chain intelligence. The products are sold via subscription licenses to individual professional designers, design teams, and enterprise organizations.
Product overview
Altium offers a comprehensive electronics design platform consisting of Altium Designer as the core PCB design tool, combined with the Altium 365 cloud platform for collaboration and lifecycle management. The product portfolio includes Octopart for component search, Octopart Discover for AI-powered component discovery, Altium Develop for individual/small team use, Altium Agile Teams for structured team collaboration, and Altium Agile Enterprise for large-scale governed development. MCAD CoDesigner plugins enable integration with SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion, and Siemens NX. Legacy products include CircuitMaker, CircuitStudio, Altium Concord Pro, and Altium NEXUS. The company was acquired by Renesas Electronics in 2024 and collaborates on the Renesas 365 embedded systems design platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Altium Designer: Flagship PCB design software tool — unified electronics development environment for modern engineers
- Altium 365
- Octopart
- Octopart Discover
- Altium Develop
- Altium Agile Teams
- Altium Agile Enterprise
- CircuitMaker
- CircuitStudio
- Altium Concord Pro
- Altium NEXUS
Products and services
- Altium Designer Flagship unified PCB design software for professional electronics engineers, providing schematic capture, PCB layout and routing, SPICE simulation, native 3D PCB capabilities, and manufacturing file generation within a single environment.
- Altium 365 Cloud-based collaborative platform that connects ECAD and MCAD teams for real-time design sharing, revision control, lifecycle management, and integration with Altium Designer. Targeted at multidisciplinary electronics development teams.
- Altium Develop Workspace platform providing advanced PCB design with cloud-enabled coordination, designed for independent designers and small teams to keep work, reviews, feedback, sourcing data, and releases aligned.
- Altium Agile Teams Collaboration platform providing structured collaboration for multidisciplinary electronics development teams, with workflows and controls for team-based PCB design.
- Altium Agile Enterprise Enterprise-level electronics development platform providing a governed, extensible, intelligent environment for large organizations to manage digital threads, teams, systems, data, and workflows at scale.
- Octopart Component search and management platform providing engineers with access to electronic component inventory, pricing, and datasheets, integrated with the Altium design environment for supply chain visibility.
- Octopart Discover Next-generation component search platform that shifts the discovery process from part-number search to system design requirements, helping engineers identify architecturally compatible components earlier in the development cycle. Operates as an open ecosystem integrating solution intelligence from partners.
- CircuitMaker Community PCB design software built on Altium Designer technology, providing a streamlined interface for schematic and PCB design targeted at hobbyists and independent designers.
- CircuitStudio Professional PCB design tool built for modern engineers, providing a balance of usability and capability for challenging design requirements.
- Altium Concord Pro Enterprise PCB design data management solution providing server-based component and design data management for organizations (legacy product being superseded by Altium 365).
- Altium NEXUS Team-based PCB design solution with client-server architecture for collaborative electronics development (legacy product being phased out in favor of Altium 365).
Quantifiable outcome
- Altium's first-quarter 2026 annual recurring revenue grew 8% year-over-year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Altium
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Altium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Altium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PTCcorePTC announced integration between its cloud-native Onshape CAD platform and Altium, creating the Onshape Altium Connector. The connector brings PCB designs directly into Onshape, enabling real-time change tracking, built-in version control, and earlier identification of design problems such as boards that do not fit correctly within enclosures. Supports PTC's Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision.
- PTCcoreDirect integration between PTC's cloud-native Onshape CAD/PDM platform and Altium enables electrical and mechanical engineering teams to collaborate by bringing PCB designs directly into Onshape with real-time synchronization. Eliminates file-based data exchange, allowing teams to assess fit early, track changes automatically, and work entirely in the cloud without manual transfers or version mismatches.
- IPCminorAltium partnered with IPC to launch the first joint PCB design certifications, providing industry-recognized credentials for electronics designers using Altium tools.
- Renesas Electronics CorporationcoreRenesas acquired Altium in 2024 for $5.9 billion to combine Altium's cloud-based hardware design capabilities with Renesas' silicon and embedded software expertise. The acquisition enables continuity across the entire product lifecycle from ideation to deployment. Renesas 365 platform was launched as a unified cloud-based embedded systems design platform integrating Altium's capabilities with Renesas' microcontroller portfolio.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Altium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence is a leading EDA vendor whose Allegro PCB design suite directly competes with Altium Designer. Both target electronics engineers and enterprise customers with schematic capture, PCB layout, and signal integrity tools, making Cadence Altium's most significant direct competitor in the PCB EDA segment.
- Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics): Siemens EDA offers the Xpedition and PADS PCB design platforms that compete head-to-head with Altium Designer for mid-market and enterprise electronics teams. Both vendors sell subscription-based PCB EDA tools with strong enterprise footprints and MCAD collaboration capabilities.
- Zuken: Zuken's CR-8000 and eCADSTAR PCB design platforms directly compete with Altium Designer, particularly in automotive and aerospace in Japan and Europe. Both companies target professional electronics engineers with subscription-based PCB and electrical design tools.
Broad incumbents
- Synopsys: Synopsys is the broadest EDA incumbent covering digital, analog, and verification, and recently announced a $35B acquisition of Ansys. While primarily focused on chip-level design rather than PCB, its expanded scope post-Ansys makes it a formidable broad incumbent competitor across the electronics design stack.
Emerging players
- Ansys: Ansys is a multiphysics simulation leader with whom Altium has an existing collaboration on electronic design tools. Post its announced acquisition by Synopsys, Ansys's simulation capabilities increasingly overlap with Altium's verification roadmap, making it a converging competitor in electronics design.
- Autodesk (Fusion 360 Electronics): Autodesk Fusion 360 includes integrated PCB design capabilities (formerly Eagle) and competes with Altium in the hobbyist, maker, and SMB segments. While not yet at Altium's enterprise scale, Autodesk's cross-platform MCAD/ECAD strategy positions it as an emerging full-stack competitor.
- DipTrace: DipTrace provides schematic and PCB design software with a strong following among independent designers and small teams. It is a lower-cost alternative to Altium Designer and competes for the same hobbyist-to-professional-adjacent segment of the market.
- EasyEDA: EasyEDA is a free, browser-based PCB design tool with a large user base, particularly in the maker and education communities. It overlaps with Altium's lower-tier CircuitMaker positioning and represents a cloud-native, cross-platform alternative.
Others
- PTC (Onshape): PTC is a strategic partner through the Onshape Altium Connector rather than a direct competitor, but its cloud-native CAD/PDM strategy and broader PLM portfolio make it an adjacent player. PTC's ecosystem reach influences Altium's enterprise positioning and collaboration roadmap.
- Renesas Electronics: Renesas is Altium's parent company following the 2024 acquisition and the co-developer of the Renesas 365 platform. As the silicon vendor backing Altium, Renesas both enables Altium's bundled go-to-market and constrains its ability to serve competing silicon customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Altium social profiles
Digital presenceAltium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Altium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Altium subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Altium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Altium M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A17 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Altium
What does Altium do?
Altium develops and sells electronic design automation (EDA) software, primarily Altium Designer, a unified PCB design tool combining schematic capture, PCB routing, SPICE simulation, and manufacturing file generation. Its Altium 365 cloud platform extends this with real-time collaboration, design data management, and lifecycle management, while Octopart provides component search and supply chain intelligence. The products are sold via subscription licenses to individual professional designers, design teams, and enterprise organizations.
Is Altium a public or private company?
Altium is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Altium founded?
Altium was founded in 1985. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Altium based?
Altium is headquartered in La Jolla, United States, in the North America region.
How does Altium make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are enterprise Platform Subscriptions and professional Training Services.
Who are Altium's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cadence Design Systems, Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) and Zuken. Synopsys is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Ansys, Autodesk (Fusion 360 Electronics), DipTrace and EasyEDA. Others are PTC (Onshape) and Renesas Electronics.
Does Altium have an API?
No public API is recorded for Altium.
What industry is Altium in?
Altium's product category is Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAA, EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff), with a secondary code of HDAHAFAJ, EDA Cloud/SaaS, Design Data Management & Collaboration. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.