Altium Competitive Intelligence & Landscape
altium.com ·
What is Altium likely to do next?
ForesightIQ connects Altium's hiring, product, web, ad, and market signals to forecast strategic moves — often months before they're announced.
Senior hiring patterns point to a planned enterprise product line launching within two quarters.
Quiet changes to docs and pricing pages signal an upcoming usage-based pricing tier and new API surface.
Ad spend and partnership activity indicate a push into the mid-market segment across two new regions.
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Overview
Altium Overview
Altium aims to redefine electronic product creation in a software-defined world, connecting every stakeholder, discipline, and phase to power modern electronics development [altium.com].
Altium's core offerings include Altium Designer, a robust PCB design tool, and Altium 365, a cloud-enabled platform for coordination, reviews, and data alignment [altium.com]. Their solutions span from Octopart for component discovery and evaluation to Altium Agile Teams for structured collaboration and Altium Agile Enterprise for enterprise-level electronics development with a governed, extensible, and intelligent platform [altium.com]. These tools cater to a wide range of industries and companies of all sizes, ensuring context-rich engagement from parts to possibilities and a digital thread at scale [altium.com].
Altium has been publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX code: ALU) since its IPO in 1999 [www.altium.com/company/investor-relations/publications-and-reports/annual-reports]. While specific founding year and overall company size in terms of employees are not explicitly stated on the provided pages, the company's long history since 1999 and its extensive suite of products indicate a well-established global presence. Its main offices are located in Sydney, Australia, with additional offices globally [cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2023-09/2023%20Annual%20Report_0.pdf]. The company's mission is to enable smarter electronics and smarter companies by providing comprehensive tools that facilitate seamless electronic product creation [altium.com].
Sources
Altium®
altium.com
About Altium | PCB Design Solutions That Empower Innovation
altium.com
Contact Us - Altium
altium.com
Annual Reports since IPO | Investor News | Altium
altium.com
cdn.files.altium.com
Share Registry | Stock Transfer Agent for Shareholders | Altium
altium.com
Newsroom - Press Releases | Altium
altium.com
Company Dashboard Technical Documentation - Altium
altium.com
Configuring Your Company Profile - Altium
altium.com
Valispace (Acquired by Altium)
altium.com
Competitors
Altium Competitors
Altium differentiates itself by connecting every stakeholder, discipline, and phase of electronics product creation through its platform, emphasizing streamlined collaboration and a digital thread at scale. The company serves a wide range of industries and company sizes, providing solutions that aim to enhance transparency, traceability, and accountability in design processes.
One of Altium's key competitors is Autodesk.
Autodesk offers a broad portfolio of CAD software, including products like AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and Inventor, which provide robust design and engineering capabilities across various industries. While Autodesk products like Fusion 360 can be used for PCB design, Altium Designer is hyper-focused on electronics and PCB-specific workflows, offering a unified environment tailored for these tasks.
Autodesk generally has a larger market share across broader design and engineering sectors, whereas Altium holds a strong position in the specialized PCB design market.
Cadence Design Systems is another significant competitor, particularly in the realm of electronic design automation.
Cadence provides advanced design solutions for semiconductor and systems products, including tools like Allegro and OrCAD, which compete directly with Altium Designer in PCB design and simulation.
Cadence is known for its high-end, full-featured signoff ecosystems with constraint-driven layout and simulation, often catering to large enterprise clients with complex design requirements. In comparison, Altium aims to offer a more integrated and user-friendly experience that connects design, collaboration, and manufacturing seamlessly.
Dassault Systèmes Americas, known for products like SolidWorks and CATIA, offers powerful computer-augmented design and drafting solutions. While SolidWorks can be used for mechanical design in conjunction with PCB design, Altium provides a more specialized and unified platform for electronic product creation.
Dassault Systèmes commands a substantial market share in 3D CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) across numerous industries, making it a broader engineering software provider compared to Altium's more concentrated focus on electronics.
Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) also stands as a formidable competitor.
Siemens EDA specializes in electronic design automation, offering a suite of tools including Mentor PADS and Xpedition, which directly compete with Altium Designer for PCB design, verification, and manufacturing.
Siemens EDA is recognized for its comprehensive tools that address complex design challenges, often appealing to large corporations with intricate electronic systems.
Altium differentiates itself by emphasizing a unified platform experience that simplifies multidisciplinary collaboration and connects all aspects of the design process, from intent through release.
Sources
10 Best Altium Designer Alternatives & Competitors in 2026
softwaresuggest.com
What is Altium? Competitors, Complementary Techs & Usage | Sumble
sumble.com
Altium Ltd Peers & Key Competitors - GlobalData
globaldata.com
Altium's Competitors, Revenue, Number of Employees ... - Owler
owler.com
Top Altium Competitors and Alternatives | Craft.co
craft.co
Altium Competitors | Comparably
comparably.com
Altium - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations
cbinsights.com
Best Cad Pcb Design Software | 2026 Verified Rankings
gitnux.org
Top PCB Design Alternatives & Competitors
softwareworld.co
What is Altium Designer? Competitors, Complementary Techs & Usage | Sumble
sumble.com
Alternatives
Altium Alternatives
Product & Pricing
Altium Product and Pricing Intelligence
Altium Develop serves as a core offering, bundling Altium Designer with secure cloud capabilities through Altium 365. This package is priced at $1990 USD per year for the first author, with additional licenses available for $995 USD per year, and includes one Altium Designer author and one workspace for shared projects, libraries, and collaboration. It also provides unlimited workspace users for review, commenting, task management, and BOM access, along with ECAD-MCAD CoDesign.
Altium Develop offers a free 30-day trial without requiring a credit card, allowing potential users to explore its features firsthand. This pricing reflects a recent adjustment, offering the same tools with additional capabilities at a lower price than previous offerings, and is 100% backwards compatible with Altium Designer Standard [https://www.altium.com/develop/move].
Beyond Altium Develop, Altium offers various subscription levels and integrations to meet diverse needs. For example, Altium 365 GovCloud provides a secure platform for government compliance efforts, while the SiliconExpert Integration offers up-to-date component data. These are often priced per user or per integration. Additionally, the Altium BOM Portal is available, with a 30-day trial followed by a cost of $995 per year. The BOM Portal includes features like unlimited users, BOMs, and parts for tracking components and managing lifecycle risks, with advanced parts data extensions as a paid add-on. The Advanced MCAD CoDesigner is available for USD 499 per user/year, allowing synchronization of Altium Designer data with popular MCAD systems [https://www.altium.com/in/platform/pricing].
Sources
Altium Develop Pricing | Altium
altium.com
Altium Designer Licensing Options | Altium
altium.com
Altium Designer Licensing Options
altium.com
Advanced PCB Design - Altium
altium.com
Plans and Pricing | Altium 365
emergency.altium.com
Plans and Pricing - Altium
altium.com
Move to Altium Develop | Altium
altium.com
From Concept to Manufacture, all in one platform | Altium
altium.com
Altium Designer: the engine powering Altium Develop and Altium Agile
altium.com
BOM Portal | Altium Develop
altium.com
Hiring & Layoffs
Altium Hiring and Layoffs
While specific recent hiring trends and numbers are not publicly detailed, Altium's career portal showcases various open positions, particularly in engineering. This suggests a continuous need for skilled professionals in areas like PCB design and software development. The company also highlights opportunities for interns through its parent company, Renesas, indicating an investment in developing future talent. Their focus on providing resources and training, such as the Altium Education platform, further signals a strategic effort to cultivate a skilled workforce both internally and within the broader electronics industry, bridging the gap between education and professional careers.
There is no publicly available information on layoffs at Altium, suggesting a stable employment environment. The appointment of Don Cantow as General Manager further indicates a strategic push to accelerate Altium's adoption as an industry platform. This type of leadership change often accompanies a period of growth and strategic expansion, requiring a strong and capable workforce.
Altium's consistent engagement with educational institutions and its emphasis on professional development reinforce a proactive and forward-thinking approach to talent acquisition and retention, aligning with its goals of leading the electronics design sector.
Sources
Altium Careers
careers.altium.com
Altium Careers | Renesas Careers
careers.altium.com
Resources | Altium Education
education.altium.com
Altium and Mouser Team Up to Advance Electronics Education and ...
altium.com
Altium Student Lab - Free Licensing, Tools, and Resources for ...
altium.com
How to Hire the Right PCB Designer for Your Project in 2023
resources.altium.com
Costs of Hiring Your First Electronic Engineer | PCB Design Blog | Altium
resources.altium.com
Altium | Learning Hub
resources.altium.com
Collaborative PCB Design Software for Software Engineers | Altium
altium.com
Altium Education Celebrates First Mayan-on-Chip Cohort Advancing Semiconductor Talent Development in Yucatán | Altium
altium.com
Leadership
Altium Management and Leadership Team
Aram Mirkazemi holds the position of CEO at Altium. He expressed a strong belief in the critical role of electronics in building a smart and sustainable world, aligning Altium's vision with making electronics accessible [https://cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2024-02/Altium%20enters%20into%20binding%20SIA%20with%20Renesas.pdf]. Recent leadership developments include the appointment of Don Cantow as General Manager of Altium, effective January 1, 2026. This strategic hire is expected to accelerate Altium’s adoption as an industry platform [https://www.altium.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/don-cantow-appointed-general-manager-altium].
Altium's Human Resources Committee is tasked with reviewing and implementing the diversity policy, setting measurable objectives for gender diversity across the Board, senior executives, and the general workforce, and monitoring progress against these objectives [https://www.altium.com/governance/diversity_policy]. Additionally, Chris Donato serves as the Head of Global Sales for Board and Systems, leading efforts to strengthen relationships with Altium’s European customer base through direct sales and support channels [https://www.altium.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/altium-establishes-direct-sales-support-channel-spain-and-italy].
Sources
cdn.files.altium.com
Altium Limited ASX Announcement
cdn.files.altium.com
Renesas Completes Acquisition of Altium | Altium
altium.com
altium.com
Don Cantow Appointed as General Manager of Altium
altium.com
As approved 12 November 2010
altium.com
altium.com
Altium Establishes Direct Sales and Support Channel in Spain and Italy | Altium
altium.com
Newsroom - Press Releases | Altium
altium.com
Key Advisers and Contacts | Investor Relations | Altium
altium.com
Financials
Altium Financial Performance, Fundraising, M&A
Altium's profitability metrics also show a healthy trend. In fiscal year 2023, reported EBITDA was US$96.0 million with an EBITDA margin of 36.5% [https://cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2023-09/2023%20Annual%20Report.pdf]. For the first half of FY24, Altium recorded revenues of US$138.6 million, representing a 16% increase, with an underlying EBITDA margin of 33.4% and profit after tax (PAT) of US$33.0 million, up 11% [https://cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2024-02/ALU%20First%20Half%20Investor%20Presentation%20FINAL.pdf.pdf]. In the first half of FY23, revenue from ordinary activities increased by 15.9% to US$138.558 million, with EBITDA up 3.2% to US$44.689 million and profit after income tax (PAT) up 11.4% to US$33.031 million [https://cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2024-02/ALU%204D%20and%20HY_24.pdf].
The company maintains a strong focus on recurring revenue, which constituted 75.4% of its total revenue in fiscal year 2022 [https://cdn.files.altium.com/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022%20Annual%20Report.pdf].
Altium has been publicly listed since its IPO in 1999 and consistently provides annual reports to investors, showcasing a long history of financial transparency [https://www.altium.com/company/investor-relations/publications-and-reports/annual-reports]. While specific fundraising rounds and detailed M&A activities are not highlighted in the provided text, the consistent financial reporting and investor presentations indicate a mature and well-managed public company focused on organic growth and strategic initiatives to transform the electronics industry [https://www.altium.com/company/investor-relations/publications-and-reports/presentations].
Sources
[PDF] Altium Limited
cdn.files.altium.com
[PDF] Altium Limited
cdn.files.altium.com
Annual Reports since IPO | Investor News | Altium
altium.com
[PDF] 2023 Financial Report - Altium
cdn.files.altium.com
[PDF] Altium Limited
cdn.files.altium.com
Altium®
altium.com
[PDF] Altium Limited
cdn.resources.altium.com
Investor Presentations | Investor News | Altium
altium.com
cdn.files.altium.com
PowerPoint Presentation
cdn.files.altium.com
Partnerships
Altium Partnerships, Clients and Vendors
Altium integrates with several key technology providers to offer comprehensive supply chain intelligence and manufacturing capabilities.
Altium 365 integrates with Z2Data, providing users direct access to Z2Data’s extensive supply chain and component database for building resilience in engineering, compliance, and procurement [3]. Similarly, Altium 365 integrates with SiliconExpert, delivering electronic part data and supply chain intelligence directly into the workspace, sourced from component manufacturers [5, 6].
Altium has also partnered with Cofactr and Nexar to offer engineering and procurement teams enhanced visibility and supply resilience throughout the electronic product design and manufacturing lifecycle [4]. For direct component access, Altium has partnered with Digi-Key Electronics, allowing users to access component data and inventory through Altium Designer and Octopart [9].
In terms of manufacturing, Altium and MacroFab have partnered to launch Altimade, an industry-first integrated PCB “Design WITH Manufacturing” application. This integration of Altium’s cloud platform with MacroFab’s digital manufacturing platform represents a significant step towards the digital transformation of the electronics industry [7].
Altium also collaborates with Keysight Technologies Inc., a leading provider of electronic design, test automation, and measurement equipment, who joined Altium's Nexar partner program [10]. Notable clients relying on Altium's solutions include iRobot, the global consumer robot company, which utilizes Altium to overcome PLM integration challenges and maximize its PLM investment [2].
Sources
Renesas and Altium Announce Introduction of Renesas 365, Powered by Altium: Groundbreaking Industry Solution for Software-Defined Products | Altium
altium.com
Altium 365 Integrates with Z2Data | Altium
altium.com
Cofactr Partners with Altium | Altium
resources.altium.com
Electronics Component Data & Supply Chain Intelligence | Altium + SiliconExpert
altium.com
Altium and MacroFab Partner to Launch Industry-First Integrated PCB “Design WITH Manufacturing” Application | Altium
altium.com
Altium 365 Integrates with SiliconExpert
altium.com
iRobot Overcomes PLM Integration Challenges with Altium | Altium
altium.com
Renesas goes all in on Altium PCB tools and cloud platform | Altium
altium.com
Altium & Digi-Key - A Partnership That Brings Value to PCB Designers
resources.altium.com
Keysight Technologies Joins Altium's Nexar Partner Program | Altium
altium.com
Events
Altium Event Participations
Altium regularly hosts webinars focusing on various aspects of its platform, such as "Your Design Data Has Zero Defense," which explores building speed, structure, and security in electronics development [resources.altium.com/webinars/your-design-data-has-zero-defense]. Other webinar topics include optimizing design library migration, enhancing team collaboration for industrial PCB projects, and accelerating electronics development with intelligent market insights and seamless collaboration [resources.altium.com/webinars/eliminate-your-design-friction-agile-teams][resources.altium.com/webinars/streamlining-team-collaboration-industrial-pcb-projects][resources.altium.com/webinars/accelerate-your-electronics-development-intelligent-market-insights-and-seamless].
Beyond scheduled webinars, Altium also offers practical, interactive sessions such as the "Altium Designer Onboarding Workshop," which guides new users through the PCB design process from schematic to manufacturing files [resources.altium.com/webinars/altium-designer-boarding-workshop]. The company also hosts weekly "Ask an Expert" sessions, allowing participants to directly engage with Altium 365 experts and receive personalized assistance [resources.altium.com/workshops]. These live workshops and training sessions underscore Altium's commitment to user education and support, ensuring engineers can maximize the potential of their design tools.
Altium extends its educational efforts through specialized webinars and workshops catering to different user needs, from exploring Altium Customization with scripting or low-code solutions to understanding how Altium Agile Teams transforms design tools into comprehensive product development platforms [resources.altium.com/webinars/altium-customization-scripting-or-low-code][resources.altium.com/webinars/agile-teams-design-tool-product-development-platform]. The company also provides access to an extensive library of on-demand content, including videos from past Altium Live conferences featuring expert training sessions on topics like
Sources
Webinars | PCB Design Resources | Altium.com
resources.altium.com
Altium Live | PCB Design Resources
resources.altium.com
Workshops - Altium | Learning Hub
resources.altium.com
Eliminate Your Design Friction with Agile Teams | Altium
resources.altium.com
Altium Designer Onboarding Workshop | Altium
resources.altium.com
Agile Teams: From Design Tool to Product Development Platform | Altium
resources.altium.com
Your Design Data Has Zero Defense | Altium
resources.altium.com
Accelerate Your Electronics Development with Seamless Collaboration| Altium
resources.altium.com
Streamlining Team Collaboration in Industrial PCB Projects | Altium
resources.altium.com
Altium Customization with Scripting or Low-Code | Altium
resources.altium.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Altium's primary strategy for talent acquisition and retention?
Altium focuses on continuous growth and industry advancement by seeking talent to modernize electronics creation for the software-defined world. They emphasize investing in future talent through internships via Renesas and cultivating a skilled workforce both internally and externally via the Altium Education platform, while maintaining a stable employment environment with no publicly available information on layoffs.
What do Altium's recent financial results indicate about their growth trajectory?
Altium is demonstrating robust financial performance and is on a consistent growth trajectory, striving towards an ambitious US$500 million revenue target by FY26. For FY23, revenue increased by 19.2% to US$263.3 million, and in the first half of FY24, revenues grew by 16% to US$138.6 million, with healthy EBITDA margins and profit after tax.
What does Don Cantow's appointment as General Manager signal about Altium's strategic direction?
Don Cantow's appointment as General Manager, effective January 1, 2026, signals Altium's strategic push to accelerate its adoption as an industry platform. This type of leadership change often accompanies a period of growth and strategic expansion, aiming to drive the company's influence and market penetration.
How is Altium leveraging partnerships to enhance its platform's capabilities?
Altium is leveraging partnerships to build a robust ecosystem that enhances its unified electronics development platform. Key collaborations, such as with Renesas for system development and standardization, and integrations with Z2Data and SiliconExpert for supply chain intelligence, demonstrate a focus on comprehensive solutions from silicon selection to manufacturing and supply resilience.
What do Altium's event offerings suggest about their engagement strategy with users?
Altium's event offerings, including webinars, live workshops, and 'Ask an Expert' sessions, suggest a strong commitment to user education, support, and community engagement. These events aim to provide valuable insights, training, and direct collaboration opportunities, helping engineers maximize the potential of Altium's design tools and platform.
How does Altium differentiate its Altium Designer and Altium 365 offerings from competitors like Cadence Allegro and Siemens Xpedition?
Altium differentiates Altium Designer and Altium 365 by emphasizing a unified platform experience that seamlessly connects design, collaboration, and manufacturing, aiming for a more integrated and user-friendly approach. While competitors like Cadence Allegro and Siemens Xpedition offer high-end, full-featured solutions for complex enterprise clients, Altium focuses on streamlining multidisciplinary collaboration and providing a digital thread at scale.
What is Altium's pricing strategy for its core Altium Designer and Altium 365 offerings?
Altium's pricing strategy for its core offerings is centered around the 'Altium Develop' package, bundling Altium Designer with Altium 365 cloud capabilities at an annual subscription. It costs $1990 USD per year for the first author and $995 USD for additional licenses, reflecting a recent adjustment to offer more capabilities at a lower price point and maintain 100% backward compatibility.
What is the significance of the Renesas partnership to Altium's market position?
The Renesas partnership is highly significant for Altium's market position, as it led to Renesas standardizing its PCB design and development processes exclusively on Altium's tools and cloud platform. This collaboration, including the Renesas 365 solution, positions Altium as a key enabler for streamlined electronics system development from silicon selection to system lifecycle management, enhancing its industry platform status.
What does Altium's emphasis on 'software-defined world' mean for its product development roadmap?
Altium's emphasis on a 'software-defined world' means its product development roadmap is focused on redefining electronic product creation by connecting every stakeholder, discipline, and phase of development. This involves creating a unified platform that streamlines design, collaboration, and manufacturing, ensuring all tools support the creation of advanced connected devices.
How does Altium address the need for supply chain resilience in electronics design?
Altium addresses the need for supply chain resilience by integrating key technology providers into its Altium 365 platform. Collaborations with Z2Data and SiliconExpert provide direct access to extensive supply chain and component databases, while partnerships with Cofactr and Nexar offer enhanced visibility and supply resilience throughout the electronic product design and manufacturing lifecycle, enabling proactive risk management.
What is the strategic rationale behind Altium's Altimade partnership with MacroFab?
The strategic rationale behind Altium's Altimade partnership with MacroFab is to integrate PCB design directly with manufacturing, representing a significant step towards the digital transformation of the electronics industry. This 'Design WITH Manufacturing' application leverages Altium's cloud platform with MacroFab’s digital manufacturing platform to streamline the entire process from design intent to physical production.
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