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OrCAD supports a standard set of cross-compatible files.At least on the higher bandwidth part of things. You may not be able to move from Allegro to OrCAD if you are trying to open an Allegro design that uses additional license features that aren’t supported in OrCAD. You can easily move from OrCAD to Allegro. There are utilities that can convert layouts between Altium and Allegro, but they may require review to ensure they convert fully and correctly. Many automatic functions and add-ons are available that make it easier to convert layouts. Supports real-time design rule checking (DRC), as well as batch DRC. Will generate a report at the end detailing all changes. You point the schematic toward a layout file and add the parts and connections. You can look through each individual change and decide which ones to apply to the file. Intuitive - a more visual process within the same window and workflow.Ĭomponent creation is more modular/procedural there are more steps but more opportunities to reuse constituent parts of land patterns (like pads) for other components. Very powerful, but you have to know what you’re looking for.Ĭontrols and keybinds are similar to most software programs on the market.Ĭontrols and keybinds are completely different from other software programs. Organizes rules into a hierarchical folder structure, which makes it easy to see your design rules at a glance. Installing, Licensing and Managing Altium Designerīoth software programs have an easily configurable UI in which you can rearrange panels to your preference.There are methods of converting them, but it takes some manual process to do so.īoth programs are similar in terms of setup and include the purchase of a license and installation of software. Visually intuitive UI.Įasily configurable but not necessarily beginner-friendly.Ĭomponent libraries are not cross-compatible between Altium and Allegro (OrCAD) tools. The library creation process is faster and more intuitive. Includes a lot of built-in wizards and helpful functions. OrCAD’s customer service includes 24/7 online support, software downloads, online access to articles and documentation, and more.Įasy to use. The OrCAD PCB Designer Pro ranges from $2,300 to $7,140 depending on the license term and method.Įvery subscription level comes with Altium Support, which includes support tickets, a chat function, documentation center, access to Altium community forums, and more. A new 1-year lease for the same software is $1,300. The cost of a new, perpetual license for OrCAD PCB Designer Standard is $2,630. An annual license costs $3,850 per seat for the standard plan or $4,845 (per seat per year) for the pro plan.Īltium CircuitMaker is a free PCB design tool. Altium offers two subscription plans - standard and pro.Īltium Designer starts at $325/month (for one seat) with a 15-day free trial.
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