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Altium Designer alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Altium Designer: expensive subscription, priced through sales, and windows only. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Altium Designer, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. KiCad currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1KiCad logoKiCadOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 566.5
2EasyEDA logoEasyEDAFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +15 of 562.6
3Autodesk Fusion logoAutodesk FusionFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Web0 of 039.8
  1. KiCad logo

    1. KiCadTop pick

    Best for: Hobbyists, startups and engineers who want a capable PCB tool with no licence cost

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Altium Designer

    Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

    Pros

    • Completely free with no feature limits or seat caps
    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Large official libraries and an active community
    • Projects are local files you fully control

    Cons

    • Fewer advanced high-speed and team collaboration features than Altium
    • Managing custom libraries takes some learning
    • No built-in part sourcing like EasyEDA's LCSC link
    Visit KiCad Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is KiCad a good Altium Designer alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL v3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kicad.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kicad.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Simulation
    Integrated SPICE
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kicad.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Manufacturing output
    Gerber and IPC-2581
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kicad.org(opens source in a new tab)
    First released
    1992
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kicad.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. EasyEDA logo

    2. EasyEDA

    Best for: Hobbyists and small teams who design boards and order them from JLCPCB

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Altium Designer

    Free and browser-based, with built-in part sourcing and ordering from JLCPCB.

    Pros

    • Free, including the Pro edition
    • Runs in a browser with nothing to install
    • Shows LCSC part stock and sends boards straight to JLCPCB
    • Imports Altium, Eagle and KiCad designs

    Cons

    • Designs live on the vendor's cloud by default
    • Workflow steers you toward JLCPCB and LCSC
    • Less capable than Altium for complex high-speed boards
    Visit EasyEDA Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is EasyEDA a good Altium Designer alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026easyeda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web app
    Yes, no download needed
    Checked Oct 25, 2026easyeda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux desktop client
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026easyeda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Import
    Altium, Eagle, KiCad
    Checked Oct 25, 2026easyeda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Team collaboration
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026easyeda.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Autodesk Fusion logo

    3. Autodesk Fusion

    Best for: Makers and small product teams who want CAD, CAM and PCB tools in one package

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Web

    39.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Altium Designer

    Cheaper subscription that pairs PCB design with mechanical CAD in one tool.

    Pros

    • CAD, CAM, simulation and electronics in one tool
    • Free personal-use licence for hobbyists
    • Cloud storage with built-in version history

    Cons

    • Personal tier restricts features and commercial use
    • Relies on Autodesk cloud and account
    • Advanced manufacturing features cost extra
    Visit Autodesk Fusion Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Autodesk Fusion a good Altium Designer alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Altium Designer alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

KiCad logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for most people

KiCad

Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

EasyEDA logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for a free option

EasyEDA

Free and browser-based, with built-in part sourcing and ordering from JLCPCB.

Autodesk Fusion logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Autodesk Fusion

Cheaper subscription that pairs PCB design with mechanical CAD in one tool.

KiCad logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for open source

KiCad

Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

KiCad logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for Mac

KiCad

Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

KiCad logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for Windows

KiCad

Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

KiCad logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for Linux

KiCad

Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards.

EasyEDA logo

Best Altium Designer alternative for working in the browser

EasyEDA

Free and browser-based, with built-in part sourcing and ordering from JLCPCB.

Altium Designer alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Altium Designer?

KiCad ranks first right now. Free and open source on every desktop OS, and capable enough for most professional boards. EasyEDA and Autodesk Fusion follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Altium Designer?

Yes. KiCad (open source), EasyEDA (free) and Autodesk Fusion (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Altium Designer?

Yes: KiCad.

Which Altium Designer alternatives work on Linux?

KiCad and EasyEDA run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Altium Designer?

The complaints we hear most: expensive subscription, priced through sales; windows only; overkill for hobby and simple boards.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Altium Designer, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.