Altium Designer
Altium Designer is a professional PCB design software providing a unified environment for schematic capture, board layout, and data management to streamline your entire electronics development process.
EPLAN Electric P8
EPLAN Electric P8 is a consistent, integrated, and fast engineering software system for the planning and design of electrical engineering for machines and plant systems.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Altium Designer | EPLAN Electric P8 |
|---|---|---|
| Website | altium.com | eplan-software.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $355/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 15 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1985 | 1984 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, USA | Monheim am Rhein, Germany |
Overview
Altium Designer
Altium Designer provides you with a unified environment that connects every aspect of the electronics design process. You can move seamlessly from initial schematic capture to final board layout and manufacturing documentation without switching between different tools or file formats. This integration ensures that your design data remains consistent and synchronized across your entire project team, reducing errors and saving you significant development time.
You can manage complex multi-board assemblies, perform advanced signal integrity analysis, and collaborate with mechanical engineers through native MCAD integration. Whether you are designing simple consumer electronics or high-speed industrial hardware, the platform scales to meet your technical requirements. It is widely used by electrical engineers and hardware designers across industries like aerospace, automotive, and medical technology to bring sophisticated electronic products to life.
EPLAN Electric P8
EPLAN Electric P8 offers you a comprehensive solution for designing electrical control systems and automation projects. You can create high-quality schematics, manage master data, and generate automated reports for production and service. The software supports various engineering methods, from manual creation to standardized, template-based design, allowing you to adapt the tool to your specific project requirements and company standards.
By using this platform, you can significantly reduce your design time while improving documentation quality. It integrates your electrical engineering with other disciplines like fluid power and 3D cabinet design through the EPLAN Platform. You can easily share data across your entire value chain, ensuring that your manufacturing and maintenance teams always have access to the most up-to-date project information.
Overview
Altium Designer Features
- Unified Design Environment Sync your schematics and PCB layouts instantly in one interface to ensure your design data stays consistent throughout the project.
- 3D PCB Editor Visualize and interact with your board in realistic 3D to check for mechanical clearances and ensure a perfect fit in the enclosure.
- ActiveRoute Technology Route complex high-speed nets quickly with automated tools that follow your specific design constraints and professional routing patterns.
- MCAD Collaboration Push and pull design changes directly to tools like SOLIDWORKS or Autodesk Inventor to stay aligned with your mechanical team.
- Hierarchical Schematic Capture Organize large, complex designs into manageable logical blocks to improve readability and make your circuits easier to debug.
- Supply Chain Integration Access real-time parts data and availability from major distributors so you can select components that are actually in stock.
EPLAN Electric P8 Features
- Automatic Reporting. Generate comprehensive reports like bill of materials, terminal diagrams, and cable schedules automatically based on your schematic data.
- Macro Technology. Save and reuse standardized circuit segments to speed up your design process and maintain high engineering standards.
- Multi-User Operation. Collaborate with your team on the same project simultaneously while keeping all data synchronized in real-time.
- Global Standards Support. Design your projects according to international standards like IEC, NFPA, or GOST with built-in support for multiple languages.
- Data Portal Integration. Access over a million device data sets from leading manufacturers directly within your design environment to save time.
- Error Checking. Run automated logical checks to identify short circuits or missing connections before your design ever reaches the shop floor.
Pricing Comparison
Altium Designer Pricing
- Unified PCB Design environment
- Schematic capture & board layout
- Basic data management
- Altium 365 cloud collaboration
- Standard component library access
- Online support and community access
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Advanced component management
- Managed simulation models
- Multi-board assembly support
- Rigid-flex design capabilities
- Enhanced MCAD co-designer tools
EPLAN Electric P8 Pricing
Pros & Cons
Altium Designer
Pros
- Unified environment eliminates the need for manual data synchronization
- Exceptional 3D visualization capabilities for mechanical clearance checks
- Extensive component libraries with real-time supply chain data
- Strong community support and massive online learning resources
Cons
- High price point compared to entry-level PCB tools
- Significant system requirements for smooth 3D performance
- Steep learning curve for users switching from simpler software
EPLAN Electric P8
Pros
- Extensive automation capabilities for generating project documentation
- Massive library of manufacturer parts via the Data Portal
- Highly customizable to fit specific company engineering standards
- Seamless data exchange with other EPLAN platform products
Cons
- Significant learning curve for new or occasional users
- Higher price point compared to basic CAD tools
- Requires powerful hardware for large, complex projects