Altium Develop vs. Teamcenter vs. Designcenter Solid Edge

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Altium Develop
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Altium Develop is a platform that unifies multidisciplinary teams across engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing to support seamless co-creation. It provides real-time visibility into designs, requirements, and supply chain data, enabling contributors to work together concurrently rather than in silos.
$1,990
per year
Teamcenter
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Teamcenter is a product lifecycle management system designed to help organizations integrate and standardize product development processes across functional silos.N/A
Solid Edge
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Solid Edge is a software solutions for product development — 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, data management, and cloud collaboration. Solid Edge aims to combine the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design.
$110
per month
Pricing
Altium DevelopTeamcenterDesigncenter Solid Edge
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Design and Drafting XaaS
$110.00
per month
Foundation XaaS
$267.00
per month
Classic XaaS
$335.00
per month
Premium XaaS
$481.00
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Altium DevelopTeamcenterSolid Edge
Free Trial
YesYesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsAltium Develop is offered as an annual subscription starting at $1,990 per year, which includes one Altium Designer ECAD Design Author and a shared workspace for projects, libraries, and collaboration. The subscription provides unlimited workspace users at no additional cost, enabling broad participation in reviews, commenting, task management, BOM access, and change workflows. Teams can add up to four additional Altium Designer ECAD Design Authors for $995 per Author per year, allowing organizations to scale active design capacity while keeping contributors and collaborators included at no extra charge.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Altium DevelopTeamcenterDesigncenter Solid Edge
Considered Multiple Products
Altium Develop

No answer on this topic

Teamcenter
Chose Teamcenter
I was using the SAP and Teamcenter integration, Teamcenter and SAP often reside in separate data silos within a company. Integration breaks down these barriers, enabling a single source of truth for product and manufacturing data. Information exchange between engineering …
Chose Teamcenter
Teamcenter is user-friendly, easily customizable, provides all information on one platform, and is light to use with any system.
Chose Teamcenter
Easier to use. Connectivity to third-party products is much better with Teamcenter. Siemens products are connected to Teamcenter very easily. Product support is much better. CAD and CAM data are much better connected. Easy to use search in classification information of the …
Solid Edge
Chose Designcenter Solid Edge
First, we were using AutoCAD in our industry then we switched it to Solid edge. AutoCAD isn't well suited for 3D drawing and it takes very much time to make 3D in AutoCAD. In Solid Edge, you can create 3D drawings and convert them into 2D instantly without much effort. You can …
Chose Designcenter Solid Edge
SOLIDWORKS has a really intuitive interface for a traditional CAD package. It is easy to use, easy to learn and is perfectly suited for any user. Solid Edge lacks this ease of use.

Autodesk Inventor is great for personal use as well as in small businesses. It is easy to learn, …
Best Alternatives
Altium DevelopTeamcenterDesigncenter Solid Edge
Small Businesses
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.6 out of 10
monday dev
monday dev
Score 8.4 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.6 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.6 out of 10
Arena PLM and QMS
Arena PLM and QMS
Score 8.5 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Autodesk Fusion
Autodesk Fusion
Score 7.9 out of 10
Roadmunk
Roadmunk
Score 6.1 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.4 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Altium DevelopTeamcenterDesigncenter Solid Edge
Likelihood to Recommend
9.6
(54 ratings)
9.4
(108 ratings)
8.1
(16 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.2
(4 ratings)
10.0
(12 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.3
(51 ratings)
8.5
(5 ratings)
5.3
(2 ratings)
Availability
6.4
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
7.3
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.3
(3 ratings)
8.0
(17 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Online Training
9.1
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.0
(2 ratings)
8.0
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
2.7
(1 ratings)
8.2
(23 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Altium DevelopTeamcenterDesigncenter Solid Edge
Likelihood to Recommend
Altium
It's the most approachable "professional" package for small to medium-sized businesses, given the price point. It's fairly mature feature-wise and has improved stability enough over the last 5 years that it no longer constantly crashes. But it feels like there's a push to constantly increase prices until it's no longer an obvious choice. That, coupled with the insistence on subscription models and the terrible user experience when on poorly connected mobile data plans, means it's still my CAD package of choice, but I'm now a reluctant user rather than a fan.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Teamcenter is perfect for working in large-scale projects related to manufacturing and engineering where collaboration and management of data are crucial. It is evident where the complexity of the products is high such as in automobile and aerospace industries. Some of its features may seem too elaborate for the small business with a less complex process and therefore too expensive. It is less useful in organizations that do not have complex PLM needs or have less IT capacity to implement the system.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Well Suited for:
  • Integrated designs performed by multiple designers simultaneously (designs requiring a Product Lifecycle Management system);
  • Designs requiring a high degree of parameterisation;
  • Large companies where specific standards and best practices are applied to all models and drawings created.
Not Well Suited for:
  • Personal use in designing one-off models and drawings;
  • Small business use where very few of the expensive features are actually used.
Read full review
Pros
Altium
  • Extremely straightforward and easy to use
  • Easy to find all tools, including laying traces, adding net labels, etc.
  • Great training documents and videos, very using friendly; especially for first time users
  • 3D models of the PCB are excellent
  • Easy to generate files; including schematics, BOMs, Gerber files, etc.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • Teamcenter is a great PLM tool that allows collaboration between our teams, it’s possible to create a variety of teams that can all collaborate in one environment and share relevant information, I like that all the data can be integrated into the application so that it’s more organized and structured.
  • When working with Teamcenter, the roles can be properly distributed so it’s easy to see all the workflows and things that need to be done.
  • The interface is very nice and you can work through it if you don’t know some features. I like how well-integrated everything is and how easy it is to use and implement into your daily work routine.
  • One of my favorite aspects of Teamcenter is its reporting tools, they are definitely some of the best tools I have tried, allowing me to integrate data from different places into the platform and analyze it in different ways. Analyzing a variety of key metrics is possible and helps us have better results in our sales.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • It has very good user interface in classic or ordered environment.
  • In 2D or drafting, you can give any Geometric tolerancing and symbols to any dimension. There is a wide range of options available.
  • You can convert any files in step file (.stp) and can open it in other designing applications easily.
  • After converting 3D drawings in 2D you can make changes in 2D drawing by converting it in the draft. You can also add details like cross-sections and detailed view.
  • You can directly make threads without creating holes.
Read full review
Cons
Altium
  • It is difficult to create new components while reusing existing footprints/symbols. For example, reuse a 1206 package footprint, create a variant for resistors with an appropriate 3D model, and then a variant for capacitors with an appropriate 3D model.
  • The software's overall responsiveness seems slow, and it does not update properly in all instances. For example, clicking a component in the schematic will not always show its properties; it usually shows the properties of the last selected component. Clicking the blank space in the schematic first, then selecting the component, seems to load some of the correct data. But the 3D model in the properties view would still show the last EDITED part.
  • Saving components to the server would not always register correctly, requiring the component editor to be closed 'without saving' to close the part out, even though no changes were made since the last save to the server.
  • It is unclear where a list of footprints/symbols can be managed. For example, deleting a deprecated footprint so that it does not appear as a valid option in the future.
  • BOM part choice data has an NRFND component selected as in use, causing the status to be yellow. There is no apparent way to select a different manufacturer part as the 'in use' part to resolve the warning.
  • Updating from the library does not pull the most up-to-date symbol/footprint data for a given component. So far, there does not appear to be a way to do this, even though the component itself has been updated to use the correct references. This may be related to the general delays and consistency/reliability issues with the online link.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • Projects tab, easier way to manage smart folders.
  • Where use/referenced reports -> build in to show in excel, not im impact analysis only.
  • Build-in change management - it would be good to have one template to be used in the automotive industry.
  • Cheaper manufacturing licenses.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • Being used to 2-key and 3-key commands from the keyboard, it would be nice if this was more robust in Solid Edge. The capability of programming keystroke commands exists in Solid Edge, but it would be more user friendly in that regard.
  • Editing hatches can be a challenge.
  • I'm not a fan of the ribbon bar, but that seems to be a feature across software platforms in Windows.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Altium
ALTIUM DESIGNER is the reference tool in the electronic circuit design sector, its use is widespread worldwide. Although there are other alternatives, some of them free do not rival ALTIUM DESIGNER in terms of features and reliability. It is also very practical to request quotes with ALTIUM DESIGNER BOM reports since all suppliers are accustomed to using the tool.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Because of our current customer needs, we will most likely maintain use of Siemens PLM products for some time. Aside from the initial software cost, we pay for yearly maintenance. Maintaining our yearly maintenance licensing with Siemens, we receive access to all of the latest software releases, as well as premier technical support
Read full review
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Usability
Altium
I originally chose Altium Develop for its superior usability. All operations being handled in one cohesive platform greatly improves efficiency. When handling many different designs, project setup and component creation eat into every project's productivity. Templates, defaults and design reuse all speed up design. I hold back from a higher rating because development focus on those usability features seems to have stagnated a bit. Simple missing features requested seem to remain missing. New collaboration features, simulation and sourcing features are released, but I just want to be able to draw dashed lines! I think this reflects a general focus on the 10% of datacenter/AI/smartphone customers over the 90% of 2-4 layer designs. The lack of information available during the platform transition gave me significant pause before buying in as well.
Read full review
Siemens AG
As previously mentioned, due to the intense amount of features and modules present in the software, the usability of the software suffers greatly. Many of the features are not used in our context, and many of the modules are not purchased, but the options are still present on the interface leading to a lot of clutter, much of which is never used. The interfaces suffer from a lack of design and tend to feel like a conglomerate of Windows 98 elements.
Read full review
Siemens AG
As mentioned previously, Siemens Solid Edge is not the most user-friendly of products at all. It requires intense training to make sure that the basics are understood, and after that, there are numerous other training interventions needed to be able to perform expert-level CAD functions. The GUI is not intuitive, as many other packages are, and the features built-in are not well defined. The process to use many of these features is counter-intuitive and requires a mind-shift.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
Altium
Not very stable. Sudden lack of functionality when the license expires is not indicated clearly and can lead to loss of work.
Read full review
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Altium
Long process for solving problems. Problem solved after multiple emails, but not explained what was the solution, just "it is solved now"
Read full review
Siemens AG
In the time that we have used Teamcenter we have received a good response from the support team, they have great customer service, we have solved the problems that have arisen very quickly, and they are attentive and answer us if we have any questions.
Read full review
Siemens AG
I have been involved with support and training of Solid Edge for 24 years. Given that I based my business model on support, and have been successful for all these years, I know excellent support. Siemens support for Solid Edge, "GTAC", is the definition of support for a product in every aspect.
Read full review
Online Training
Altium
easy to follow, Good technical materials. good videos The platform is easy to use.
Read full review
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Altium
Some times it is slow down PC due to polygons
Read full review
Siemens AG
Demo assembly
Read full review
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Altium
In terms of collaborative work, Altium 365 is the easiest to use since KiCad nor OrCAD have sophisticated infrastructure for team members to interact with each other. By allowing features such as organizations and version control, Altium 365 is by far the best product for collaborative work. Additionally, electronics parts management and creation is better in Altium 365 than the other products. Actions such as importing schematic libraries, creating bills of materials, and conducting simulations are simply better in Altium 365.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Earlier, some of the companies acquired by my organization were using PTC Windchill, but the overall stability, user experience and depth of functionality which are provided by Teamcenter doesn't match with any other PLM software and thus, all the acquired companies which were earlier using PTC Windchill has now slowly started into moving towards Teamcenter.
Read full review
Siemens AG
FreeCAD is often better than Solid Edge 2021 when converting files, but I hope this changes with 2023 NX is overall more powerful, but that is to be expected (and you cant add it above because it is too short for whatever reason).
Read full review
Scalability
Altium
Because, in my opinion, usage for small organization is poor, it is difficult to set up initial configuration to support scaling.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Teamcenter is easily on the best scalable solution. The single source of product information allows us to collaborate more effectively on the product lifecycle. Also, being a cloud solution, it is pretty straightforward to scale as the maintenance required is quite low . In addition, the overall cost is also easily manageable for businesses like ours.
Read full review
Siemens AG
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Altium
  • I can only guess, but I think the investment, at least for real industry, is a no-brainer. The labor savings are obvious and far over the outlay.
  • To be more specific, the time saved on component selection/procurement is phenomenal. I will no longer waste days poring over catalogs and websites.
  • The biggest downside I know of is the time spent explaining the above to the accounts department because, let's face it, it's still pretty spendy.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • Definitely, it has a very positive impact so to speak. What we are trying to do through our program, we are utilizing the full capacity of Teamcenter to produce one structure in an effective way. So before we implement this activity, the user has to prepare 10 to 15 structures to reach to our best possible data that can be set across the systems. But now with the complete capability of Teamcenter, we are able to do all these things into one structure itself and then let the system do all the automation or the things that users do not have to concentrate on. All of the automations are done behind the systems and then it is improving not only the efficiency of the end user, but also making a standardized way in order to proceed and transfer the data holistically towards other systems like SAP.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • It took about 20 hours of use to get the basics of Synchronous Technology, and with just a basic competency I was able to make useful changes to the design. One of those changes was impossible to do our other CAD program.
  • My use lately has mostly been on personal time and self-driven, so learning other aspects and features of Solid Edge has been slower. Creating a drawing for a part required a few hours to learn and do the first time, but luckily there were YouTube videos for examples. With practice, I would expect the time to reflect what it takes in SolidWorks (about 30 minutes).
Read full review
ScreenShots

Altium Develop Screenshots

Screenshot of The 3D View Editor in Altium Develop that transforms the standard 2D PCB workspace into a fully interactive, three‑dimensional design environment. Users can toggle between 2D and 3D modes, then zoom, pan, and rotate the board freely using tools like a directional sphere for precise pivot control and adjust display settings (such as transparency or coloring) via the View Configuration panel to visually explore and inspect PCB layouts in realistic detail.Screenshot of Project History in Altium Develop, which provides a browser-based, visually chronological timeline of a project's key events such as: creation, commits, releases, clones, and MCAD exchanges offering version control transparency directly within workspace.Screenshot of Altium Develop's unified design environment built on a single data model. From schematic capture to PCB layout, routing, and assembly preparation, every step flows seamlessly. Smart placement and routing features make complex designs faster, easier, and more reliable.Screenshot of ActiveBOM, which is a dynamic, table-based Bill of Materials (BOM) editor integrated into Altium Develop that elevates component management to a real-time, design-aware process. It automatically aggregates supply chain data such as pricing, stock, lifecycle status, and lead times - from sources like Octopart and IHS Markit, enabling parts selection, alternates, cost calculation, rule-based verification, and traceability - within the same environment as the schematic and PCB design.Screenshot of BOM Portal, which is a cloud-native, procurement-focused tool within Altium Develop that transforms traditional Excel-like Bill of Materials (BOM) workflows by integrating live supply chain, compliance, and pricing data. It enables collaboration between engineering and procurement, helps identify supply risks like obsolescence or shortages, supports BOM consolidation and alternates, and ensures thorough version control and traceability bridging design to manufacturing with real-time visibility and control.Screenshot of Workspace Projects, which provide a cloud-native, version-controlled hub within Altium Develop that simplifies electronic project management with centralized storage, collaboration, and built-in Git-based version control. This interface enables real-time design navigation (including schematic, 2D/3D PCB, BOM, and Draftsman views), task tracking, release and manufacturing management, historical timeline review, and sharing.

Teamcenter Screenshots

Screenshot of Active Workspace, the User Interface (UI) to drive Teamcenter. With no install required, it is a visual UI to navigate through products and processes, with tooltips to guide users along the way.Screenshot of BOM configuration, in Teamcenter. With flexibility in how a BOM is managed and defined, it can provide an up-to-date source of information that eliminates the need for standalone spreadsheets and systems. Teamcenter X provides a flexible BOM management strategy that enables a single, accurate product definition for all who interact with the BOM.Screenshot of Teamcenter X search and analytics capabilities provides a streamlined product lifecycle management (PLM) search experience to help quickly find data. Teamcenter X visually presents search results in logical groups so users can drill down through product structures and relationships.Screenshot of Product design intent can be communicated, and product data visualized, in their entirety using 2D and 3D visualization and markup capabilities. The user can also visualize and interrogate Product Manufacturing Information (PMI).Screenshot of documents are managed in conjunction with product development, with integrated PDF for viewing and markup.