It is free for makers , not for companies . The Fine Print: The "Non-Commercial" Wall Here is the critical distinction that most people miss. The Altium Maker License is strictly non-commercial .
For years, the barrier to entry for professional PCB design software has been painfully high. For the solo hardware hacker, the startup founder bootstrapping in a garage, or the engineering student burning the midnight oil, a $3,000+ seat of Altium Designer has always been the "gold standard" just out of reach.
Enter . Promising free, unrestricted PCB design for the "maker" community, it sounds like a dream come true. But before you uninstall KiCad or cancel your Fusion 360 subscription, let’s dive deep into what the Altium Maker License actually is, what it includes, and—most importantly—where its hidden walls are. What Exactly is the Altium Maker License? Launched by Altium to combat the rise of open-source tools (and to capture the next generation of engineers before they enter the workforce), the Altium Maker License is a free, time-limited subscription tier. altium maker license
If you are a student or a hobbyist who never plans to sell their boards, the Altium Maker License is arguably the most powerful free PCB design tool on the planet. The professional routing engines, library management, and 3D visualization are industry-leading.
It is the full, unadulterated Altium Designer—the same engine used to design NVIDIA GPUs and Tesla battery management systems. You get full schematic capture, unlimited layer PCB layout (yes, 20+ layers), 3D MCAD integration, and advanced routing engines. It is free for makers , not for companies
Use it to learn the industry standard. Do not use it to launch your empire. Have you tried the Altium Maker License? Let me know in the comments below if you’ve hit any hidden restrictions.
They want engineering students and hobbyists to become so proficient (and reliant) on Altium Designer that when they graduate or start a company, they refuse to use anything else. By then, paying $3,000 for a license feels like a small price to avoid the "pain" of learning a new tool. Yes, with your eyes open. For years, the barrier to entry for professional
| Feature | Altium Maker | KiCad (Open Source) | Fusion 360 (Personal) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Free (Non-Commercial) | Free (Any use) | Free (Non-Commercial) | | Layer Limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 Layers | | Board Size | Unlimited | Unlimited | Limited (80 sq cm) | | Learning Curve | Steep (Pro tool) | Moderate | Moderate | | Export Limits | None (Gerbers fine) | None | Pro-only exports? (Restrictions vary) | | Offline Use | No (Requires phone home) | Yes | Yes |
It is a demo. It is not a watered-down "Lite" version with component limits.
However, if you have even a vague dream of turning your project into a business, Designing a product for six months in the Maker License only to realize you cannot ship it without a massive software budget is a painful reality check.