OrCAD X
OrCAD X: A cloud-connected PCB suite for teams spanning circuit design through manufacturing handoff. Ranked #5 of 41 in Electrical Design Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for cloud-connected PCB design teams.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- Pricing30-day trial
- Best forCloud-connected PCB design teams
- Free planNo
- Schematic captureYes
- Founded1988 · San Jose, California, USA
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Combines schematic capture, PSpice simulation, layout, and routing
- Live BOM includes availability, pricing, lifecycle, and compliance data
- Supports ECAD/MCAD collaboration, 3D checks, DFM, and cloud review
Where it doesn't
- Paid product with no free plan
- Advanced capabilities are split across multiple paid tiers
- Some tiers may require contacting Cadence or a Channel Partner
Our verdict on OrCAD X
OrCAD X is Cadence’s PCB design platform for electrical engineers, PCB designers, individuals, startups, and small to mid-sized design teams. It covers the workflow from circuit concept through manufacturing handoff, combining electrical schematic capture, dynamic electrical rule checking, PSpice mixed-signal simulation, PCB layout, routing, constraint management, fabrication documentation, and design-for-manufacturing checks. Desktop tools and cloud-connected capabilities support both individual design work and team review, with web and Windows availability.
The plan structure maps capabilities to project complexity. OrCAD X Standard includes schematic capture, basic PSpice simulation, constraint management, fabrication and assembly documentation, 3D visualization, and MCAD collaboration. OrCAD X Professional adds live BOM data, team collaboration, automation, high-speed features, and integrated signal and power integrity analysis. OrCAD X Professional Plus adds advanced PSpice analysis, a circuit optimizer, MathWorks Simulink integration, and the full Professional feature set. The published offer includes a 30-day trial, while the product remains paid rather than free.
Its strongest fit is a team that needs electrical design depth alongside mechanical coordination and manufacturing preparation. Live BOM data covers component availability, pricing, lifecycle, and compliance, while bidirectional IDX and STEP workflows connect with SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion, and PTC Creo. SnapMagic, SamacSys, and Ultra Librarian support component workflows, and MATLAB/Simulink is available as an integration. Choose OrCAD X when simulation, constraints, PCB routing, ECAD/MCAD collaboration, and cloud review belong in one workflow; teams seeking a free plan or a simpler, narrower tool should look elsewhere.
Your product? Our editors can test OrCAD X in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
OrCAD X pricing
All 3 OrCAD X plans and prices →
OrCAD X fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Schematic capture | Yes |
| Panel design | Not verified |
| Electrical simulation | Advanced |
| Standards libraries | Yes |
| MCAD integration | Yes |
| Deployment | Hybrid |
| Free trial | 30 days · no card needed |
| Deployment | Desktop, Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Windows |
| Support | Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 9 integrations: SnapMagic, SamacSys, Ultra Librarian, SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, Siemens NX … |
| Pricing | 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | cadence.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
OrCAD X integrations
OrCAD X lists 9 integrations on its own site.
- SnapMagic
- SamacSys
- Ultra Librarian
- SOLIDWORKS
- CATIA
- Siemens NX
- Autodesk Fusion
- PTC Creo
- MATLAB/Simulink
Alternatives to OrCAD X
- ETAPA broad electrical engineering platform for modeling, analysis, field workflows, and automation.8.9
- Trimble Electrical DesignerA standards-focused suite for calculating, validating and reporting electrical system designs.8.8
- EPLAN Electric P8A broad ECAD tool for structured electrical documentation and production workflows.8.7
See all OrCAD X alternatives →
OrCAD X vs the competition
- OrCAD X vs ETAP
- OrCAD X vs Trimble Electrical Designer
- OrCAD X vs EPLAN Electric P8
- OrCAD X vs KiCad
- OrCAD X vs Altium Designer
- OrCAD X vs CYME
Compare OrCAD X with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
OrCAD X is ranked in 6 of our directories.
Used OrCAD X? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used OrCAD X for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
OrCAD X is listed in our Electrical Design Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/orcad-x/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/orcad-x.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update