Cadence PSpice
PCB design software
CAD software
Bathroom CAD software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$1,280.00 per year
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What is Cadence PSpice
Cadence PSpice is an electronic circuit simulation and analysis tool used to design and validate analog, mixed-signal, and power electronics circuits using SPICE models. It is typically used by electrical engineers to run schematic-based simulations (e.g., transient, AC, DC, and parametric sweeps) and to evaluate component behavior before PCB layout. The product is commonly deployed alongside broader Cadence design flows and supports vendor component models and libraries for simulation-driven design decisions.
Mature SPICE simulation engine
PSpice is built around a long-established SPICE-based simulation workflow for analog and mixed-signal circuits. It supports common analysis types such as DC, AC, transient, and sweep/Monte Carlo-style studies used in circuit verification. This makes it well-suited for validating circuit behavior prior to committing to PCB layout and prototyping.
Strong component model ecosystem
The tool supports importing and using manufacturer-provided PSpice models, which helps engineers simulate real component behavior. This is useful for power devices, op-amps, and other analog parts where model fidelity affects results. Access to a broad model ecosystem can reduce the need to create custom models from scratch.
Integration with Cadence flows
PSpice fits into Cadence’s broader electronic design automation portfolio, enabling workflows that connect simulation with schematic capture and downstream implementation. This can simplify handoff between circuit verification and PCB design activities when teams standardize on Cadence tooling. It also supports collaboration patterns common in enterprise EDA environments (libraries, managed design data, and repeatable simulation setups).
Not a PCB layout tool
Despite being used in PCB design workflows, PSpice itself focuses on circuit simulation rather than board layout, routing, or manufacturing outputs. Organizations typically need separate PCB design software for placement, routing, and fabrication deliverables. This can increase toolchain complexity for teams expecting an all-in-one PCB environment.
Learning curve for advanced analyses
Accurate simulation often requires understanding of SPICE modeling assumptions, convergence settings, and numerical stability considerations. Complex mixed-signal or switching power simulations can require careful setup and iterative tuning. Teams without simulation expertise may need training to achieve reliable, repeatable results.
Licensing and ecosystem lock-in
PSpice is commonly licensed as part of commercial EDA offerings, which can be a cost consideration for small teams and individual users. Integration benefits are strongest when an organization uses related Cadence tools, which can create dependency on a single vendor ecosystem. Migrating libraries and simulation setups to other environments may require additional effort.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| OrCAD X Standard (includes PSpice Designer Plus) | $1,280.00 per year (subscription) | Schematic capture, PSpice mixed-signal simulation (PSpice Designer Plus), PCB editor; billed yearly; purchase directly via Cadence OnCloud marketplace. |
| OrCAD X Professional | Contact Cadence / Channel Partner (custom pricing) | Builds on Standard: adds Live BOM, team collaboration, automation, high-speed features, integrated SI/PI analysis; pricing varies by region—contact sales. |
| OrCAD X Professional Plus | Contact Cadence / Channel Partner (custom pricing) | Complete solution: includes advanced PSpice analysis, circuit optimizer, MathWorks Simulink integration; contact sales for pricing. |
Seller details
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
San Jose, CA, USA
1988
Public
https://www.cadence.com/
https://x.com/cadence
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cadence-design-systems/
