41 ranked · checked 2026

Best Electrical Design Software in 2026

Electrical design software covers capabilities such as schematic capture, panel design and electrical simulation. Compare those tools with standards libraries and MCAD integration to see how options may fit your design process. Deployment is another point to consider, alongside free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. The entries include SOLIDWORKS, AutoCAD and ETAP, giving you different names to assess against the work you need to carry out. Check which combination of design, simulation and integration capabilities is relevant to your projects, and consider the listed cost and deployment details as part of that comparison.

1
AutoCAD
by AutoCAD
from $260 a monthFree trialOn the phone
7.8Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
On several lists
+0.7
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+1.5
2
SOLIDWORKS
by SOLIDWORKS
from $48 a yearFree plan
7.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
On several lists
+0.7
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
3
ProfiCAD
from $277 onceFree planOn the phone
6.9Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.9

4
CircuitLab
from $16 a monthFree plan
6.3Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
5
ETAP
Free trialOn the phone
6.1Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+1.5
6
iCircuit
from $1.99 a monthOn the phone
6.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+1.2
7
SKM Power*Tools
from $299 a yearOn the phone
6.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+1.2
8
Altium Designer
from $460 a monthFree trial
5.9Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
9
EasyPower
from $1,165 a yearFree trial
5.6Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
10
eCADSTAR
from £89 a monthFree trial
5.6Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
11
PLECS
from $8,000 onceFree trial
5.6Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
12
PowerWorld Simulator
from $11,000 onceFree trial
5.6Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8
13
LibrePCB
Free planOpen source
5.4Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Open source
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
14
LabVIEW
Free plan
5.3Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
15
TINA Design Suite
On the phone
5.3Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+1.5
16
gEDA Project
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
17
KiCad
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
18
LTspice
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
19
ngspice
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
20
PSCAD
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
21
QElectroTech
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
22
QSPICE
Free plan
5.0Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+1.2
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
23
OrCAD X
Free trial
4.9Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
24
Zuken E3.series
Free trial
4.9Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
A free way to start
+0.8
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+0.6
Checked lately
+0.8
Works on the jobsite
+0.3
25
Bentley promis.e
from A$6,224 a year
4.8Visit
Why it stands here
Facts with sources
+2.0
Research order
+0.4
Prices shown
+1.6
Checked lately
+0.8

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