PLECS vs SOLIDWORKS
Both are on the Electrical Design Software list. Here is what each maker publishes, side by side.
| PLECS | SOLIDWORKS | |
|---|---|---|
| Place on the list | #11 5.6 | #2 7.0 |
| Maker | — | SOLIDWORKS |
| Starts at | $8,000 once | $48 a year |
| Free | Free trial | Free plan |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Mac, Web, Windows |
| Open source | No | No |
| Plans | PLECS trial license: $0 PLECS Blockset Individual License (commercial): $8,000 once PLECS Standalone Individual License (commercial): $8,000 once PLECS Blockset Dongle License (commercial): $11,200 once | SOLIDWORKS Design Standard with Cloud Services: $2,820 a year SOLIDWORKS Design Professional with Cloud Services: $3,456 a year SOLIDWORKS Design Premium with Cloud Services: $4,716 a year SOLIDWORKS for Makers: $48 a year |
| Verdict | PLECS brings simulation, analysis, and control tools together for power-electronics work. Buyers should distinguish between Standalone and Blockset, especially because Blockset depends on MATLAB and Simulink. | SOLIDWORKS combines locally installed design tools with optional cloud collaboration and browser-based modeling. Its plans differ in included capabilities, and the listed Standard price is an annual single-device license. |
| Visit PLECS | Visit SOLIDWORKS |