What it is
ProfiCAD is desktop software for electrical and electronic diagrams, schematics, control circuits, and other technical drawings, including pneumatic and hydraulic diagrams. It can produce bills of materials, wire lists, terminal lists, and cable lists. The symbol library contains more than 2,000 symbols, and an editor lets users create their own. Drawing tools include automatic symbol numbering and insertion, symbol search, and cross-references between wires and component symbols. Users can adapt ISO 7200 title blocks or create them. The desktop program is for Windows; the maker says it can run on Mac using Parallels. ProfiCAD Viewer allows Android users to view drawings, though it does not show cross-references. The program works offline, with drawings kept on the user's computer. The free Home edition allows up to three pages, and commercial creation or modification requires a paid license. A 30-day full-feature trial is available; paid licenses start at $277, excluding tax.
Who it suits. ProfiCAD may suit electrical engineers, electricians, panel builders, technicians, schools, and hobbyists creating electrical or related technical diagrams. It is not intended for PCB layout, 3D modeling, complex CAD, or full-featured DWG/DXF editing.
Good
- More than 2,000 symbols and custom symbol editor
- Generates materials, wire, terminal, and cable lists
- Works offline; drawings stay on the computer
- 30-day full-feature trial without a credit card
Watch for
- Free Home edition limited to three pages
- Commercial creation or modification requires a paid license
- Android viewer does not display cross-references
- Not intended for PCB layout or 3D modeling
Verdict
ProfiCAD focuses on electrical and technical diagrams, with reporting and symbol tools for that work. Its free edition has page and commercial-use limits, so check those before choosing a license.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day trial | $0 | Full version free for 30 days |
| Home license | $0 | Free for non-commercial use |
| School License | $277 once | $277 · all prices exclude tax |
| Single User License | $277 once | $277 · all prices exclude tax |
| Site License | $827 once | $827 · all prices exclude tax |
From ProfiCAD's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026. Every plan
What the maker publishes
- Company history and audience
- The maker says Vaclav Jedlicka has developed ProfiCAD since 1997, and identifies electrical engineers, electricians, panel builders, technicians, small and medium teams, schools, and hobbyists as users. source
- Drawing features
- Features include automatic symbol numbering, symbol search, automatic symbol insertion, and cross-references between wires and component symbols. source
- File sharing
- The maker describes using Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or email to transfer drawings to the Android viewer. source
- Founded
- 1997 source
- Free edition limit
- The Home edition permits up to three pages; its commercial use is limited to opening, viewing, and printing third-party documents. source
- Limitations
- The maker says ProfiCAD is not intended for PCB layout, 3D modeling, complex CAD, or full-featured DWG/DXF editing. source
- Mobile viewer
- ProfiCAD Viewer lets users view ProfiCAD drawings on Android, but the viewer has limitations such as not displaying cross-references. source
- Offline use
- The maker says ProfiCAD works offline and drawings stay on the user's computer. source
- Operating systems
- The desktop program is for Windows; the maker says it can run on Mac using Parallels software. source
- Purpose
- ProfiCAD creates electrical and electronic diagrams, schematics, control circuit diagrams, and other technical diagrams such as pneumatic and hydraulic diagrams. source
- Reports
- It generates bills of materials, wire lists, terminal lists, and cable lists. source
- Security and privacy
- The privacy policy says the maker encrypts all computers and performs regular data backups; it also says the website uses Google Analytics and cookies. source
- Support
- Users can get technical support through the site chatbot, email, FAQ, and user manual; the maker says questions are answered by the developer. source
- Symbols
- The program includes over 2,000 symbols and provides an editor for creating custom symbols. source
- Title blocks
- It supports ISO 7200 title blocks that users can adapt or create themselves. source
Review
Overview
ProfiCAD is a focused diagramming package for electrical, electronic, control, pneumatic, hydraulic and other technical schematics. It suits electricians, panel builders, technicians, educators, small teams and hobbyists who need structured documentation without an internet connection. Choose it for specialist schematic work and reporting, not as an all-purpose CAD or PCB platform.
Key features
More than 2,000 symbols, symbol search and an editor for custom symbols give most electrical projects a substantial starting library. Automatic insertion and numbering reduce repetitive placement work, while cross-references between wires and component symbols help readers follow a schematic as it grows. ProfiCAD also produces bills of materials, wire lists, terminal lists and cable lists, so the drawing can support ordering, wiring and handover documentation rather than standing alone.
ISO 7200 title blocks can be adapted or created for standardized drawing sheets. Offline operation keeps files on the user's computer, a sensible fit for workshops with unreliable connectivity or strict local-storage preferences. DXF support and batch printing help with exchange and production runs. The omissions are significant for broader design offices: there is no native DWG support or PDF underlay, and the maker positions the software away from PCB layout, 3D modeling, complex CAD and full-featured DWG/DXF editing.
Pricing
The 30-day trial costs 0.00 USD per free, includes full features and requires no credit card. It is the best first step for a contractor who needs to confirm that the symbol and reporting workflow fits a real project.
The Home license is 0.00 USD per free for non-commercial home and hobby use, capped at three pages. Commercial creation or modification requires a paid license; commercial use of the free edition is limited to opening, viewing and printing third-party documents. That makes Home suitable for learning or personal diagrams, but not for producing client work.
A Single User License costs 277.00 USD per once, excluding tax. It is a permanent license for one computer at work and one at home within the purchasing organization, a straightforward fit for an individual professional. The School License is also 277.00 USD per once, excluding tax, and permits installation on all school computers plus students' and employees' private computers, making it the stronger classroom option. A Site License costs 827.00 USD per once, excluding tax, and covers all company computers, including employees' private computers; it is the practical choice for a larger organization that needs broad deployment.
Platforms
The primary product is a Windows desktop application and works offline. The maker says it can run on macOS through Parallels software, so Mac users should plan on that extra virtualization layer rather than a native Mac desktop experience. ProfiCAD Viewer runs on Android for viewing drawings; files can be transferred through Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or email. The viewer does not display cross-references, so it is a review companion rather than a full mobile editing replacement.
Who it's for
Electrical engineers, electricians, panel builders and technicians who need numbered symbols, cross-references and generated lists get the clearest benefit. Small and medium teams can select a permanent seat or site-wide deployment, while schools and hobbyists have dedicated licensing paths. It is a poor match for teams whose core work is PCB design, 3D, complex mechanical CAD or DWG-centered collaboration.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Purpose-built documentation: bills of materials, wire, terminal and cable lists turn schematics into usable project records.
- Strong symbol workflow: over 2,000 symbols, custom creation, search, automatic numbering and cross-references support detailed electrical drawings.
- Offline and local: work continues without connectivity and drawings remain on the computer.
- Flexible deployment: permanent single-user, school and site licenses cover solo professionals through organizations.
Cons
- Three-page free cap: the Home edition is unsuitable for commercial production and larger personal projects.
- Limited CAD scope: no native DWG, no PDF underlay, and no PCB, 3D or complex-CAD toolset.
- Mac and mobile compromises: macOS depends on Parallels, while the Android viewer omits cross-references.
Alternatives
- LabVIEW is the better direction for users needing Linux, web access or a free non-commercial Community Edition alongside Windows and macOS support.
- AutoCAD fits readers who need a paid, broad CAD environment across desktop, mobile and web platforms.
- SOLIDWORKS is aimed at users prepared for a substantially higher-cost design platform, including a 2,820.00 USD-per-year Design Standard plan.
- ETAP suits power-system analysis users seeking a paid simulator with web, mobile and API availability.
- PLECS is worth considering for a fully functional 30-day trial in a paid circuit-simulation product.
- CircuitLab is a browser-oriented option with hobbyist and low-cost paid plans.
- DIgSILENT PowerFactory is an alternative for specialist power-system work with a 28-day demo license.
- OrCAD X is a paid Windows and web option for readers seeking an OrCAD workflow.
- Electrical design software provides a wider category comparison.
- CAD software is the broader shortlist for general CAD requirements.
Verdict
ProfiCAD is a strong choice for an electrical professional or small organization that values offline schematics, a deep symbol library and automatically generated wiring documentation. Its permanent licenses and school and site options are practical for defined deployments. Look elsewhere when your projects depend on native DWG, PDF underlays, PCB layout, 3D modeling, complex CAD or a fully featured mobile workflow.