Best Electrical Design Software with a Free Trial of 2026

OrCAD® X is a unified PCB design software platform. It offers significant improvements to ease of use, performance and automation. Our product suite includes applications for schematic, PCB layout, simulation and data management. OrCAD X Capture, a schematic design solution for electrical circuit creation and documentation, is one of OrCAD's most popular products. PSpice®, our virtual SPICE simulation engine integrated into Capture, allows you to prototype and verify your designs using industry-leading native analog, mixed signal, and advanced analysis engines. OrCAD X Presto and OrCAD X PCB editor are two PCB layout tools that allow designers to easily collaborate between ECAD/MCAD teams and build better PCBs faster. OrCAD X Presto is our new, simplified interface for novice designers, electrical engineers and PCB designers focused on quick turn PCB designs.

Autodesk AutoCAD is a complete computer-aided design and drafting solution that transforms the way professionals conceptualize, document, and deliver projects. Built for precision and creativity, AutoCAD supports 2D drafting and 3D modeling with intelligent tools for solids, surfaces, and meshes. The AutoCAD 2026 release integrates Autodesk AI, automating repetitive tasks like object placement, markup interpretation, and drawing comparisons to save hours of manual effort. Users can collaborate seamlessly using Autodesk Docs, ensuring consistent document management and version control across teams. With built-in AutoLISP, APIs, and the Autodesk App Store, the software is endlessly customizable for specialized workflows. Its seven industry-specific toolsets—including Architecture, MEP, and Plant 3D—optimize productivity and deliver specialized functionality for each discipline. AutoCAD’s cloud connectivity enables real-time co-authoring and access from any device. Whether for buildings, infrastructure, or products, AutoCAD remains the most trusted platform for professional design innovation.

At WSCAD, we have been developing electrical CAD solutions for over 30 years. Customers include small to medium-sized companies, international corporations, and engineering service providers in the machine-building, panel manufacturing, and building automation industries. WSCAD software is used by over 40,000 electrical engineers as their electrical CAD solution. The software is based on one core platform that covers six engineering disciplines: Electrical Engineering, Cabinet Engineering, Piping and Instrumentation, Fluid Engineering, Building Automation and Electrical Installation. Any change made to a component in one discipline is instantly reflected in all other disciplines, saving time and improving quality. WSCAD ELECTRIX – our most powerful electrical CAD – is our brand-new offering. No matter if you are designing piping & instrumentation diagrams, fluid power or electrical schematics, cabinet engineering, building automation or electrical installation – WSCAD is the right tool for you. The new ELECTRIX features a fully new design engine (editor) and incorporates compatibility with standard formats such as DXF/DWG, as well as modern technologies such as augmented reality, multi-threading, and automation.

Solid Edge is a collection of software tools that are affordable, easy-to-use, maintain, and easy to use. It advances all aspects of product development, including mechanical and electrical design, simulation, production, technical documentation, data management and cloud-based collaboration. Solid Edge is based on Siemens industry-leading technologies and offers the most comprehensive and innovative approach to product development for mainstream markets.

Revit provides specialized software for electrical design, while AutoCAD offers dedicated tools for both electrical and HVAC planning. Maximize the potential of your Revit model for electrical layouts by easily creating one-line riser diagrams, sizing feeders, accurately calculating voltage drops, conducting short-circuit analyses, and much more. Within the well-known AutoCAD platform, you can access a comprehensive electrical design tool that seamlessly combines calculations with drafting tasks. From generating panel schedules to creating one-line diagrams and assessing fault as well as voltage drop, the software covers all essential aspects. Additionally, in the AutoCAD environment, the HVAC design program allows you to efficiently layout, size, and draft your ductwork, ensuring a streamlined workflow for all your design needs. This integration of features not only enhances productivity but also simplifies the overall design process.

Cable Pro Web, a cloud-based calculation tool for low voltage electrical design, is well-known and compliant with many international standards. This software is compatible with all types of electrical installations, including commercial and industrial. Cable Pro Web allows users the ability to calculate cable sizing, voltage drop, maximum demand, voltage increase for solar, discrimination, protective devices, power factor correction and cable pulling tensions. It also allows them to calculate electrical networks with generators, transformers and switchboards. Cable Pro Web assists electrical businesses in securing more work and larger projects. It allows users to accurately quote and is therefore more likely to succeed on their projects. Cable Pro Web is easy to use and saves time. It is also quick and simple to learn. There is also excellent technical support.

SafeGrid Earthing Software is ideal for designing earthing systems. The software can perform accurate, finite element based calculations. SafeGrid Earthing software has been proven to be affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use. The software calculates substation grid resistance, touch and voltages, and lightning protection. The software has been helping industries for the past ten years. It includes all modules necessary to design a safe earthing system in the safe grip. It includes: Fault current distribution. Soil modelling. Grid. Safety criteria Secure results You also get support from our earthing experts engineers along with the software. SafeGrid Earthing software saves time and money on your projects.

The ReluxCAD add-on for Revit allows lighting design in Revit. You can improve the quality of your specialist planning. The ReluxCAD for Revit addon allows you to determine the number of luminaires required in interior spaces in accordance with standards. The ReluxCAD for Revit add-on provides electrical designers with an intuitive and understandable simulation tool that they can use in their everyday work environment. The native interface to ReluxDesktop allows for loss-free communication between lighting designers. You are responsible for ensuring that luminaires are placed in buildings in accordance with standards. Only 10% of luminaires that are currently installed are tested for compliance with current lighting standards. Improve the lighting planning quality in buildings This tool will help you do exactly that. Clear display of complex products. Simulation of IEC63180 passive infrared sensor. Measurements for interior and exterior.

Cableizer is an electrical, mechanical and thermal cable design software package. Cableizer is a web-based application: it is inexpensive, widely available and customizable. It also has better interoperability and is easier to maintain and install than a desktop program. Property • Software-based cable design up to 500kV! • Calculations of cable mass, heat of burning, CO2, price etc. Calculation of cable pull and rated current • Environmental calculations including magnetic field and increase in ground temperatures • Web-based, without installation or dongle but with automatic updates Share links directly with customers to collaborate

It is intended for architects of electrical and power equipment systems in buildings. It can also be used to document the professional documentation of low-voltage electrical systems. This module expands the capabilities and features of ArCADia's BIM program with advanced functions. It means that a portion of the building modeling options are available in ArCADia's BIM program

Retrolux Lighting and Energy Retrofits are easy to make. Save time and money by using the Retrolux Lighting & Energy audit, design, and proposal software. LIGHTING RETROFIT CONTRACTORS. ESCOS. LED TURNKEY SOLUTION PROVIDERS. Why waste time on lighting audits and proposals? Retrolux is not just a software company. We are energy experts who can help you grow your business. We believe that success is when you are happy. It's as simple as that. Easy to use intuitive software developed by a team seasoned energy and lighting professionals. Increase Efficiency and Accuracy. No more paper and pencil lighting audits to decipher or duplicate data-entry. Lighting retrofit contractors, escos, and led turnkey solutions providers. Is it worth wasting time on lighting audits and proposals? Retrolux is not just a software company. We are energy experts who can help you grow and support your business. We believe that success is when you are happy. It's as simple as that.

Utilize a specialized toolset tailored for electrical design to efficiently create, modify, and document control systems. Generate and refresh personalized reports with ease, and seamlessly share DWG™ drawings with all relevant stakeholders. Organize your electrical drafting projects by using folders to manage drawings and rearranging files as necessary. Publish complex schematics into multipage PDFs while minimizing errors through automated numbering for wires and component tags. Leverage the Circuit Builder feature for straightforward electrical designs and choose from an extensive library of electrical symbols. Identify potential issues before the construction phase commences, and monitor parent/child contacts in real-time. Clearly define a project's input/output assignments and benefit from enhanced preview options along with direct component insertion capabilities. Experience a fully integrated mechatronics solution alongside Inventor, featuring functionalities like coil and contact cross-referencing, PLC I/O drawings generated from spreadsheets, a catalog browser for parts, real-time error detection, libraries of electrical schematic symbols, circuit design and reuse options, wire numbering, component tagging, and many additional features to streamline your workflow. Ultimately, these tools and functionalities work together to optimize the entire process of electrical design and documentation.

Electrotechnik has introduced Cabe High Voltage software to make it easy and accurate to calculate cable-rating. There are many insulation conditions that can be covered in Air and Groups in air, Direct Buried or in-Ducts as well as Bonding Arrangements and Thermal Backfill. The graphical cable editor allows you to model custom cables from data sheets. There are many pre-modelled tables. The cable bonding arrangements can be changed between solid and semi-solid with or without regular transition. The transient module can be used to determine the emergency rating and cyclic rating for single-core and multicore circuits. The CHV software includes modules that calculate short-circuit rating, and magnetic fields intensity. You can easily create comprehensive directive PDF reports. Our engineers are available to assist you at any stage.

Ansys Cloud Direct’s powerful, easy-to-access HPC cloud solution will change the way you think about simulation. Unlike other simulation cloud solutions, Ansys Cloud Direct is simple to set up and navigate, will not break your workflow and does not require cloud experts to operate. Ansys Cloud Direct is all about Workflow, Performance, Support.

Capital X Panel Designer is an innovative electrical CAD solution hosted in the cloud that streamlines intricate electrical design tasks. With its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, it incorporates advanced schematic automation tools and facilitates real-time collaboration, empowering users to design circuits with speed and precision. The platform boasts features such as automatic wiring, tagging of symbols and wires, circuit reuse, and real-time cross-referencing for enhanced efficiency. It is accessible through web browsers on multiple devices, providing intelligent numbering for symbols and wires alongside automatic terminal generation, all while seamlessly integrating with cloud services. Its design prioritizes user convenience, as no downloads or installations are necessary, allowing teams to work together across the globe with built-in version control and secure access permissions. Additionally, the platform’s robust features cater to both novice and experienced designers, ensuring that it meets a wide range of electrical design needs.

CableCalc BS7671 is a sophisticated software solution for electrical calculation and design, fully compliant with the most recent BS7671:2018+A2:2022 standards governing electrical installations, also known as IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition Amendment 2, which assists electrical professionals in accurately sizing cables, assessing circuits, and designing distribution board projects. The software is adept at handling calculations for both single-phase and three-phase systems, encompassing various types of circuits including radial, ring, and sub-main configurations; it computes critical parameters such as voltage drop, disconnection times, fault currents, earth fault values, overload contingencies, and short-circuit metrics, while also accounting for correction factors like temperature variations and cable grouping. With extensive databases of copper cables and protective devices, it simplifies the selection process for users and includes powerful tools for producing detailed documentation like calculation reports, schedules, single-line diagrams, and schematic drawings, making it suitable for projects that range from basic circuits to complex multi-distribution board setups. Furthermore, its user-friendly interface ensures that both seasoned professionals and those new to electrical design can navigate the software with ease, enhancing productivity and accuracy in electrical installation projects.

SmartDesign transforms the design workflow by allowing users to simply right-click on a specific area to initiate automatic calculations for equipment sizing in accordance with the National Electrical Code® (NEC). This innovative tool acts like having an expert engineer, who has thoroughly memorized both the NEC and various manufacturers’ catalogs, conveniently available at your fingertips. Users benefit from detailed, integrated reports that not only provide valuable insights but also highlight potential issues that may arise. Additionally, the platform allows for the establishment of consistent standards through reusable design sheets tailored to particular specifications. By utilizing customizable design sheets, you can avoid the repetitive task of starting over each time; for instance, when designing another hospital system, you can build upon an existing design sheet rather than beginning anew. Furthermore, SmartDesign alleviates the burdensome task of navigating the complexities of NEC regulations and documentation, making the entire process more efficient and user-friendly. Embracing this tool can significantly streamline your design efforts and enhance productivity.

SEE Electrical is specifically designed for electrical engineering. You can use it quickly and with minimal training thanks to its intuitive interface. It's never been easier to create wiring diagrams. SEE Electrical is available in three levels: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. Each level offers a variety of services at different prices so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. It is easy to move from one level to the next, as you can access project data at all levels simultaneously. SEE Electrical allows you to open as many windows and work on multiple projects simultaneously. The integrated Microsoft ActiveX®, interface allows you to combine documents from other Windows programs directly into your project structure.

These metrics reflect the data that underpins the design's purpose, ensuring a well-balanced and safeguarded power distribution framework that encompasses aspects like short circuit current, grounding configuration, voltage hierarchy, and connectivity to the electrical grid. PowerCalc emerges as an innovative solution for designing a building's power distribution system. This robust tool delivers results driven by a comprehensive database, significantly reducing the time spent on design, minimizing errors, and smoothing out potential process disruptions. By leveraging its extensive proprietary database, PowerCalc makes informed selections of appropriate values to ensure adherence to the NEC and other relevant codes and engineering standards, which includes the NEC lookup tables. With just three user inputs for each circuit—namely load kVA, load type, and number of poles—PowerCalc can generate 300 outputs that comply with NEC, IEEE, and additional standards. Furthermore, any modifications made within the design are instantly updated throughout the entire system, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in the design process. This seamless integration allows designers to focus more on creativity while ensuring compliance and functionality.

CADISON E&I Designer emerges from a wealth of engineering knowledge and the advanced technical skills of Electrical Engineers and Developers, all rooted in Object Oriented Technology. The tool was created with the goal of enhancing efficiency in electrical engineering while addressing project lifecycle hurdles such as managing changes, maintaining centralized documentation, providing real-time updates, and achieving a seamless integration of information and data with visual elements. Two key components that define CADISON E&I Designer are its scalability and customization, which facilitate its alignment with your business model and systems in a straightforward manner. Our primary aim is to ensure precision, speed, and timely project completion for our users. The unique offerings from the CADISON Team set it apart in a competitive landscape. By prioritizing user needs, the CADISON E&I Designer transforms how engineering projects are managed and executed.

Ansys Motor-CAD serves as a specialized tool for the design of electric machines, facilitating rapid multiphysics simulations throughout the entire torque-speed operating range. It allows design engineers to assess various motor configurations and concepts to create designs that maximize performance, efficiency, and compactness. With its four integrated modules—EMag, Therm, Lab, and Mech—Motor-CAD enables quick and iterative multiphysics calculations, significantly reducing the time from initial concept to finalized design. This efficiency in calculations and streamlined data input processes provides users with the opportunity to investigate a broader array of motor topologies and thoroughly evaluate the effects of advanced loss mechanisms in the early phases of electromechanical design. The latest release boasts enhanced capabilities for design optimization, multiphysics analysis, and system modeling tailored specifically for electric motors, ensuring that engineers have the tools they need for cutting-edge development. Ultimately, Motor-CAD's fast multiphysics simulation capabilities across the full torque-speed range empower engineers to innovate and refine electric motor designs with unprecedented efficiency.

Ansys Exalto serves as an advanced post-LVS RLCk extraction software that empowers integrated circuit (IC) designers to effectively address unknown crosstalk between various components within the design hierarchy by extracting lumped-element parasitics and creating precise models for electrical, magnetic, and substrate coupling. This tool seamlessly integrates with a wide range of LVS software and can enhance the performance of any RC extraction tool you prefer. With Ansys Exalto's post-LVS RLCk extraction capabilities, IC designers are equipped to make accurate predictions regarding electromagnetic and substrate coupling effects, allowing for signoff on circuits that may have previously been deemed "too complex to analyze." The models that are extracted can be back-annotated to the schematic or netlist, ensuring compatibility with all circuit simulators. As the prevalence of RF and high-speed circuits continues to rise in contemporary silicon systems, electromagnetic coupling has become a primary factor that necessitates precise modeling to ensure the successful fabrication of silicon. Overall, Ansys Exalto represents a crucial advancement in circuit design, helping engineers navigate the complexities associated with modern electronic systems.

Experience an extensive set of advanced CAD features that enable you to finalize your designs significantly faster while enhancing the accuracy and precision of your overall design workflow. Our collection of complimentary design tools and resources can help transform your most innovative ideas into fully realized products. Whether you need a standalone design application, detailed technical information, or a comprehensive design ecosystem, our complete suite integrates effortlessly into your current design processes. DesignSpark Electrical stands out as a true electrical CAD solution, providing an extensive array of specialized tools to enhance your design efficiency. Numerous tasks such as device and wire numbering, along with report generation, are automated, which can save you substantial amounts of time. Additionally, the software’s inherent intelligence guarantees that your designs remain precise and consistent throughout the process. With DesignSpark Electrical, you have access to a wide variety of symbols, further enriched by an extensive selection of manufacturer parts to meet all your design needs. This combination not only streamlines your workflow but also elevates the quality of your projects.

FloWare is a collection of useful enhancements that increase productivity in CAD Flow, PCB Design with OrCAD or Allegro. These enhancements were created to meet specific customer needs in the areas of Setup, Display and Edit, Draft, Shapes. Check/Review, Documentation. Installation of FloWare modules requires no technical knowledge. The wizard guides you through the FloWare installation process. The tool bar shows the menu structure that PCB Editor recognizes. You can choose from the available modules to increase your PCB design productivity. The license is sent by email and is valid at the location of your company. Each module contains detailed documentation.

Harness the capabilities of a comprehensive, all-in-one CAD software solution that addresses every facet of electrical, automation, and instrumentation design. CADMATIC Electrical provides a reliable platform for projects ranging from basic to complex, delivering accurate and current outputs through its interconnected CAD framework and smart data management system. By minimizing the need for manual entries and boosting data reliability, it allows engineers to dedicate their efforts to enhancing innovation and efficiency through adaptable, intelligent workflows. The solution integrates smoothly with various design disciplines, thereby shortening project durations and elevating overall quality. It covers a wide array of elements such as wiring, instrumentation loops, key single-line diagrams, and load diagrams, while also managing lighting, outlets, cable pathways, cabling, security, and communication setups. Additionally, it organizes lists for cables, wiring, devices, I/O, instruments, and documentation. With CADMATIC Electrical, routine tasks are automated and the potential for errors is significantly reduced, empowering you to concentrate fully on your design objectives. Ultimately, this software not only streamlines the design process but also enhances collaborative efforts across teams.