PLECS
PLECS: A focused desktop simulator for detailed power-electronics, thermal, and control analysis. Ranked #21 of 41 in Electrical Design Software by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for power-electronics simulation specialists.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- Pricing30-day trial
- Best forPower-electronics simulation specialists
- Free planNo
- Schematic captureYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Thermal-loss and semiconductor temperature modeling
- MATLAB, Simulink, Python, and Octave integration
- Optional C-code generation and SPICE netlist import
Where it doesn't
- No panel-design capabilities
- No MCAD integration
- No free plan; commercial access is paid
Our verdict on PLECS
PLECS is desktop software for modeling and simulating power-electronic systems, including converters, motor drives, electrical circuits, thermal behavior, and control algorithms. It is aimed at engineers and specialists who need detailed simulation rather than a broad electrical design environment. The graphical schematic editor, power-electronics component libraries, variable- and fixed-step solvers, waveform analysis, and frequency-response tools support work from circuit modeling through system analysis. PLECS is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, in Standalone form or as PLECS Blockset for MATLAB and Simulink.
Licensing is structured around permanent and leased access. The PLECS Blockset Individual License, Dongle License, and Concurrent License are permanent licenses, each including one year of software maintenance. An annual lease is also available. A 30-day free trial provides an evaluation period, while the product itself is paid rather than free. The licensing choices distinguish individual, dongle-based, and concurrent use cases, giving teams different ways to align access with their working environment.
PLECS stands out through the depth of its power-electronics simulation workflow. Thermal-loss and semiconductor temperature modeling extend analysis beyond electrical behavior, while steady-state and frequency-response analysis help examine operating performance. Octave, Python, and MATLAB scripting support automation, and Simulink integration connects the Blockset edition with model-based workflows. Optional PLECS Coder adds C-code generation, and PLECS Spice supports SPICE netlist import. Choose PLECS for focused power-electronics simulation across desktop platforms; choose another tool when panel design or MCAD integration is central to the workflow.
Your product? Our editors can test PLECS in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
PLECS pricing
All 4 PLECS plans and prices →
PLECS fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Schematic capture | Yes |
| Panel design | No |
| Electrical simulation | Advanced |
| Standards libraries | Yes |
| MCAD integration | No |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: MATLAB, Simulink, Simulink Coder, Python, Octave |
| Pricing | 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | plexim.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
PLECS integrations
PLECS lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- MATLAB
- Simulink
- Simulink Coder
- Python
- Octave
Alternatives to PLECS
- ETAPA broad electrical engineering platform for modeling, analysis, field workflows, and automation.8.9
- Trimble Electrical DesignerA standards-focused suite for calculating, validating and reporting electrical system designs.8.8
- EPLAN Electric P8A broad ECAD tool for structured electrical documentation and production workflows.8.7
Used PLECS? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used PLECS for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
PLECS is listed in our Electrical Design Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/plecs/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/plecs.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update