Side by side
Fritzing vs PLECS
Both stand on electrical design software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid LinuxMacWindows
Fritzing connects visual circuit documentation with PCB preparation and community participation. Its limited simulation and paid desktop downloads are important considerations.
Visit Fritzing Free trial LinuxMacWindows
PLECS focuses on detailed power-electronics modeling, simulation, analysis, and optional code generation. The paid licensing structure and Blockset dependency are important when selecting an edition.
Visit PLECSThe facts
| Fritzing | PLECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Fritzing 1.0.8 individual: €8, paid once | PLECS Blockset Individual License (commercial): $8,000, paid once |
| Plans published | 3 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | fritzing.org | plexim.com |
| On electrical design software | #26 of 41 | #22 of 41 |
Fritzing: what it does well
- Breadboard, schematic, and PCB workflows
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Exports bills of materials as CSV
- Open-source code available on GitHub
What to know first
- Electrical simulator is described as limited beta
- Linux AppImages require specified glibc versions
- No free plan
- Desktop download is paid
PLECS: what it does well
- Models converters, motor drives, and controls
- Includes electrical, thermal, mechanical, and magnetic domains
- Provides steady-state and small-signal analyses
- Supports MATLAB, Python, and Octave scripts
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
What to know first
- No free plan
- PLECS Blockset requires MATLAB and Simulink
Alternatives to Fritzing Alternatives to PLECS The whole list