Best Free PLC Programming Software in 2026
Every PLC programming environment with a free tier, demo, or open-source licence — with direct download links and the catches you need to know about. Updated monthly.
14 toolsUpdated 2026Direct download links
Three categories of "free"
- • Open source / forever free — OpenPLC, ScadaBR, Click. No catch.
- • Engineering free, runtime paid — CODESYS, TwinCAT. The IDE costs nothing; running it on hardware costs.
- • Free with hardware — WPLSoft, IDEC, EcoStruxure Basic. Free if you buy the matching PLC.
- • Trials — Studio 5000, TIA Portal, Sysmac, GX Works. Time-limited but full-functionality.
At-a-glance comparison
| # | Software | Free for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | OpenPLC OpenPLC Project | Forever — open source (GPL) | Learning IEC 61131-3 on real hardware (Pi, Arduino, ESP32) |
| #2 | CODESYS CODESYS Group | Development environment is free; runtimes paid | Multi-vendor IEC 61131-3 programming (Beckhoff, Wago, Schneider, ABB OEMs) |
| #3 | LogixPro TheLearningPit | 15-day trial — full functionality | Learning Allen-Bradley RSLogix 500 ladder logic |
| #4 | WPLSoft / ISPSoft Delta Electronics | Forever — completely free with hardware | Delta DVP, AS, AH-series PLCs |
| #5 | Studio 5000 Logix Designer (Demo) Rockwell Automation | 90-day trial | Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix |
| #6 | TIA Portal V19 Trial Siemens | 21-day trial | Siemens S7-1200, S7-1500, S7-300/400 programming |
| #7 | Sysmac Studio 30-Day Omron | 30-day trial | Omron NJ/NX/NY series controllers |
| #8 | GX Works3 Trial Mitsubishi Electric | 30-day trial | Mitsubishi MELSEC iQ-R, iQ-F, Q, F series |
| #9 | Connected Components Workbench (CCW) Rockwell Automation | Forever — Standard edition is free | Allen-Bradley Micro800 series (Micro810, 820, 830, 850, 870) |
| #10 | TwinCAT 3 Engineering Beckhoff | Forever — engineering free; runtime needs licence | Beckhoff hardware and EtherCAT systems |
| #11 | Vijeo Designer Trial Schneider Electric | 30-day trial | Schneider Magelis HMI screens |
| #12 | EcoStruxure Machine Expert Basic Schneider Electric | Forever — for M221/M241 series | Schneider M221, M241 small PLCs |
| #13 | IDEC WindLDR / WindO/I-NV4 IDEC | Forever — free with IDEC hardware | IDEC FT1A, FC6A, MicroSmart, SmartAXIS PLCs |
| #14 | Click Programming Software AutomationDirect | Forever — completely free | CLICK PLUS series PLCs from AutomationDirect |
#1
OpenPLC
OpenPLC Project
Free for: Forever — open source (GPL)
OS: Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi
Best for: Learning IEC 61131-3 on real hardware (Pi, Arduino, ESP32)
Catch: Smaller community than commercial tools
#2
CODESYS
CODESYS Group
Free for: Development environment is free; runtimes paid
OS: Windows
Best for: Multi-vendor IEC 61131-3 programming (Beckhoff, Wago, Schneider, ABB OEMs)
Catch: Runtimes for non-OEM hardware (Raspberry Pi, etc.) require licence after 30-day trial
#3
LogixPro
TheLearningPit
Free for: 15-day trial — full functionality
OS: Windows
Best for: Learning Allen-Bradley RSLogix 500 ladder logic
Catch: Trial only; full version is a one-time purchase ($95)
#4
WPLSoft / ISPSoft
Delta Electronics
Free for: Forever — completely free with hardware
OS: Windows
Best for: Delta DVP, AS, AH-series PLCs
Catch: Locked to Delta hardware
#5
Studio 5000 Logix Designer (Demo)
Rockwell Automation
Free for: 90-day trial
OS: Windows
Best for: Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix
Catch: Full licence is $5,500+; the trial is great for learning but not production
#6
TIA Portal V19 Trial
Siemens
Free for: 21-day trial
OS: Windows
Best for: Siemens S7-1200, S7-1500, S7-300/400 programming
Catch: Trial only; full version is per-engineer licensed ($2,500+ Basic)
#7
Sysmac Studio 30-Day
Omron
Free for: 30-day trial
OS: Windows
Best for: Omron NJ/NX/NY series controllers
Catch: Trial only
#8
GX Works3 Trial
Mitsubishi Electric
Free for: 30-day trial
OS: Windows
Best for: Mitsubishi MELSEC iQ-R, iQ-F, Q, F series
Catch: Trial only; full GX Works3 is ¥150,000+ per seat
#9
Connected Components Workbench (CCW)
Rockwell Automation
Free for: Forever — Standard edition is free
OS: Windows
Best for: Allen-Bradley Micro800 series (Micro810, 820, 830, 850, 870)
Catch: Limited to Micro800 — does NOT program ControlLogix/CompactLogix
#10
TwinCAT 3 Engineering
Beckhoff
Free for: Forever — engineering free; runtime needs licence
OS: Windows
Best for: Beckhoff hardware and EtherCAT systems
Catch: Runtime licence required for production hardware
#11
Vijeo Designer Trial
Schneider Electric
Free for: 30-day trial
OS: Windows
Best for: Schneider Magelis HMI screens
Catch: Trial only
#12
EcoStruxure Machine Expert Basic
Schneider Electric
Free for: Forever — for M221/M241 series
OS: Windows
Best for: Schneider M221, M241 small PLCs
Catch: Limited to entry-level Schneider PLCs
#13
IDEC WindLDR / WindO/I-NV4
IDEC
Free for: Forever — free with IDEC hardware
OS: Windows
Best for: IDEC FT1A, FC6A, MicroSmart, SmartAXIS PLCs
Catch: Locked to IDEC hardware
#14
Click Programming Software
AutomationDirect
Free for: Forever — completely free
OS: Windows
Best for: CLICK PLUS series PLCs from AutomationDirect
Catch: Locked to CLICK hardware