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RSLogix Emulate 500: Download, Pricing & System Requirements

RSLogix Emulate 500 (Allen-Bradley SLC 500 / MicroLogix Emulator) is Rockwell Automation's 1-language PLC programming environment supporting SLC 500 (1747-L20 through L553), MicroLogix 1100, MicroLogix 1200 and more. Released 2001, latest update 2024-04.

Pricing
$$
USD 250 – 700
Difficulty
Beginner Intermediate
1-2 weeks
OS
Windows 11
4+ GB RAM
Languages
LAD
IEC 61131-3

In one minute

RSLogix Emulate 500 is best for maintenance engineers inheriting slc 500 / micrologix panels and allen-bradley legacy program training. Legacy Allen-Bradley emulator covering SLC 500, MicroLogix 1100/1200/1400/1500, and MicroLogix 800 controllers. Still standard for maintenance work on legacy panels.. Adoption is high (18% market share) across Global.

Capability profile

Six-axis score (0–100) based on pricing, learning curve, hardware support, adoption, community, and feature depth.

Pricing75/100Ease of Use80/100Features29/100Adoption52/100Community100/100Career Value27/100
RSLogix Emulate 500 capability profile (overall 55/100)

Key features

SLC 500 family emulation
MicroLogix family emulation
Integrates with RSLogix 500
Watch tables, online monitor, force tables
Single-station emulation
EEPROM transfer simulation

Pricing & licensing

Tier$$
Price rangeUSD 250 – 700
Pricing modelperpetual license
Free trialYes — 30 days
Educational discountYes

Pairs with RSLogix 500 — substantially cheaper than Studio 5000 Logix Emulate because RSLogix 500 is itself an entry-tier product. Educational discounts available.

System requirements

Operating systemsWindows 10, Windows 11
Minimum RAM4 GB
Recommended RAM8 GB
Disk space4 GB
ProcessorIntel/AMD x64

Lighter than Studio 5000 stack. Mac/Linux only via VM.

Supported hardware

PLC families

  • • SLC 500 (1747-L20 through L553)
  • • MicroLogix 1100
  • • MicroLogix 1200
  • • MicroLogix 1400
  • • MicroLogix 1500
  • • MicroLogix 800 (Micro810/820/830/850)

Capabilities

  • ✗ HMI integration
  • ✗ SCADA integration
  • ✗ Variable frequency drives
  • ✗ Safety programming
  • ✗ Motion control
  • ✗ Robotics integration

Pros

  • +Affordable Allen-Bradley emulation
  • +Faithful SLC / MicroLogix behaviour
  • +Trusted for legacy maintenance training
  • +Pairs with RSLogix 500 (the entry-level IDE)
  • +Educational pricing reasonable

Cons

  • −Windows-only
  • −Limited to legacy Allen-Bradley families
  • −Discontinued for new development — Rockwell has shifted focus to Studio 5000
  • −No SLC 500 hardware available new — emulation is for maintenance training

Best for

Maintenance engineers inheriting SLC 500 / MicroLogix panels
Allen-Bradley legacy program training
Vocational schools standardised on RSLogix 500
Engineers learning Allen-Bradley basics before moving to Studio 5000

Compare RSLogix Emulate 500 with…

RSLogix Emulate 500 vs PLC Simulation Software
plcsimulationsoftware.com • free
RSLogix Emulate 500 vs TIA Portal
Siemens • $$$
RSLogix Emulate 500 vs Studio 5000
Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley • $$$
RSLogix Emulate 500 vs GX Works3
Mitsubishi Electric • $$
RSLogix Emulate 500 vs EcoStruxure
Schneider Electric • $$
RSLogix Emulate 500 vs TwinCAT
Beckhoff Automation • $

Other Rockwell Automation software

FactoryTalk
$$$ • intermediate advanced
Studio 5000 Logix Emulate
$$$ • intermediate
CCW Micro800 Simulator
free • beginner

Frequently asked questions

How much does RSLogix Emulate 500 cost?
RSLogix Emulate 500 pricing falls in the $$ tier (USD 250 – 700). Pairs with RSLogix 500 — substantially cheaper than Studio 5000 Logix Emulate because RSLogix 500 is itself an entry-tier product. Educational discounts available.
How do I download RSLogix Emulate 500?
RSLogix Emulate 500 offers a 30 days free trial. Download from the official Rockwell Automation website. A licensed copy ranges from USD 250 – 700 depending on edition and add-ons.
What are the system requirements for RSLogix Emulate 500?
RSLogix Emulate 500 runs on Windows 10, Windows 11 with a minimum of 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended) and 4 GB of disk space.
Which PLCs does RSLogix Emulate 500 support?
RSLogix Emulate 500 supports Allen-Bradley controllers, including SLC 500 (1747-L20 through L553), MicroLogix 1100, MicroLogix 1200, MicroLogix 1400, MicroLogix 1500, MicroLogix 800 (Micro810/820/830/850).
Is RSLogix Emulate 500 hard to learn?
RSLogix Emulate 500 is rated Beginner Intermediate difficulty. Typical learning time is 1-2 weeks. Prerequisites: RSLogix 500, Basic ladder logic familiarity.
Does RSLogix Emulate 500 support all five IEC 61131-3 languages?
RSLogix Emulate 500 supports LAD from the IEC 61131-3 standard.