PLC Software Download Guide
Every major PLC programming environment compared in one place — licensing models, trial durations, operating system requirements, simulation modes, and honest guidance on which software to learn first. Plus how to practice ladder logic in your browser, free, on any operating system.
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Master comparison
All major PLC IDEs compared
All pricing and trial information should be verified directly with vendors — details change. This table reflects the best available information at time of writing.
| Software | Vendor | Hardware | Trial | OS | Free path? | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio 5000 Logix Designer | Rockwell / Allen-Bradley | ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Micro800 | 14-day evaluation | Windows only | No | Download guide → |
| RSLogix Micro Starter Lite | Rockwell / Allen-Bradley | MicroLogix 1000, 1100 (≤40 I/O) | Free — no license required | Windows only | Yes (Starter Lite) | Free path guide → |
| TIA Portal (STEP 7) | Siemens | S7-1200, S7-1500, S7-300, S7-400 | 21-day trial | Windows only | No | Download guide → |
| CODESYS Development System | 3S-Smart Software Solutions | 400+ hardware products from 100+ vendors | IDE free; SoftPLC 2hr/session demo | Windows (IDE); Linux (runtime) | IDE: Yes | Download guide → |
| FactoryTalk View ME/SE | Rockwell Automation | PanelView terminals (ME) / Plant SCADA (SE) | 14-day evaluation (SE); ME Studio free download | Windows only | ME Studio: download free (runtime paid) | Download guide → |
| GX Works3 / GX Works2 | Mitsubishi Electric | iQ-R, iQ-F (GX Works3); Q/FX series (GX Works2) | 30-day trial | Windows only | No | Download guide → |
| CX-Programmer (CX-One) | Omron | CS1, CJ1, CJ2, CP series | 64-day trial | Windows only | No | Download guide → |
| Sysmac Studio | Omron | NJ series, NX series | 30-day trial | Windows only | No | Download guide → |
Per-vendor guides
Detailed download guides by vendor
Rockwell / Allen-Bradley
Studio 5000 Logix Designer
License tiers (commercial, educational, 14-day evaluation), Emulate 5000 setup, PCDC download steps, system requirements.
Read the guide →Rockwell / Allen-Bradley
RSLogix 500 Free (Starter Lite)
RSLogix Micro Starter Lite: the genuinely free path for MicroLogix 1000/1100. What is included, what is not, download steps.
Read the guide →Siemens
TIA Portal (STEP 7)
21-day trial, STEP 7 Basic vs Professional, PLCSIM included, 50+ GB disk requirement, Siemens ID account setup.
Read the guide →3S-Smart Software Solutions
CODESYS
IDE is free. SoftPLC demo mode 2-hour limit explained. Step-by-step from Store registration to first project. Beckhoff TwinCAT transfer.
Read the guide →Rockwell Automation
FactoryTalk View ME/SE/Optix
View ME vs SE vs Optix explained, ME Studio free download, runtime licensing, HMI practice bridge to browser simulator.
Read the guide →Mitsubishi Electric
GX Works3 / GX Works2
30-day trial, GX Simulator3 included, Mitsubishi X/Y/M/T/C/D addressing explained, MELSOFT Download Centre steps.
Read the guide →Omron
CX-Programmer (CX-One)
64-day trial for CX-One suite, CX-Programmer vs Sysmac Studio (NJ/NX), Omron channel-bit addressing explained.
Read the guide →Genuinely free
PLC software that is actually free to download
Most commercial IDEs are paid-with-a-trial. A handful are genuinely free — though "free" sometimes means a free editor with a paid runtime on real hardware. Here is the honest list.
| Tool | What's free | Target hardware | OS | Built-in sim? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenPLC Editor | Fully open-source, no limits | OpenPLC runtime, Arduino, ESP32, RPi | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes (runtime) |
| CODESYS Development System | IDE free; SoftPLC demo 2 hr/session | 400+ products from 100+ vendors | Windows (IDE) | Yes (SoftPLC demo) |
| Connected Components Workbench (CCW) | Free download | Allen-Bradley Micro800 only | Windows only | Limited |
| CLICK Programming Software | Free download | AutomationDirect CLICK PLCs | Windows only | Yes (simulator) |
| Do-More Designer | Free download | AutomationDirect Do-more PLCs | Windows only | Yes (Do-more simulator) |
| RSLogix Micro Starter Lite | Free — no licence | MicroLogix 1000 / 1100 (≤40 I/O) | Windows only | No |
| WPLSoft / ISPSoft | Free download | Delta DVP / AS-series PLCs | Windows only | Yes (simulator) |
| Browser practice (this platform) | Free tier — no install, no account to try | Simulated IEC 61131-3 / AB / Siemens | Any OS with a browser | Yes (live runtime) |
One honest caveat worth repeating: CODESYS is a free IDE but the SoftPLC runtime is only free in a 2-hour demo, and deploying to non-OpenPLC hardware requires a paid runtime licence. CCW is free but locked to Micro800. The genuinely unrestricted, cross-platform options are OpenPLC and browser-based practice.
Programming software vs simulator
The core every PLC IDE shares, illustrated
"PLC programming software" (the IDE you write code in) and "PLC simulator" (the runtime that executes it without hardware) are different things — most vendor IDEs bundle both. Whichever you download, they all implement the same IEC 61131-3 core shown below. Build that fluency in the browser first, then transfer it to any vendor tool.
Decision guide
Which PLC software should you learn first?
The honest answer depends on where you want to work. Vendor preference varies strongly by geography and industry:
North American manufacturing jobs
Studio 5000 Logix Designer
Allen-Bradley is dominant in North American automotive, food and beverage, CPG, and oil and gas. The majority of North American job ads list Studio 5000 or RSLogix 5000.
European manufacturing, automation
TIA Portal (Siemens) + CODESYS
Siemens is the dominant platform in German, Italian, and broader European manufacturing. CODESYS covers Beckhoff, Wago, Phoenix Contact, and many others that are common in machine building.
Automotive, Asian manufacturing
GX Works3 (Mitsubishi) or TIA Portal
Mitsubishi is strong in Japanese automotive and Asian contract manufacturing. Siemens is also common in this sector.
Learning from scratch, any OS, no hardware
Browser-based practice + CODESYS
Start with browser-based IEC 61131-3 practice (no install, any OS, free) to build core ladder logic fluency, then download CODESYS (free IDE) for the real vendor software experience.
Start now, no install
Practice ladder logic free in your browser — every vendor's core instruction set
Every vendor's ladder logic — Rockwell, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, CODESYS — implements the same core IEC 61131-3 contact/coil model. Normally open contact, normally closed contact, output coil, timer-on delay, timer-off delay, up counter, down counter. The vendor names for these instructions differ; the logic does not. Build that core fluency here, then transfer it to whichever vendor IDE you need.
Further reading
Further reading
- Free PLC programming software — deeper coverage of OpenPLC, CODESYS, RSLogix Micro Starter Lite, and browser-based options.
- CODESYS alternative — when browser-based IEC 61131-3 practice is faster than a CODESYS install.
- PLCSIM alternative — browser practice compared to Siemens PLCSIM for learning scenarios.
- Studio 5000 Emulate alternative — when you need Emulate 5000 vs when browser practice is sufficient.
PLC software download FAQ
PLC ladder logic practice — free in your browser, any OS, any time.
No trial period. No Windows required. Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and IEC 61131-3 dialects.