{
    "slug": "plc-programming-software",
    "name": "PLC programming software",
    "title": "Best PLC Programming Software in 2026",
    "category": "industrial-manufacturing",
    "filter": null,
    "available_filters": [
        "free",
        "open-source",
        "macos",
        "linux"
    ],
    "page": "https://listme.name/best/plc-programming-software",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/lists/plc-programming-software.json",
    "updated": "2026-10-10",
    "intro": "PLC programming software writes and loads control logic into controllers, and each tool follows a standard, a runtime and a license model. This ranking compares IEC 61131-3 and IEC 61499 tools across commercial and open-source options. It weighs standards coverage and hardware reach first, then licensing and platform support.",
    "criteria": [
        "IEC 61131-3 and standards coverage",
        "Target hardware range",
        "Engineering tools and simulation",
        "Licensing and runtime costs",
        "Platform support and openness"
    ],
    "specs": [
        {
            "key": "languages",
            "label": "Languages",
            "type": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "runtime_target",
            "label": "Runtime target",
            "type": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "simulation",
            "label": "Simulation",
            "type": "text"
        }
    ],
    "how_to_choose": [
        {
            "point": "Standard",
            "detail": "IEC 61131-3 editors (LD, FBD, SFC, IL, ST) suit PLC work. IEC 61499 suits distributed function-block control."
        },
        {
            "point": "Target hardware",
            "detail": "CODESYS and Beremiz target many devices, TwinCAT 3 targets PC-based control, and LOGO! Soft Comfort targets LOGO! modules only."
        },
        {
            "point": "License",
            "detail": "TwinCAT 3 and CODESYS have free engineering tiers with paid runtimes or dongles. LOGO! Soft Comfort licenses per workstation."
        },
        {
            "point": "Operating system",
            "detail": "TwinCAT 3 and CODESYS run on Windows. Beremiz, OpenPLC Editor, LOGO! Soft Comfort and 4diac also run on Linux."
        }
    ],
    "faq": [
        {
            "q": "What is the best free PLC programming software?",
            "a": "CODESYS has a free-marked engineering version, and TwinCAT 3 engineering is free with basic functions. Beremiz and OpenPLC Editor are free and open source, and Beremiz covers all five IEC 61131-3 languages."
        },
        {
            "q": "Which PLC software runs on Linux?",
            "a": "Beremiz, OpenPLC Editor, LOGO! Soft Comfort and Eclipse 4diac run on Linux. TwinCAT 3 and CODESYS Development System are Windows-based on their product pages."
        },
        {
            "q": "Does LOGO! Soft Comfort work with other PLCs?",
            "a": "No. Soft Comfort is the engineering tool for LOGO! logic modules, and it supports current and previous LOGO! generations. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux."
        },
        {
            "q": "Is IEC 61499 the same as PLC programming?",
            "a": "No. IEC 61499 uses function-block networks for distributed control, while PLC programming usually follows the IEC 61131-3 languages. Eclipse 4diac is the open-source IDE for IEC 61499."
        }
    ],
    "entries": [
        {
            "rank": 1,
            "score": 92.5,
            "verdict": "All five IEC 61131-3 editors and object-oriented programming in one Windows development system, with a runtime set up on each target device. Full licenses use a hardware dongle.",
            "best_for": "Multi-vendor IEC 61131-3 controller projects",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "FBD, LD, IL, ST, SFC",
                "runtime_target": "Any device with a CODESYS runtime",
                "simulation": "Not stated on the site"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "codesys",
                "name": "CODESYS Development System",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://store.codesys.com/en/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/codesys",
                "tagline": "IEC 61131-3 development system for controller applications",
                "summary": "CODESYS Development System is an IEC 61131-3 programming tool for controller applications, sold through the CODESYS Store with a free-marked version. It provides all IEC 61131-3 editors and object-oriented programming. A runtime is set up on each target device, and full licenses use a hardware dongle.",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free-marked version in the CODESYS Store; full licenses need a dongle",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "All IEC 61131-3 editors in one development system",
                    "Object-oriented programming in the IEC editors",
                    "Runtime set up on each target device"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Full licenses are tied to a hardware dongle",
                    "Development system runs on Windows PCs"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 2,
            "score": 90,
            "verdict": "PC-based real-time control with IEC 61131-3 plus C/C++ and MATLAB, and free core PLC engineering. Runtime licenses are priced by control performance, and the tool runs on Windows.",
            "best_for": "PC-based control with a free engineering tier",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "IEC 61131-3, C/C++, MATLAB",
                "runtime_target": "Any PC-based system",
                "simulation": "Not stated on the site"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "twincat-3",
                "name": "TwinCAT 3",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://www.beckhoff.com/en-en/products/automation/twincat/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/twincat-3",
                "tagline": "PC-based automation software with IEC 61131-3 PLC programming",
                "summary": "TwinCAT 3 is Beckhoff's PC-based automation software, with the XAE engineering environment for PLC programming and the XAR runtime for real-time control. It supports IEC 61131-3 plus C/C++, MATLAB and Simulink. Core PLC engineering is free, and runtime licenses are priced by control performance.",
                "developer": "Beckhoff Automation",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Engineering free with basic functions; paid runtime and extra function licenses",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Core PLC engineering carries no license cost",
                    "IEC 61131-3 plus C/C++, MATLAB and Simulink",
                    "License dongles on USB or EtherCAT devices"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Runtime licenses are priced by control performance",
                    "Functions beyond PLC programming cost extra"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 3,
            "score": 82,
            "verdict": "Open IEC 61131-3 editors that compile to C and then native code, targeting any processor. Windows and Linux builds are published, and the install details live in the repository.",
            "best_for": "Open IEC 61131-3 work on any processor",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "LD, FBD, SFC, IL, ST",
                "runtime_target": "Any processor, Linux PC or microcontroller",
                "simulation": "Not stated on the site"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "beremiz",
                "name": "Beremiz",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://beremiz.org/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/beremiz",
                "tagline": "Open-source IEC 61131-3 IDE and runtime for any processor",
                "summary": "Beremiz is a free IEC 61131-3 development environment and runtime for machine automation, with LD, FBD, SFC, IL and ST editors. It compiles PLC programs to C and then to native code. The IDE is GPLv2 or later, and Windows and Linux (Snap) builds are published.",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows",
                    "linux"
                ],
                "pricing": "open-source",
                "price_note": "Free software; IDE licensed under GPLv2 or later",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": true,
                "license": "GPL-2.0-or-later",
                "source": "https://github.com/beremiz/beremiz",
                "strengths": [
                    "Full IEC 61131-3 editor set with PLCopen XML storage",
                    "Compiles PLC code to C and native code",
                    "Targets any processor or a Linux PC"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Windows and Linux builds are the ones the README lists",
                    "Install details are in the repository, not on the homepage"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 4,
            "score": 81,
            "verdict": "Open-source IDE for the OpenPLC Runtime, with builds for Windows, macOS and Linux on x64 and ARM64. The runtime repository was archived in April 2026, and the editor's language support is not stated.",
            "best_for": "Open-source PLC programming on three desktops",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "Not stated on the site",
                "runtime_target": "OpenPLC Runtime",
                "simulation": "Not stated on the site"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "openplc-editor",
                "name": "OpenPLC Editor",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://github.com/Autonomy-Logic/openplc-editor",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/openplc-editor",
                "tagline": "Open-source PLC programming IDE for the OpenPLC Runtime",
                "summary": "OpenPLC Editor is an open-source IDE from Autonomy Logic for creating programs for the OpenPLC Runtime. It is released under GPL-3.0, and its build workflow produces releases for Windows, macOS and Linux on x64 and ARM64. Its repository was updated in October 2026.",
                "developer": "Autonomy Logic",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows",
                    "macos",
                    "linux"
                ],
                "pricing": "open-source",
                "price_note": "Free GPL-3.0 software from the project repository",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": true,
                "license": "GPL-3.0",
                "source": "https://github.com/Autonomy-Logic/openplc-editor",
                "strengths": [
                    "Builds for Windows, macOS and Linux on x64 and ARM64",
                    "GPL-3.0 licensed with public source",
                    "Repository is actively committed"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "OpenPLC Runtime version 3 repository was archived in April 2026",
                    "Language coverage is not stated on the repository page"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 5,
            "score": 77.5,
            "verdict": "Logic programming, web visualization and simulation for LOGO! modules on Windows, macOS and Linux. It targets LOGO! controllers only and is licensed per workstation, with a free demo for offline engineering.",
            "best_for": "Compact LOGO! logic module projects",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "Logic programming; languages not named",
                "runtime_target": "LOGO! logic modules",
                "simulation": "Built-in simulation"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "logo-soft-comfort",
                "name": "LOGO! Soft Comfort",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://www.siemens.com/en-us/products/logo/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/logo-soft-comfort",
                "tagline": "Siemens engineering software for LOGO! logic modules, with simulation",
                "summary": "LOGO! Soft Comfort V9 is Siemens' engineering software for LOGO! compact logic modules. It combines logic programming, web visualization and simulation in one tool, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is licensed per workstation, and a free demo version is available through Siemens Industry Online Support.",
                "developer": "Siemens",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows",
                    "macos",
                    "linux"
                ],
                "pricing": "paid",
                "price_note": "Licensed per workstation; a free demo version is available",
                "free_to_use": false,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Logic programming, web visualization and simulation in one tool",
                    "Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux",
                    "Digital download option through the Siemens Industry Mall"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Licensed per workstation",
                    "Only for LOGO! controllers"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 6,
            "score": 75,
            "verdict": "Open-source IEC 61499 IDE for distributed function-block control, under EPL-2.0. It targets IEC 61499 rather than IEC 61131-3 PLC languages, so classic PLC projects need another tool.",
            "best_for": "Distributed IEC 61499 function-block control",
            "spec": {
                "languages": "IEC 61499 function block networks",
                "runtime_target": "IEC 61499 devices, FORTE runtime",
                "simulation": "Not stated on the site"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "eclipse-4diac",
                "name": "Eclipse 4diac IDE",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://eclipse.dev/4diac/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/eclipse-4diac",
                "tagline": "Open-source IEC 61499 IDE for distributed automation systems",
                "summary": "Eclipse 4diac IDE is an open-source engineering environment for IEC 61499 distributed control, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0. It models function block networks, device hardware and applications, and deploys them to devices running the FORTE runtime. Its latest release is 3.3.",
                "developer": "Eclipse Foundation",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows",
                    "linux",
                    "macos"
                ],
                "pricing": "open-source",
                "price_note": "Free under the Eclipse Public License 2.0",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": true,
                "license": "EPL-2.0",
                "source": "https://github.com/eclipse-4diac/4diac-IDE",
                "strengths": [
                    "Eclipse Public License 2.0 with public source",
                    "Distributed IEC 61499 function block modeling",
                    "FORTE runtime for devices"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Targets IEC 61499, not IEC 61131-3 PLC languages",
                    "Some prebuilt builds, such as Apple Silicon macOS, were listed as coming soon"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial, 0 to 100. Entries with product.connected_to_publisher true are made by or connected to the publisher and receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}