# Best PLC Programming Software in 2026

Source: https://listme.name/best/plc-programming-software

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.

## 1. CODESYS Development System (score 92.5)

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
- Free plan, paid upgrades | Windows
- Website: https://store.codesys.com/en/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/codesys

## 2. TwinCAT 3 (score 90.0)

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
- Free plan, paid upgrades | Windows
- Website: https://www.beckhoff.com/en-en/products/automation/twincat/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/twincat-3

## 3. Beremiz (score 82.0)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, Linux | open source (GPL-2.0-or-later)
- Website: https://beremiz.org/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/beremiz

## 4. OpenPLC Editor (score 81.0)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | open source (GPL-3.0)
- Website: https://github.com/Autonomy-Logic/openplc-editor
- Page: https://listme.name/software/openplc-editor

## 5. LOGO! Soft Comfort (score 77.5)

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
- Paid | Windows, macOS, Linux
- Website: https://www.siemens.com/en-us/products/logo/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/logo-soft-comfort

## 6. Eclipse 4diac IDE (score 75.0)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, Linux, macOS | open source (EPL-2.0)
- Website: https://eclipse.dev/4diac/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/eclipse-4diac

## How to choose

- **Standard:** IEC 61131-3 editors (LD, FBD, SFC, IL, ST) suit PLC work. IEC 61499 suits distributed function-block control.
- **Target hardware:** CODESYS and Beremiz target many devices, TwinCAT 3 targets PC-based control, and LOGO! Soft Comfort targets LOGO! modules only.
- **License:** TwinCAT 3 and CODESYS have free engineering tiers with paid runtimes or dongles. LOGO! Soft Comfort licenses per workstation.
- **Operating system:** TwinCAT 3 and CODESYS run on Windows. Beremiz, OpenPLC Editor, LOGO! Soft Comfort and 4diac also run on Linux.

## Criteria

- IEC 61131-3 and standards coverage
- Target hardware range
- Engineering tools and simulation
- Licensing and runtime costs
- Platform support and openness

## FAQ

**What is the best free PLC programming software?**
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.

**Which PLC software runs on Linux?**
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.

**Does LOGO! Soft Comfort work with other PLCs?**
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.

**Is IEC 61499 the same as PLC programming?**
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.