Posted in:

Best 8 Wiring Diagram Software For You In 2023

Lead-In Part

A wiring diagram is a type of illustration used by electrical engineers and technicians to show how the different components of an electrical system or circuit are connected. This visual schematic can help electricians or maintenance engineers quickly understand how these parts are linked together, allowing them to diagnose and fix any potential issues effectively. Additionally, wiring diagrams also work as a strategic document to represent how the electric current is routed in a specific system or electrical project. Professionals read these diagrams to strategize and make decisions, such as determining the type of materials needed, the connections between components of an electric system, and the estimated cost.

Creating a wiring diagram can be complicated, as it requires learning and understanding different components. This detailed article has laid out eight wiring diagram software you can check in 2023. 

List of the Best Wiring Diagram Software

Electrical projects require wiring diagrams to pinpoint exact locations and connections. These wiring diagrams come in handy to the electricians or even to students who are planning to study the circuitry and how different components perform with each. Fortunately, a wide range of software is available for creating detailed diagrams with minimal effort. We have added a list of the eight best wiring diagram software solutions for 2023 to get your project started.

 

Before finalizing any wiring diagram software, ensure that the product falls under your budget, fulfills your requirement, and is easy to understand. Check out the following best wiring software and understand each from a detailed pros and cons list based on the customer’s reviews and feedback.

EdrawMax

EdrawMax is a feature-rich wiring diagram software that is tailored to meet the demands of electricians and engineering professionals. EdrawMax offers all the common electrical symbols you can use to create wiring diagrams, UI flow diagrams, network diagrams, circuit schematics, and more. The program lets you draw professional diagrams quickly and easily with drag-and-drop functionality and built-in templates. You can add notes, magnify objects to view details, or highlight important items. EdrawMax provides special components like timers, frequency meters, and thermal relays, so you include them in your schematic exactly as they appear in the real world.

What separates EdrawMax from its counterparts is the ability to work on different diagrams simultaneously while ensuring the auto-formatting remains in sync. With this tool, you get thousands of symbols, 25,000+ symbols, and access to the user-generated template community. The seven-day trial feature of EdrawMax is the cherry on the cake, as it lets you access this tool’s premium features without paying a single dime.

Pros:

  • Best-in-class remote collaboration.
  • Highest level of security for offline and online versions.
  • Ability to make 280+ diagrams

Cons:

  • The free trial is limited to seven days only.

Cost:

  • Online Tool/Basic Use: FREE
  • Annual Plan: $99
  • Lifetime Plan: $245 (currently at $198)

Supported Systems:

  • Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, & Web

If you are confused or need more help, you can contact EdrawMax’s best customer support team. Once you are satisfied, you can download and use EdrawMax for free. In the seven-day trial period, you can easily avail some premium features of this tool.

ConceptDraw

ConceptDraw is an excellent, versatile tool for creating professional-level visual content for all fields, including computer, electronics, engineering, management, marketing, and operations. ConceptDraw’s DIAGRAM option comes with an extensive range of functionalities for designing the workflow as per the given tasks. 

It won’t be wrong to say that ConceptDraw is an all-in-one diagram software that is perfect for creating diagrams, wiring diagrams, and visual representations of data. This program offers various libraries which can be used to create different types of diagrams. It further provides additional support when it comes to exporting the wiring diagrams. Furthermore, important tools like formatting, ordering, aligning, and positioning are also included in this software, so they provide greater convenience while creating diagrams.

Pros:

  • A rich collection of images and shapes.
  • Beginners can easily create different layouts.
  • Offers a cross-compatibility with MS Visio.

Cons:

  • Limited symbols and premium templates.
  • Requires a learning curve for beginners.
  • Users have reported that they have had a hard time re-scaling certain objects and components.

Cost:

  • Free trial available
  • $199-$499

Supported Systems: Windows and Mac

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics is a user-friendly software for creating professional wiring diagrams. It has a symbol library, 3D manufacturing parts, and component models to make the design process easier. If you are considering using this tool for your projects, you can try it out using their free trial before committing to a purchase, as the tool’s cost varies per your requirements.

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics is a user-friendly software for creating professional wiring diagrams. It has a symbol library, 3D manufacturing parts, and component models to make the design process easier. If you are considering using this tool for your projects, you can try it out using their free trial before committing to a purchase, as the tool’s cost varies per your requirements.

The updated features of SolidWorks Electricals allow the users to enhance their 3D CAD capabilities by connecting the design processes to the 3DEXPERIENCE offered by this platform. With this performance booster, one can now visualize the entire product development lifecycle, including collaboration, simulation, manufacturing, and production.

Pros:

  • Offers a wide range of electrical wiring components.
  • Navigation from one component to the other is comparatively effective.
  • It has multiple sharing options.

Cons:

  • It has limitations in creating multiple diagrams.
  • It strains a lot of memory and storage of your system.
  • Only available for Windows-operated machines.

Pricing: Custom pricing is available

Supported Systems: Windows & Web

SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a comprehensive software tool for creating wiring diagrams. It provides an array of features, including an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, powerful automation, and the ability to embed images and photos into your diagram. Its real-time collaboration tool allows multiple team members to work on the same project, making it a good choice for large teams or complex electrical projects.

Most beginners prefer SmartDraw for its easy-to-use drag-and-drop feature. Additionally, SmartDraw’s intelligent formatting helps beginners to improve the quality of their overall design. SmartDraw offers a good integration option for large enterprises that allows users to import diagrams from Office and even integrate Google Workspace apps.

Pros:

  • Ability to integrate ticketing systems, like Jira and Trello.
  • Ability to create 70 diagrams.
  • It provides an AutoCAD-like environment when working on engineering diagrams.

Cons:

  • Beginners have pointed out that this wiring diagram software is too complicated to understand and requires additional knowledge while designing complex diagrams.
  • Consumes abundant resources from your system, like space and memory.
  • Infrequent software updates.

Cost:

  • Single user: $9.95 per month, billed annually
  • Multiple users: $5.95 per month, billed annually (minimum five users mandatory)

Supported Systems:

  • Windows, macOS, & Web

AutoCAD Electrical

AutoCAD Electrical can save time and resources during the design process since it simplifies complex wiring projects. This drawing software lets you quickly access all the information related to your project, such as parts lists, connection diagrams, and more. In addition, the optimized tools that come with AutoCAD Electrical enable faster component selection and one-click positioning. This user-friendly software allows you to design and analyze electrical systems with incredible accuracy and efficiency.

Additionally, AutoCAD offers other important engineering features, like design rule checkers. With this built-in feature, one can easily understand the integrity of the completed circuit designs. It won’t be wrong to say that if you have mastered all the circuitry components and know your way around all the complicated components, AutoCAD Electrical can easily help you easily manage complicated wiring diagrams.

Pros:

  • Helps the designers create and modify complex electrical control systems.
  • It comes with a comprehensive symbol library
  • Helps in creating technically accurate designs.

Cons:

  • Requires an extensive learning curve.
  • Very stiff in the pocket.
  • Limited to only creating electrical diagrams.

Cost: $1,120/paid annually or $140 paid monthly

Supported Systems:

  • 64-bit Windows 11 and Windows 10, macOS (min. Mojave v10.14)

 

AutoDesk EAGLE

AutoDesk EAGLE makes it easy to import existing wiring diagrams into your projects, allowing the user to be up and running in no time. Plus, its nature-inspired visual cues make it easier than ever to recognize components and features at a glance, meaning you can spend less time deciphering difficult code and more time on design. All these features combine to make AutoDesk EAGLE a good choice for a comprehensive wiring diagram software solution.

With AutoDesk EAGLE, designers can easily route complex PCB layouts and map the entire design path to understand the process and visualize the outcome. Furthermore, the tool offers 3D PCB models that help add the electrical components correctly in the circuitry.

Pros:

  • Comes with ULP – User Language Programs, which enhances its usability.
  • Integrates with Fusion 360
  • Designers can control the layouts using the DRC – Design Rule Checking.

Cons:

  • Customers have reported that AutoDesk EAGLE’s support team can be more responsive.
  • Inability to make other types of diagrams.
  • Requires deep understanding of wiring diagrams, components, and other schematics.

Cost:

  • Monthly Plan: $49 paid monthly
  • Annual Plan: $382 paid annually
  • Long-Term Plan: $1,635 paid every three years

Supported Systems:

  • Windows, macOS, Linux

Circuit Diagram

Circuit Diagram stands out from the other wiring diagram software due to its level of safety, speed, and ease of use. Since Circuit Diagram is predominantly a wiring software, you can easily place your parts, such as wires, switches, and circuits, on the sheet and add connecting lines to form your desired diagram. When it’s complete, simply save it onto your device.

Unlike other tools, Circuit Diagram offers a built-in simulator and also lets you export your wiring diagrams in a scalable vector format, allowing you to edit them further in different graphic tools, like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Circuit Diagrams also has an extensive components library and a strong presence on GitHub, where you can find tools for creating Metro/Modern UI-styled WPF applications.

Pros:

  • Offers a wide range of components and libraries.
  • Comes with an online version.
  • Offers spice netlist exporters for circuit diagrams.

Cons:

  • No premium support for beginners.
  • No premium access to templates, styles, and symbols
  • Very limited customization options.
  • Only lets you create circuit diagrams.

Supported Systems:

  • Windows (last updated seven years ago), VS Code (last updated three years ago), and Web

Cost: Free

Diagram Studio

Wiring diagram software can be an invaluable tool for professionals who need to create electrical wiring diagrams with ease. Diagram Studio is one such free software that can be accessed online and provides a variety of drawing templates such as flowcharts, mind maps, graphs, and P&I diagrams.

Diagram Studio comes with a ‘Format Group’ option, allowing the designer to format a symbol easily. Using this feature, one can easily color the symbols, add gradient colors, modify thickness, and more. While the software only operates on Windows devices at present, it’s accessible on any device as long as users have a web browser available. With Diagram Studio, wiring diagram creation has never been easier!

Pros:

  • Ability to duplicate a symbol.
  • Allows you to create different diagrams.
  • Ability to organize, format, and reshape the designs.

Cons:

  • No premium support and features are available.
  • The user interface can be improved with the latest premium features.
  • Limited import and export options.

Cost:

  • Free

Supported Systems: Windows 7 and above

Choose Suitable Wiring Diagram Software

Creating a wiring diagram requires a basic understanding of components, connectors, and modules. However, most students who are just starting out are dependent on wiring diagram software to help them create the basic layout or provide them with access to import content from their drives. Despite the diversity of options in the top 8 list, there is one that stands out as being all-encompassing: EdrawMax. It’s affordable yet comes with features found in premium tools, like template community, vector-enabled symbols, online resources, auto-formatting, the ability to create personalized symbols, online collaboration, cross-format with MS Visio, and more. Even if you are confused, we recommend checking out this wiring diagram software once and availing of the exclusive 7-day trial feature.