Best Single-Line Diagram Software 2026: 5 Tools Compared
For Belgian residential and smaller commercial projects, PlanElec is the strongest choice when floor plan, circuits, distribution board, single-line diagram and situation plan should come together in one browser project – with an AI assistant, plan recognition and an AREI/RGIE self-check. Established desktop diagram software suits pure NL/FR workflows on your own computer, AutoCAD Electrical suits engineering firms and large projects, and Eplan suits industrial panel building. Excel or paper is only enough for very small installations.
AuthorStephan BehmFor Belgian residential and smaller commercial projects, PlanElec is the strongest choice when floor plan, circuits, distribution board, single-line diagram and situation plan should come together in one browser project – with an AI assistant, plan recognition and an AREI/RGIE self-check. Established desktop diagram software suits pure NL/FR workflows on your own computer, AutoCAD Electrical suits engineering firms and large projects, and Eplan suits industrial panel building. Excel or paper is only enough for very small installations.
We reviewed this comparison on 29 August 2026 against public vendor information and updated the PlanElec, platform and AI information on 3 October 2026. We compare workflows, not compliance or inspection success, and state prices where the vendor publishes them.
The Comprehensive Comparison Table
| Criterion | PlanElec | Classic desktop software (NL/FR) | AutoCAD Electrical | Eplan | Excel/Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price status | Early Access EUR 0 | public: EUR 45/month or EUR 360/year excl. VAT | check vendor | request quotation | own time |
| Target audience | Electrical contractors + sole traders | Electricians | Engineering firms | Industry | Everyone |
| AREI assistance | Guided self-check | Manual | ⚠️ Configurable | ⚠️ Configurable | ❌ |
| AI assistant in project | ✅ PlanElec assistant | not described | not assessed here | not assessed here | – |
| Plan/scan recognition | ✅ PDF, scan, image | not described | not assessed here | not assessed here | – |
| Board from photos | ✅ DIN modules as a proposal | not described | not assessed here | not assessed here | – |
| Check of every AI change | ✅ AREI self-check, one-step undo | – | not assessed here | not assessed here | – |
| Languages | DE, NL, FR, EN | NL, FR | Multi | Multi | - |
| Situation plan | ✅ | ✅ per vendor | technically drawable | project-specific | manual |
| Board editor | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud/Browser | ✅ | ❌ Desktop | ⚠️ Cloud option | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Mobile | ✅ browser, including tablet | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium | High | Very high | - |
| Belgian scope | V06 text; self-check of the documented rules | vendor markets current AREI support | not assessed here as AREI check | not assessed here as AREI check | none |
"Not described" means the vendor's pages did not mention the feature on the review date. That does not prove the feature is missing.
1. PlanElec — For Belgian Electrical Contractors and Sole Traders
Price: Free during Early Access, including the AI features within a personal AI allowance. The planned plans, from EUR 15 per property or EUR 29/month excluding VAT, are on the pricing page; the start date will be announced in advance.
PlanElec is a web application for the Belgian market. You plan the floor plan, electrical topology and distribution board in one project, then export the single-line diagram and situation plan. AI features speed up data capture: the PlanElec assistant carries out requests in your own words across the whole project, floor plan recognition reads plans from a PDF, scan or image, and cabinet photos become a proposed board layout. The built-in self-check shows you findings within the supported rule scope; the official conformity inspection is carried out by the accredited inspection body.
Strengths:
- One project model for the floor plan, topology, and distribution board
- PlanElec assistant across the whole project: after every change the AREI self-check checks the project, every change can be undone in one step, and risky actions need confirmation
- Technical answers from the assistant with verified sources; language model in the EU region, and the AI provider does not store your requests or use them for training
- Floor plan recognition from PDFs or scans, including Trikker PDFs: walls, rooms, doors/windows, supported device symbols and scale
- Cabinet photos become a reviewable proposal of DIN modules
- Integrated situation plan editor with floor plan drawing
- Board editor for visual distribution board planning
- Central PDF output for the single-line diagram and situation plan
- Four languages (German, Dutch, French, English)
- Cloud-based: works on any device, no installation needed
- Guided AREI self-check with a transparent rules baseline
Weaknesses:
- Young vendor: material list and KNX documentation in pilot
- Designed for residential and smaller commercial projects, not for very large commercial installations
- The self-check covers the documented rules, not every rule in the V06 text
- Internet connection required
Ideal for: Belgian electrical contractors and sole traders who want to plan and document residential projects in the browser, including existing projects with PDF plans or cabinet photos.
2. Classic Desktop Diagram Software — Established Among Electricians
Besides PlanElec, there is established desktop diagram software that has been in use among Belgian electricians for years. These programs are geared toward pure NL/FR workflows and are installed locally on the machine.
Public price on 29 August 2026: EUR 45 monthly or EUR 360 yearly excluding VAT; demo limits apply.
Strengths:
- Established and well-known in the industry
- Extensive symbol library according to AREI
- Optimized for professional electricians
- Good support in NL/FR
Weaknesses:
- Subscription model (€360/year)
- Installed application with a licence per computer; Windows, plus a macOS beta since 30 September 2026, web version announced
- Desktop only — no cloud, no mobile
- Situation plan is included; project scope differs from PlanElec
- Vendor conformity claims are not an independent inspection
- No German, no English
Ideal for: Professional electricians with regular projects.
3. AutoCAD Electrical — For Large Projects and Engineering Firms
Price: check the current Autodesk offer; no unverified annual amount is used here.
AutoCAD Electrical is the electrical extension of Autodesk's well-known CAD program. It is a professional tool for engineers and large design firms that goes far beyond single-line diagrams.
Strengths:
- Extremely powerful for all types of electrical plans
- Large symbol libraries (including IEC 60617)
- Industry standard in many engineering firms
- Automatic numbering and cross-references
- Cloud options available
Weaknesses:
- Broad industrial feature scope and corresponding learning investment
- Steep learning curve — weeks to months of training
- Not tailored to the Belgian AREI/RGIE, no AREI validation
- Overkill for residential construction
Ideal for: Engineering firms, large commercial/industrial projects, professionals with CAD experience.
4. Eplan — Industry Standard for Switchgear Construction
Price: licence and quotation dependent; no unverified flat amount is stated.
Eplan is the industry standard for planning switchgear installations and automation technology. The software is used worldwide in industry and offers comprehensive features for switchgear construction.
Strengths:
- Most comprehensive software for switchgear planning
- 3D switchgear cabinet planning
- Bill of materials generation and ERP integration
- Global industry standard
Weaknesses:
- Licensing and implementation need project-specific confirmation
- Very long training period
- Entirely oriented toward industry — not for residential construction
- Not tailored to the Belgian AREI/RGIE, no AREI validation
Ideal for: Industrial switchgear planning, mechanical engineering, automation companies. Not for residential construction.
5. Excel/Paper — The "Free" Option
Price: "Free"
Still widespread among private individuals: hand-drawn on paper or put together in Excel. We describe the problems in detail in our comprehensive comparison.
Strengths:
- No costs (at first glance)
- No software installation needed
- Everyone has paper or Excel
Weaknesses:
- No built-in Belgian symbol library and no automated check
- No automatic layout
- You draw or explain the correct symbols yourself, and you alone check whether the content matches the installation
- Difficult to modify
- No check signal before the inspection
Ideal for: At most, very simple installations (1-2 circuits).
Recommendation by Target Audience
Homeowners / DIYers
Recommendation with clear roles: PlanElec — You plan and document your installation in PlanElec. Before the work and the inspection, you have a qualified electrician review the design and documents; the inspection itself is carried out by the accredited inspection body.
Professional Electricians (Belgium)
Recommendation: PlanElec or classic desktop diagram software — PlanElec is the stronger choice when the floor plan, topology, distribution board, and central PDFs should come together in one browser-based project and existing PDF plans or cabinet photos provide the starting point. The assistant takes on routine requests; each of its changes is checked and reversible. For pure NL/FR workflows in a familiar desktop environment, established diagram software remains a solid choice. The self-check shows you findings within the supported rule scope; responsibility for the design stays with you.
Engineering Firms / Large Projects
Recommendation: AutoCAD Electrical — For large commercial or industrial projects, AutoCAD Electrical is the right choice. Cost and learning curve are acceptable for professionals.
Industry / Switchgear Construction
Recommendation: Eplan — For industrial applications, Eplan is the obvious choice. For residential construction, it is clearly overkill.
PlanElec in Early Access
During Early Access, you use PlanElec for free and test the workflow on a project of your own:
- Early Access without active billing
- PlanElec assistant with an AREI self-check after every change (Activity and the assistant in the studio)
- Floor plan recognition from a PDF, scan or image (Import and calibrate a floor plan)
- DIN modules from cabinet photos
- Automatic planning from room equipment to board layout (Automatic planning)
- Guided AREI self-check with a stated rules baseline (What the self-check verifies)
- Integrated situation plan
- Board editor
- Four languages
- Browser-based operation without installation
Conclusion
For Belgian residential projects, PlanElec brings the floor plan, circuits, distribution board and documents together in one project, with AI that reads in plans and photos and carries out requests, and a self-check that reviews every assistant change. No tool decides the inspection outcome: complete, accurate documents matching the installation are decisive.
Sources and review date
- Trikker features and public pricing, reviewed 29 August 2026; platform and AI information checked on the homepage and in the Trikker 2.0 announcement on 3 October 2026.
- Autodesk AutoCAD 2026 Electrical Toolset.
- Eplan Electric P8 2026 official description.
- FPS Economy AREI/RGIE Book 1 V06.
- AI features of AutoCAD Electrical and Eplan are not assessed in this comparison.
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Choose the Right Tool Now
Plan your project with PlanElec: draw the floor plan or have it recognised from a PDF, give the assistant requests and export the single-line diagram and situation plan directly in the browser. The AREI self-check shows you in advance what is still open within the supported rule scope; the official inspection is carried out by the accredited inspection body. Get started now →