Trikker alternative PlanElec: features and prices compared

PlanElec is a browser-based Trikker alternative for electrical planning in Belgium. Floor plans, devices, circuits and distribution boards form one project that produces the single-line diagram and situation plan. The PlanElec assistant carries out requests in that project and has every change checked by the AREI/RGIE self-check. Floor plan recognition turns a Trikker PDF or a scan into an editable floor plan, and cabinet photos become a proposed board layout. Automatic planning suggestions, structured PV documentation and versioned PDF exports complete the workflow. PlanElec is free during Early Access; the material list and KNX documentation are available as pilots with a clearly defined scope.

Written and checked by the PlanElec team, 10 September 2026; platform and AI information updated on 3 October 2026, editorial revision on 5 October 2026. A comparison from PlanElec's perspective: Trikker information comes from the manufacturer's sources linked below, PlanElec information from the documented product scope and public examples.

PlanElec and Trikker at a glance

Sources: Trikker pricing and licence conditions, Trikker FAQ, Trikker product overview. Prices checked on 10 September 2026, platforms on 2 October 2026, AI features on the Trikker homepage and in the Trikker 2.0 announcement on 3 October 2026.

Since 30 September 2026, Trikker 2.0 has been available as a beta for Windows and macOS (announcement). A web version for iPad and Android has been announced without a date; the FAQ still states one licence per computer. Our article Trikker 2.0 for Mac explains what the beta brings. Missing manufacturer information about a feature does not establish that Trikker cannot support it.

Where PlanElec covers more of the workflow

The key difference is continuity across planning tasks. A new circuit is more than a symbol: protection, devices, cable data, location and documents need to agree. PlanElec keeps that information in the project model and derives views and documents from it. The AI features work on exactly that model.

The PlanElec assistant works across the whole project

You describe the task in your own words, for example "Place three socket outlets in the kitchen", and the PlanElec assistant carries it out in the project. It is not limited to the diagram: with more than 100 planning commands it works across the entire project model, from floor plan and situation plan to rooms, devices, circuits, switching chains, cables, distribution board, automation/KNX, PV strings and lighting control. Open it with the bot button in the header or with ⌘J / Ctrl+J; it answers in your language and is available to every signed-in user in the studio.

Three rules keep its work traceable:

• Checked: after every change, PlanElec checks the whole project with the same AREI/RGIE self-check the report uses and flags new findings.
• Reversible: every change is exactly one step, which you reverse with Undo on the action card.
• Confirmed: clear, reversible requests run directly. Risky actions only start after Confirm and run.

Every action appears as an action card and in the project history with the person who requested it, so a team can see who asked for what. Technical questions are answered with verified sources from the PlanElec help and the full AREI/RGIE text. The language model runs in the EU region; the AI provider does not store your requests or use them for training. Activity and the assistant in the studio.

Recognise a floor plan from a Trikker PDF or scan

Your existing Trikker plans are a good starting point. PlanElec does not read .trik files, but it reads any plan you export as a PDF:

1. Export the plan from Trikker as a PDF; Trikker 2.0 offers direct PDF export for this.
2. Add the PDF to the PlanElec project under Project files. PDF, PNG, JPEG and WebP are supported.
3. In the project file preview, start Recognise floor plan. PlanElec reads vector PDFs directly from their vector data and scans or photos with AI image recognition.
4. Review the proposal: confirm the scale, compare rooms and areas and, in Correct draft, move corners or add and remove walls.
5. Use Import to transfer it into an empty floor. The original page stays as an underlay; ⌘Z / Ctrl+Z reverses the entire import.

PlanElec transfers walls, rooms with their area, doors and windows, supported device symbols (socket outlet, double socket outlet, splash-proof socket outlet, switch, light point) and the scale. The scale comes from dimension lines or the PDF scale, or you measure two points yourself; without a confirmed scale, the import stays locked. Room areas printed on the plan are used as a cross-check, and deviations are flagged. Symbols PlanElec cannot assign with confidence are marked and not transferred. The symbol vocabulary is tuned to Belgian plans and Trikker exports.

You then plan circuits, switching chains and the single-line diagram in PlanElec, with automatic planning and the assistant. Import and calibrate a floor plan.

Fill a distribution board from photos

With existing installations, capture often starts in front of the open board. In the board editor, open Cabinet photos, add your pictures with Upload photos and start Detect modules. PlanElec recognises visible DIN modules with row, start position, width and type; you merge or split several views of the same module. Under Review detected modules, you check the proposal and transfer it into an empty board with Import reviewed modules. A photo does not show wiring or electrical connections, so you define them in the planning.

Automatic planning from room to distribution board

You start rooms with suggested standard equipment, adjust sockets and lighting points and distribute spotlights in a grid. PlanElec supports switching chains, automatic circuit assignment, cable suggestions, phase allocation and cable routes along walls. All results remain editable; you adjust every suggestion to your professional judgement.

The distribution board is part of that workflow. Protection devices and circuits can be placed automatically or manually on DIN rails. The electrical topology provides the basis for the single-line diagram. When rooms and devices change repeatedly during a renovation, you keep working with the same project data. Explore automatic planning.

Multiple floors and views side by side

PlanElec handles image, PDF and DXF backgrounds, multiple PDF pages and crops for individual floors. During import, you confirm units, scale and alignment; unclear dimensions are calibrated with two points. On the recognised or drawn floor plan, you then build the electrical design.

The split workspace lets you check the situation plan and single-line diagram together; on narrow screens, you switch between views. The 3D view is available to all users; on small screens or without WebGL, you keep working in the 2D views. Import and calibrate a floor plan.

Photovoltaics as a structured installation

For PV, PlanElec goes beyond a single inverter symbol: strings are assigned to MPPTs, with modules, DC protection, cable sections and frame PE documented. The same PV data feeds the single-line diagram, situation plan and pilot material list. Missing string assignments or manufacturer information remain visible.

The public Synergrid C10/26 check verifies a specific inverter model; it assesses the device, not the entire installation. The feature overview explains the product scope.

Lighting controls and KNX documentation

Direct switching, junction boxes, switched returns and supported relay/Shelly channels are documented with an explicit cable preview. The control group describes the function, the cable preview the physical wiring; device configuration and terminal wiring design are separate steps.

The KNX pilot covers power supplies, switching and shutter actuators, push-buttons and channel assignment on the single-line diagram. Missing supply, incomplete load assignment and overload block the final export. ETS programming and group addresses stay in ETS; complete bus-line planning is outside the scope. KNX scope and limitations.

From individual plans to a traceable PDF dossier

Single-line diagrams, situation plans, the distribution-board PDF and an orienting self-check report are centrally available as PDFs. You combine selected documents with a cover, contents, page numbering, installer details and company logo. Material, circuit and cable lists are available as a pilot: manufacturer-neutral, without prices and not an approved purchasing list.

Versioned exports receive private archive storage and a revocable QR access link. That lets you prove the origin and integrity of every document; the QR link is not an electronic signature or proof of a passed inspection – that decision belongs to the accredited inspection body. Understand document exports.

See the result before registering: our English pilot dossier PDF shows plans, lists and a report straight from the application. The example project is fictional and not intended for submission. NL, FR and DE examples are available on the features page.

Collaboration in a team and across devices

Organisations bundle company projects and members. You share projects and organisations by e-mail invitation; roles decide who manages, edits or reads. Live synchronisation keeps open sessions aligned, including your own sessions on several devices, shows who else is present and catches up on confirmed changes after a disconnection. This is free during Early Access; once paid plans start, inviting further people is part of Pro. The work itself requires an internet connection.

Which tool fits your next project?

PlanElec is particularly relevant if you work in the browser, use several devices, create documents in Dutch, French, German or English and want to edit floor plans, electrical planning and exports together. Existing PDF plans and cabinet photos become your starting point, and the assistant takes on routine requests. For a new renovation or PV project, try the full workflow through to PDF.

Trikker remains a sensible choice if you continue editing existing Trikker files, use DWG backgrounds directly or rely on an established Windows drawing workflow. Limited internet access may also determine your choice.

Trikker also links diagrams and situation plans through symbols; a fair comparison does not present them as disconnected drawings. PlanElec's advantage is the continuous connection to room planning, AI-assisted capture, planning suggestions, electrical topology, distribution boards and documents. A sample project of your own shows best how well that fits your business.

Frequently asked questions about the Trikker alternative

Is PlanElec free?

Yes. During Early Access, PlanElec costs €0, including the assistant and recognition features. The AI features come with a personal AI allowance; the user menu shows how much of it you have used as a percentage. The pricing page lists the planned Free, Single property and Pro plans; the start date will be announced in advance. You download your PDF exports and keep them independently of the application.

Can I import Trikker files?

PlanElec does not read .trik files. You can still bring the floor plan across: export the plan from Trikker as a PDF, add it to PlanElec under Project files and start Recognise floor plan. Walls, rooms, doors and windows, supported device symbols and scale arrive as an editable floor plan. Circuits and the diagram are then planned in PlanElec, with the assistant and automatic planning. Finish ongoing dossiers in Trikker.

Which AI features does PlanElec offer?

Three: the PlanElec assistant, which carries out requests across the whole project and answers technical questions with sources; floor plan recognition from a PDF, scan or image; and recognition of DIN modules in cabinet photos. You review every proposal before importing it; every assistant change runs through the self-check, and you undo it in one step.

Is PlanElec suitable for Mac and iPad?

Yes. PlanElec runs in the browser without installation, on a Mac as well as on a tablet. Since version 2.0, Trikker offers a Mac beta; a web and iPad version has been announced there. For extensive drawings, a large screen with a mouse or trackpad works best. PlanElec requires an internet connection.

Does the AREI/RGIE self-check replace the official inspection?

No – each has its own role. The self-check assesses the supported rules that can be checked from your data and highlights missing information and coverage gaps; the same applies to the check after every assistant action. It is not a certificate of conformity. Design, site conditions and measurements are your responsibility; the official inspection is carried out by the accredited inspection body. Supported checks and limitations.

Evaluate PlanElec through a complete workflow

First view the pilot dossier, then try a small project of your own: have a Trikker PDF recognised or draw the floor plan, plan devices and circuits, give the assistant a request, check the board and diagram, read the self-check and export a PDF. That tests the actual work for which you need a Trikker alternative. Start using PlanElec for free.