Comparison · Updated June 2026

Electrical plan software: honest 2026 comparison of 5 tools

Q: Which electrical plan software should I choose in 2026?

It depends on your starting point. If you already have a PDF floor plan (architect, builder, real estate listing) and you want to prepare the electrical layer for your contractor quote: Planelico. If you're starting from scratch and want to draw a complete 2D plan with dimensions: ArchiFacile. If you want to visualize your layout in 3D: Kozikaza or Planner 5D. If you want a complete free tool and you accept a desktop install: Sweet Home 3D.

Q: What is the best free electrical plan software?

For the electrical plan strictly (symbol placement, wiring, electrician-ready export), Planelico is free for 1 project with no install and no credit card — it's the most direct option. Sweet Home 3D is also free but requires a Java install and has no NF C 15-100 library.

Q: Is there an alternative to ArchiFacile for electrical plans?

ArchiFacile is excellent for general 2D plans but its electrical library is limited and you start from a blank canvas. Planelico is a focused alternative for the electrical layer: import your existing PDF (architect plan or an ArchiFacile export) and annotate on top with the 64 NF C 15-100 symbols.

Q: Is Kozikaza worth it for an electrical plan?

Kozikaza is designed to visualize an interior layout in 3D with Leroy Merlin products. For the pure electrical plan (electrician brief, NF C 15-100 compliance), it isn't the right fit: few standardized symbols, design-focused, closed ecosystem. For electrical only, Planelico is more direct.

Q: Why does Planelico work on PDF rather than vector?

Because in 90% of cases the plan already exists: architect drawing, builder's plan, real estate listing plan. Redrawing it in vector means losing 30 min to 2 h, introducing dimension errors, and ending with a document that's no longer the original signed plan. Annotating the PDF keeps fidelity to the original — it's also the document electricians prefer to receive.

Q: How long does it take to prepare an electrical plan with Planelico?

For a typical 100 m² home with about 120 electrical points (outlets, switches, lights, RJ45), expect 30 to 60 minutes once your PDF is imported. The fastest approach: room by room, place all symbols then draw the switch-to-light connections. The first symbol is placed in under 60 seconds after PDF upload.

Q: Can I combine multiple tools?

Yes, and it often makes sense. For example: draw your general 2D plan in ArchiFacile or Sweet Home 3D, export to PDF, then annotate the electrical layer with Planelico. You stack the strengths of each tool without redrawing from scratch at every step.

Looking for the right software for your electrical plan? We compare the 5 most-used tools in France — Planelico, ArchiFacile, Kozikaza, Sweet Home 3D and Planner 5D. Strengths, limits, pricing, time to learn. Spoiler: none is best at everything — there's a right pick depending on your starting point.

Transparency: we're the Planelico team. We tried to be honest about each tool's strengths — each wins on a specific use case. You judge.

Quick overview — 8 criteria, 5 tools

Criterion	Planelico	ArchiFacile	Kozikaza	Sweet Home 3D	Planner 5D
Starting point	Your existing PDF	Blank canvas (redraw)	Blank canvas (redraw)	Blank canvas (redraw)	Blank canvas (redraw)
Install	None	Browser or app	Browser	Java download	Browser / mobile
Account required to try	No	Yes	Yes (Leroy Merlin)	No	Yes
NF C 15-100 symbols	64 built-in	Limited / generic	Limited	Limited	No
Time to first symbol	< 60 s	15-30 min	20-40 min	Variable + install	15-30 min
PDF export with legend	Yes, automatic	Basic PDF	Basic PDF	Basic PDF	Basic PDF
3D modeling	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (focus)
Pricing	Free · Pro €14.90 lifetime	Freemium	Free	Free (open-source)	Freemium

Table scrolls horizontally on mobile. Data verified June 2026.

The differentiator: you already have a PDF plan

The real question isn't “which tool is best?” but “where am I starting from?”. In 90% of cases, you already have a plan: architect drawing, builder's plan, real estate listing, an older plan of the house. That plan is precise, scaled, signed by a pro.

Classic 2D tools (ArchiFacile, Sweet Home 3D, Kozikaza, Planner 5D) ask you to redraw that plan wall by wall, re-entering every dimension. That's 30 minutes to 2 hours lost, and you end up with a reinterpreted plan that's no longer the original signed document.

Planelico takes the opposite bet: keep your PDF as-is, annotate on top. You lose nothing — you add the electrical layer. The exported result is your original plan + your annotations, not a redrawn plan.

💡 Concretely: first symbol placed in under 60 seconds after PDF upload. No other tool reaches that time because they all start by asking you to draw the walls.

Planelico

Annotate your PDF with NF C 15-100 symbols

Install

None (browser)

Account required

No (editor opens without an account)

Pricing

Free · Pro €14.90 lifetime

1st symbol

< 60 s

✓ Strengths

You start from your existing PDF, not a blank canvas
64 NF C 15-100 electrical symbols ready to drop
Auto-generated legend on export
No install, no credit card, no account required to try

− Limits

No 3D modeling
No thermal simulation / energy rating
Electrical-focused: not ideal for interior design layouts

Best for: You already have a PDF floor plan (architect, builder, real estate) and want to prepare the electrical layer before the work starts.

ArchiFacile

Precise French 2D plan tool

Install

Browser or desktop app

Account required

Yes (account required)

Pricing

Freemium

1st symbol

15-30 min (redraw)

✓ Strengths

Mature, well-regarded French 2D tool
Precise dimension entry
Wide furniture library

− Limits

No dedicated NF C 15-100 symbol library
You redraw the plan from scratch even if you already have a PDF
Account required before testing

Best for: You're starting from nothing and want to draw a general 2D plan (walls, furniture, layout) with precise dimensions.

Kozikaza

2D + 3D, the Leroy Merlin tool

Install

Browser

Account required

Yes (Leroy Merlin account)

Pricing

Free

1st symbol

20-40 min (redraw + 3D)

✓ Strengths

Pleasant 3D rendering for layout visualization
Built-in Leroy Merlin product catalog
Great for furnishing budget planning

− Limits

Library is very product-oriented (LM), few standardized electrical symbols
Account required, closed Leroy Merlin ecosystem
Not designed for electrician hand-off

Best for: You want to visualize your interior layout in 3D and you shop at Leroy Merlin.

Sweet Home 3D

The open-source classic

Install

Download required (~16 MB, Java) or limited web version

Account required

Pricing

Free (open-source)

1st symbol

Variable (install + redraw)

✓ Strengths

Open-source, active community, mature
Solid 3D modeling for a free tool
No account required

− Limits

Java install required for the full desktop version
No NF C 15-100 library
Dated interface, learning curve

Best for: You want a complete free 2D/3D tool, and you don't mind a desktop install.

Planner 5D

Modern 3D, design-focused

Install

Browser or mobile apps

Account required

Yes

Pricing

Freemium (free tier is limited)

1st symbol

15-30 min

✓ Strengths

Modern, photorealistic 3D rendering
Mobile apps and AR support
AI-assisted layout generation

− Limits

Not at all focused on technical electrical plans
Many features paywalled
Overkill if you just want to prep your electrician brief

Best for: You want photorealistic 3D rendering to visualize your future interior.

Which tool for your situation?

I already have a PDF plan

Architect plan, builder plan, real estate listing: you want to prepare the electrical layer fast and clean.

→ Planelico

I start from scratch and want precise dimensions

No plan exists — you want to draw a precise 2D layout from your apartment measurements.

→ ArchiFacile

I want to visualize my layout in 3D

You pick your furniture, shop at Leroy Merlin, want to see it before you buy.

→ Kozikaza

I want a complete open-source desktop tool

Desktop install doesn’t bother you, you want a mature 2D + 3D tool that’s entirely free.

→ Sweet Home 3D

FAQ — choosing electrical plan software

Which electrical plan software should I choose in 2026?

It depends on your starting point. If you already have a PDF floor plan (architect, builder, real estate listing) and you want to prepare the electrical layer for your contractor quote: Planelico. If you're starting from scratch and want to draw a complete 2D plan with dimensions: ArchiFacile. If you want to visualize your layout in 3D: Kozikaza or Planner 5D. If you want a complete free tool and you accept a desktop install: Sweet Home 3D.

What is the best free electrical plan software?

For the electrical plan strictly (symbol placement, wiring, electrician-ready export), Planelico is free for 1 project with no install and no credit card — it's the most direct option. Sweet Home 3D is also free but requires a Java install and has no NF C 15-100 library.

Is there an alternative to ArchiFacile for electrical plans?

ArchiFacile is excellent for general 2D plans but its electrical library is limited and you start from a blank canvas. Planelico is a focused alternative for the electrical layer: import your existing PDF (architect plan or an ArchiFacile export) and annotate on top with the 64 NF C 15-100 symbols.

Is Kozikaza worth it for an electrical plan?

Kozikaza is designed to visualize an interior layout in 3D with Leroy Merlin products. For the pure electrical plan (electrician brief, NF C 15-100 compliance), it isn't the right fit: few standardized symbols, design-focused, closed ecosystem. For electrical only, Planelico is more direct.

Why does Planelico work on PDF rather than vector?

Because in 90% of cases the plan already exists: architect drawing, builder's plan, real estate listing plan. Redrawing it in vector means losing 30 min to 2 h, introducing dimension errors, and ending with a document that's no longer the original signed plan. Annotating the PDF keeps fidelity to the original — it's also the document electricians prefer to receive.

How long does it take to prepare an electrical plan with Planelico?

For a typical 100 m² home with about 120 electrical points (outlets, switches, lights, RJ45), expect 30 to 60 minutes once your PDF is imported. The fastest approach: room by room, place all symbols then draw the switch-to-light connections. The first symbol is placed in under 60 seconds after PDF upload.

Can I combine multiple tools?

Yes, and it often makes sense. For example: draw your general 2D plan in ArchiFacile or Sweet Home 3D, export to PDF, then annotate the electrical layer with Planelico. You stack the strengths of each tool without redrawing from scratch at every step.

Related guides

How to create a house electrical plan

Step-by-step guide, NF C 15-100 compliance.

NF C 15-100 standard explained

Required circuits, minimum outlets, switchboard.

The 64 standard electrical symbols

All NF C 15-100 symbols explained.

Create your electrical plan now

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