LabVIEW vs PSCAD
LabVIEW
ni.comPSCAD
pscad.comSide by side
| Figure | LabVIEW | PSCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 3 |
| Spec score · Electrical Design Software | 8.4 (#5) | 7.5 (#24) |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, United States | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Maker | NI says it began in 1976 and that Emerson acquired NI in 2023. | PSCAD is developed by the software development and engineering department within Manitoba Hydro International Ltd., a subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro. |
| Purpose | LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment for developing automated test and measurement systems. | PSCAD is a graphical interface to the EMTDC electromagnetic transient simulation engine for constructing circuits, running simulations, analyzing results, and managing data. |
| Support | A single-seat purchase includes an NI software service agreement with technical support, version downloads, and LabVIEW Core 1 on-demand, with perpetual-license benefits included for the first year. | The PSCAD technical team provides consulting, expert advice, in-depth training, and technical support for electromagnetic transient studies. |
| Trial | The downloadable trial lasts seven days and may be extended for up to 45 days after first opening; the web-based sandbox provides seven days of access. | A temporary trial license for Professional or Educational can be requested from the sales desk to evaluate the software before purchase. |
Plans
LabVIEW
- LabVIEW Community EditionFree
- LabVIEW Base perpetualPrice not published
- LabVIEW Base subscriptionPrice not published
- LabVIEW Full perpetualPrice not published
- LabVIEW Full subscriptionPrice not published
- LabVIEW Professional perpetualPrice not published
- LabVIEW Professional subscriptionPrice not published
PSCAD
- PSCAD Free EditionFree
- Educational EditionPriced on request
- Professional EditionPriced on request
In their own words
LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment for developing automated test and measurement applications. Its G language uses dataflow programming, supports parallel execution, and includes interactive debugging. LabVIEW connects to instruments from any vendor and offers more than 7,000 instrument drivers. Engineering analysis functions and a native interface support monitoring and controlling tests. Editions can integrate Python, C/C++,.NET, and MathWorks MATLAB code. The Professional edition includes Application Builder, NI Nigel AI, software engineering tools, and Report Generation, Database Connectivity, and Advanced Signal Processing Toolkits. The Community Edition costs nothing, but is limited to personal, non-commercial, non-industrial use and cannot be used for teaching or research at a degree-granting institution. Professional trials provide seven days of access; the downloadable trial can be extended up to 45 days after first opening it. The downloadable trial connects to physical hardware, while the web trial uses simulated hardware only. NI lists Windows and Linux support for editions; starting with LabVIEW 2025 Q3, Community Edition is the only macOS edition. Each target computer running a developed application requires a perpetual deployment license.