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. Existing .trik files open in the free PlanElec Sketch, where you keep working on the single-line diagram and take it into a PlanElec project with one click. If you come from a drawing tool, you can start directly with the single-line diagram. Automatic planning suggestions, structured PV documentation and versioned PDF exports complete the workflow. Until paid plans start on 1 November 2026, 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; Trikker prices and platforms re-checked, dictation and the "Draw the single-line diagram first" planning approach added on 12 October 2026; opening .trik files in PlanElec Sketch added on 15 October 2026; Trikker's Schemalezer, the handover from Sketch to Pro and the offline pilot added on 19 October 2026; description and dictation in the Schemalezer, PDF creation in Trikker 2.0 and the start of PlanElec's paid plans updated on 26 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 and platforms (Windows, macOS beta of Trikker 2.0) last checked on 26 October 2026 against the manufacturer's information and Trikker news, web version announcement on 2 October 2026, AI features on the Trikker homepage and in the Trikker 2.0 announcement on 3 October 2026, the Schemalezer against the announcement of 13 October 2026 on 19 October 2026, description and dictation in the Schemalezer against the update announcement and PDF creation against the Trikker 2.0 beta online manual on 26 October 2026.

Since 30 September 2026, Trikker 2.0 has been available as a beta for Windows and macOS (announcement). Since 13 October 2026, Trikker has offered customers with an active licence the Schemalezer (schema reader) as a beta: AI reads a single-line diagram and the situation plan, including a scan, photo or hand sketch, and turns them into a Trikker diagram with symbols on the plan linked to their circuit. According to Trikker, you have to check the result; if the plan contains no symbols, Trikker only uses it as a background. Since an update, you can also describe the installation on site by typing or dictating, in Dutch, French or English (speech recognition in Chrome, Edge and Safari). The Schemalezer then builds a single-line diagram under the AREI/RGIE circuit by circuit; it fills in values you do not mention according to common practice, uncertain circuits end up among the points to review, and you place the points on the plan yourself. In the 2.0 beta, the PDF of the plans is created on Trikker's servers according to the online manual; you confirm this notice before printing. 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.

You type or dictate your requests. With Dictate in the input bar, you speak in Dutch, French, German or English; speech recognition knows Belgian technical terms such as AREI/RGIE or XVB. You review and correct the recognised text in the input field, and it is only sent when you click. How the recording is processed is explained in Dictate a single-line diagram.

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 assistant's 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.

Open Trikker files (.trik) in PlanElec Sketch

PlanElec Sketch is the free PlanElec tool for single-line diagrams and situation plans: no account, straight in the browser. Choose Open Trikker file there, and the single-line diagram of your .trik file becomes an editable drawing.

• The single-line diagram is taken over: supply, protective devices, cables, sub-boards, circuits and loads as Sketch symbols.
• Nothing disappears silently. Symbols without a Sketch counterpart, or at a position Sketch does not allow, stay on the diagram as a note. Related symbols are approximated and missing values are filled in with defaults. An import report lists each of these deviations with its location in the Trikker file.
• Read locally: the file is converted in your browser and is not uploaded.
• On to Pro: with Take it to Pro, you continue the drawing in a PlanElec project. The single-line diagram, boards, circuits, cables and project data are taken over; anything that does not come along, such as the situation plan, is shown on the import page before the project is created.
• Limits: Sketch does not yet take over floor plans and situation plans from .trik files. Always check the imported diagram.

Bring the floor plan across in parallel through the PDF export, as described in the next section.

Recognise a floor plan from a Trikker PDF or scan

Your existing Trikker plans are a good starting point. A PlanElec project 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; PlanElec only uses the PDF scale when the dimension lines confirm it. Alternatively, 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.

Start directly with the single-line diagram

When you create a project, choose under Planning approach between Plan from the floor plan and Draw the single-line diagram first. The second approach is designed for users switching from classic drawing tools: the single-line diagram opens maximised, a main board and supply head are ready as an assumption, and you place symbols directly in the diagram. As long as no floor plan is drawn, spatial checks do not block the diagram or the self-check report; all other checks still apply. The situation plan then stays out of the dossier.

For new domestic installations and significant modifications, the AREI/RGIE requires single-line diagrams and situation plans (subsection 3.1.2.1 a). You therefore draw or recognise the floor plan later in the same project; you can switch the planning approach in the project settings without losing data. A PlanElec project does not import Trikker project files on this path either; you open the single-line diagram of a .trik file in PlanElec Sketch and take it over from there with Take it to Pro. Getting started.

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. As a pilot, you keep editing a project you opened online beforehand without a connection; export, uploads and AI features need the internet. Use PlanElec offline.

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 projects including their situation plans, want to read in old diagrams with the Schemalezer (beta) or describe or dictate an installation on site and turn it into a diagram, 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. An overview of everything PlanElec can do is in What you can do with PlanElec; Single-line diagram software in Belgium: 10 tools compared sets more tools side by side.

Frequently asked questions about the Trikker alternative

Is PlanElec free?

Until paid plans start, yes. Until 31 October 2026, PlanElec costs €0 during Early Access, 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. Paid plans start on 1 November 2026. If you register before 1 November, you use Pro free of charge for the whole of November, without payment details; after that, your account continues without a booking as Try Pro at €0, and your projects stay. The pricing page lists Try Pro, Single property and Pro; PlanElec Sketch stays free. You download your PDF exports and keep them independently of the application.

Can I import Trikker files?

Partly. You open a .trik file in the free PlanElec Sketch: the single-line diagram is taken over, and anything that does not fit appears as a note on the diagram and in the import report. Sketch does not yet take over the file's floor plan and situation plan. With Take it to Pro, you continue the diagram, including boards, circuits and cables, in a PlanElec project. You bring the floor plan across through the PDF export: 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. If you prefer to start with the diagram as before, choose Draw the single-line diagram first when you create the project. 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. You can type or dictate your requests to the assistant.

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. Without a connection, you keep editing a project you opened beforehand as a pilot; export and AI features need the internet.

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.