Comparison

PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer vs PLC Tools Plus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer

Learn the fundamentals of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with an interactive simulator. Experiment with basic programming concepts, including timers, counters, and logic instructions. Save your progress and revisit projects anytime.

Highlights
  • Interactive PLC simulator
  • Learn PLC basics
  • Experiment with programming
  • Save and load programs
  • Understand logic circuits
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

This app is designed to help anyone that is new to PLCs and wants to learn the basics of "How a PLC works" and PLAY with a simple simulator to experiment with some simple programming. The app consist of three main sections, "How a PLC works", "PLC Block Diagram" and the PLC Simulator. The PLC Simulator allows the beginner to learn simple programming skills with 3 timers, 2 counters, 6 compare instructions, 2 Binary outputs and 3 RES outputs. The user interface is very friendly. For first time users, there is an information icon that shows just how easy this app is to program. The NEW SAVE feature allows a user to start a program and come back to it at a later time. This app also helps people better understand the exam-off instruction -[/]-, the "Seal-In" or "Latching" logic, such as a motor start/stop circuit and much more. Enjoy the fast growing world of PLCs. My daughter found it very useful for her Mechatronics class. Try it, you will like it.

About

PLC Tools Plus

Features
Read full description

PLC Tools Plus turns your phone or tablet into a portable EtherNet/IP diagnostic tool for compatible PLC controllers. Discover controllers on your local network, explore their full tag database, and watch live values update in real time - all without opening a laptop or launching programming software. Built for controls engineers, technicians, and integrators who need a fast way to check on a machine from the plant floor. KEY FEATURES - Controller Discovery: Scan your local network for EtherNet/IP controllers, or connect directly by IP address. Choose which network interface to scan from when your device has more than one. - Full Tag Browser: Explore a controller's complete tag database, including nested structures, arrays, and user-defined types (UDTs). Drill down into individual members to find exactly the tag you need. - Live Data Monitor: Add tags to a live monitoring view grouped by controller, watch values update in real time, and write new values to tags when you need to test or adjust a running process. - Ethernet/IP IO Scanner: Connect to any IO device that supports Ethernet/IP such field IO and VFDs - Ethernet/IP IO Device Simulator: Simulate IO devices and connect to it from a PLC. Simulate input data and read output data. - Demo PLC Mode: New to the app? Try a simulated "Demo PLC" controller loaded with sample tags, arrays, and UDTs - no real hardware required. - Built for the Field: A clean, mobile-first interface designed for quick checks on the plant floor, not a scaled-down desktop tool. REQUIREMENTS - Your device must be on the same local network as the target PLC(s). - Compatible with PLC controllers that support the EtherNet/IP (CIP) protocol using symbolic tag names. SUBSCRIPTION PLC Tools Plus includes a 14-day free trial. After the trial, full access requires a PLC Tools Plus Pro subscription at $4.99/month. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://serafintech.github.io/privacy/plc-tools-plus/

Screenshots

PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer4 screens
PLC Tools Plus3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer at none against PLC Tools Plus's 1. PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). PLC Tools Plus's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PLC Tools Plus sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer ships an update every 2 months, PLC Tools Plus every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer versus PLC Tools Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPLC Simulator, PLC TrainerPLC Tools Plus
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (59 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings59 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid WhiteJASON THOMAS SERAFIN

In-app purchases

None

PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PLC Tools Plus

Subscriptions1
  • PLC Tools Plus Pro14 Days trial$4.991 Month

Questions

Is PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer free?
PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PLC Tools Plus free?
PLC Tools Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer or PLC Tools Plus have ads?
Neither PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer nor PLC Tools Plus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer or PLC Tools Plus?
PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer ships an update every 2 months, and PLC Tools Plus every 5 days. Most recently, PLC Simulator, PLC Trainer was updated on October 24, 2026 and PLC Tools Plus on October 14, 2026.

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