PLS-CADD vs Scanifly (2026): Pricing, Features & Verdict
PLS-CADD is our pick, scoring 6.4/10 against 5.7/10 for Scanifly on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria. Its biggest advantage: higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 6/10). Neither PLS-CADD nor Scanifly lists a free plan.
Last updated: November 2026
PLS-CADD
6.4/10
Windows software from Bentley's Power Line Systems for 3D design, sag-tension and structural analysis of overhead transmission, distribution and telecom lines.
Scanifly
5.7/10
Solar PV design and field operations software that turns drone imagery and remote imagery into 3D models, shading analysis and permit-ready designs for solar installers.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | P PLS-CADD | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.4/10 | 5.7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Engineering Design | ||
| Engineering Simulation | ||
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| LiDAR Processing | Not listed | |
Who PLS-CADD and Scanifly suit
Scanifly fits small business better than PLS-CADD.
| Audience | PLS-CADD | Scanifly |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | 3/10Prices are quote-only and Bentley recommends several days of training before use. | 6/10Its few G2 reviews come from small installers, but quote-only pricing and the cost of a drone program add overhead. |
| Energy Companies | 8/10Supports overhead line design and thermal ratings for grid owners. | 9/10It is built specifically for solar PV installers and designers, covering sales, survey, design and install. |
| Construction | Not rated | 7/10Solar contractors use it to cut roof climbs, measure sites and produce plan sets and racking layouts. |
| Drone Service Providers | Not rated | 5/10Any geo-tagged drone imagery works, but the product is tied to solar design rather than general drone services. |
| Engineering Firms | 9/10Transmission engineers and consultancies use it for line design, and LiDAR survey firms produce data in its formats. | Not rated |
| Field Teams | Not rated | 7/10The free mobile app gives surveyors checklists and photo annotation, and drone flights replace manual roof measurement. |
| Utilities | 10/10Built for designing utility transmission and distribution lines, and the 2021 acquisition announcement described it as the US industry standard. | Not rated |
Which One Should You Choose?
PWhy choose PLS-CADD
- Higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose Scanifly
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Cost score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for small business (6/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
PPLS-CADD
Pros
- Bentley says it is used by more than 1,600 organizations in over 125 countries, and the acquisition announcement called it the US industry standard for transmission line design.
- Combines terrain modeling, sag-tension and thermal ratings (IEEE 738 and CIGRE 207) in one tool.
- Imports and classifies large LiDAR point clouds, and its AMBER tool builds line models from them automatically.
- Plan and profile drawings regenerate automatically when the design changes.
- Links directly to PLS-POLE, TOWER and the SAPS finite element engine for structural checks.
Cons
- No public pricing; buyers must request a quote.
- Bentley recommends about five days of training, so new users face a steep learning curve.
- Runs on Windows only.
- Covers design only: there are no work orders, maintenance or field inspection tools.
Scanifly
Pros
- DroneDesign builds a measured 3D model from any GPS-equipped drone, which suits installers who want as-built accuracy over satellite estimates.
- Shading reports are accepted by several state programs and lenders, including NYSERDA, MassCEC, CEC and Austin Energy.
- A direct API integration with IronRidge Design Assistant (January 2026) sends panel layouts into racking design without redrawing.
- Remote prelim designs and drone-based final designs live in one tool, along with a free mobile survey app.
- Product updates ship regularly, such as web-editable checklists and photo albums inside the 3D scene in 2026.
Cons
- No public subscription pricing, so buyers must book a demo to get a quote.
- DroneDesign needs your own drone and a certified pilot, or an outsourced survey that costs extra and takes 3 to 5 business days.
- Reviewers report no native 8,760-hour yield simulation, branded proposals, CRM or financing portal.
- There are very few independent user reviews; G2 lists about two, and Capterra appears to have no listing.
Not sold on either?
Air Inspection Automation (AiA)Our product
Plans DJI drone inspection missions for power line towers from LiDAR scans: it finds the towers, places photo stops, checks clearance, and splits the route into battery flights.
Made by the team behind b stack radar. Shown here because it fits this topic. It is not part of our rankings. How we rank tools
Frequently Asked Questions
PLS-CADD scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 6.4/10 against 5.7/10 for Scanifly. The largest gap is in Analytics: 9/10 for PLS-CADD and 6/10 for Scanifly.
No, neither PLS-CADD nor Scanifly lists a free plan.
Scanifly is the better fit for small business: we rate it 6/10 for them, against 3/10 for PLS-CADD.
