LabVIEW
NI's graphical programming environment for test, measurement and control systems.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux
Is LabVIEW free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
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About LabVIEW
LabVIEW is the graphical programming environment from NI (now part of Emerson). Instead of writing lines of text, engineers wire together blocks in a visual language called G to acquire data from instruments, build test rigs, run control loops and show results on custom front panels. It is a fixture in test labs, manufacturing lines, research groups and universities, largely because it talks directly to NI's data acquisition, PXI and CompactRIO hardware, and also supports many third-party instruments. Add-on modules let the same code run on real-time controllers and FPGAs. It can call Python, C/C++, .NET and MATLAB code, so it doesn't have to replace an existing toolchain. LabVIEW is sold in Base, Full and Professional editions as a subscription or a perpetual licence, with separate deployment licences for machines that run finished applications. A free Community Edition exists for personal, non-commercial use, and there is a short free trial. It runs on Windows, with Mac and Linux builds listed on NI's download page.
Best for: Test and measurement engineers building data acquisition and control systems on NI hardware.
LabVIEW pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from LabVIEW's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 7 days | Nov 8, 2026 | ni.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Very tight integration with NI and many third-party instruments
- Visual dataflow code is quick to build front panels and test UIs
- Same code can target real-time controllers and FPGAs via modules
- Can call Python, C/C++, .NET and MATLAB code
Why people leave
- Commercial licences are expensive, and deployments need their own licences
- Free Community Edition is limited to personal, non-commercial use
- Large graphical programs get hard to diff, review and maintain
- Real-time, FPGA and vision features are extra-cost modules
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LabVIEW: common questions
What is LabVIEW?
LabVIEW: NI's graphical programming environment for test, measurement and control systems. Best for test and measurement engineers building data acquisition and control systems on NI hardware. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is LabVIEW free?
LabVIEW has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does LabVIEW cost?
LabVIEW is free with paid plans. Free trial: 7 days. Checked on LabVIEW's own site, November 2026.
Does LabVIEW have a free trial or refund?
Free trial: 7 days. Source: LabVIEW's own site.
Is LabVIEW open source?
No, LabVIEW is not open source.
What platforms does LabVIEW run on?
LabVIEW is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.