Why you can start without installing anything
Traditional electrical CAD means a licence, a download, a machine powerful enough to run it and an evening spent configuring drivers before you draw a single line. That setup is what stops many electricians and designers from ever trying a digital workflow.
Browser-based CAD changes the first step. GorkyCAD runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install and no licence to activate before you look around. You open it, create a project and see the tool working on real data. If it fits the way you work, you continue; if not, you have lost nothing but a few minutes.
This guide covers the whole first session: opening the editor, setting up a project, working offline, and what the Free plan actually gives you before you decide whether to upgrade.
Step 1: Open the editor in your browser
Start from the site and launch the application. Because everything runs in the browser, the same account works on a desktop at the office, a laptop on site and many other devices without moving files between them.
- No download and no installation step to complete.
- No card is required to begin — you can explore before deciding anything.
- An AI assistant is available to help as you learn the interface.
Once the editor is open, take a moment to look around rather than rushing into a full design. Familiarity with the workspace pays off immediately on the first real project.
Step 2: Create and set up your first project
The fastest way to learn a CAD tool is to build something small and complete. Set up a project the way a real job would start, then grow it.
- Create a new project and give it a clear name.
- Choose the applicable standard for the installation so the checks match your region.
- Draw a simple single-line diagram for a small distribution board.
- Add two or three final circuits and set their loads and cable sizes.
- Review the calculated results, such as voltage drop, straight from the model.
From one model you get the single-line diagram, plans, panels and the cable schedule, so the small board you build already reflects how a bigger project would be organised. When you want output, GorkyCAD supports export to PDF or XLSX, or to DXF, IFC, BCF or GLTF for other tools.
Step 3: Keep working offline with the PWA
Site work rarely happens in a place with reliable Wi-Fi. GorkyCAD installs as a progressive web app (PWA), which lets you keep working in the browser and continue offline when the connection drops.
That matters on a job where you are checking a board in a plant room or a basement with no signal. Instead of stopping until you are back online, you carry on with the project and the work syncs when the connection returns. The same browser app also keeps the workflow consistent, because the tool you learned at the desk is the tool you open on site.
If you are used to a desktop package that must be installed on a specific machine, this is the practical difference: the project travels with you, not with the computer.
What the Free plan includes
The Free plan is designed so you can evaluate the tool on real projects rather than a demo. Its defining limit is the number of projects.
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Projects | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Price | Free, no card | €40 per month |
| Commitment | None | Cancel anytime |
Within those projects you can complete a small job, test the workflow end to end and decide whether it belongs in your practice. GorkyCAD overall also includes an AI assistant and exports such as PDF and XLSX; the plan you need depends on how much work you run through the tool.
Because the Free plan needs no card, starting carries no cost. You are working on your own installation rather than a sample file.
When Pro makes sense
Free is a good fit while you are learning or handling the occasional small project. Pro becomes the sensible choice once the tool is part of regular work.
- You are running more than a few projects at the same time.
- You need to keep older projects open alongside current ones.
- You deliver document sets regularly and need an unlimited pipeline.
Pro is €40 per month and removes the project limit, giving you unlimited projects. You can cancel at any time, so you stay on Pro only while it is earning its place in your workflow.
A simple way to decide is to count what you actually produce. If the Free limit is what stops you from starting the next job, it is time for Pro; until then, keep the free tier working for you.
Tips for a smooth first project
A little discipline on the first project saves a lot of rework later, and none of it depends on the software.
- Start from a real job you already know well, not a made-up example, so you can judge the output against your own expectations.
- Name circuits by purpose rather than position, because names survive redesigns while slot numbers do not.
- Fill in loads, cable sizes and protective devices as you draw, so the calculated results are meaningful from the start.
- Use the AI assistant when you are unsure of a step instead of guessing at settings.
- Export early and often, so you can see the output a client would receive.
Working this way, the Free plan is not a demo you poke at for ten minutes, but a genuine dry run on an installation you understand. By the time you finish it, you will know whether the browser-based approach fits how you work — and whether three projects is enough or the project limit has already started to bite.
Your first-session checklist
Before you close the browser, make sure the first session has covered the basics:
- The editor opened with no install and no card.
- One project was created and named.
- A small single-line diagram was drawn.
- At least one circuit was calculated from the model.
- A PDF or XLSX export was produced.
- Offline mode was tested by disconnecting briefly.
- You know how many projects the Free plan allows.
That is a complete first project with nothing installed and nothing paid. Keep building on the Free plan, and move to Pro only when the project limit starts to get in the way.
FAQ
Do I need to install anything to start?
No. GorkyCAD runs in the browser, so you can open the editor and create a project without a download. It also installs as a PWA so you can keep working offline.
Do I need a card to use the Free plan?
No. You start free with no card required. The Free plan covers up to three projects, which is enough to evaluate the tool on a real job.
How many projects does the Free plan allow?
Up to three. Pro removes the limit and gives you unlimited projects for €40 per month, with no long contract and cancellation at any time.
Can I work without an internet connection?
Yes. As a browser-based PWA it keeps working offline, so you can continue on site without a signal and pick up the changes when you are back online.
When should I upgrade to Pro?
When the three-project limit of the Free plan starts stopping you from beginning the next job. Until then the free tier is enough to build real projects.