Still running WinTech ModScan on a Windows XP-era interface? ModbusSimulator is the modern replacement — Master and Slave modes, all protocols, $99 one-time.
Windows 10/11 · 30-day free trial · No credit card · No registration
ModScan32 (WinTech ModScan) was the go-to Modbus master utility for many years — and for good reason. It was fast, reliable, and free. But it has not kept pace with how automation engineers work today. The interface was designed for Windows XP, high-DPI displays make it blurry, and it only operates as a Modbus master. If you need to simulate a slave device, test your PLC's exception handling, or work with Modbus UDP, you need a different tool.
ModbusSimulator was built to fill that gap. It covers everything ModScan32 does — Modbus RTU, TCP, ASCII, COM port scanning, register-level inspection — and adds the features that modern PLC, SCADA, and automation workflows actually require: slave simulation, fault injection, request logging, and a UI that looks correct on a 4K monitor.
At $99 one-time with a full 30-day free trial, it is the practical, professional upgrade to the aging ModScan32 workflow.
Free legacy tool vs. modern one-time purchase
ModbusSimulator vs WinTech ModScan32
| Feature | ModbusSimulator | WinTech ModScan32 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one-time (lifetime) | Free (abandonware) |
| Free Trial | 30 days — no registration | N/A (download only, no support) |
| Master Mode | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support |
| Slave / Device Simulation | ✅ Included — same license | ❌ Not available |
| Modbus RTU (Serial/RS-485) | ✅ COM ports, virtual COM | ✅ Yes |
| Modbus TCP | ✅ Port 502 or custom | ✅ Yes |
| Modbus ASCII | ✅ Included | ✅ Yes |
| Modbus UDP | ✅ Included | ❌ Not supported |
| Slave Request Log | ✅ Scrollable log in slave mode | ❌ No slave mode |
| Fault / Exception Simulation | ✅ Exception codes, timeouts, CRC errors | ❌ Not available |
| Real-time Register View | ✅ Coil, DI, IR, HR | ✅ Yes |
| Multiple Data Formats | ✅ Int, float, hex, binary, BCD | ✅ Yes |
| Windows 10/11 HiDPI Support | ✅ Native 64-bit, crisp on 4K | ❌ Blurry scaling, XP-era UI |
| Active Development | ✅ v1.1.2, Apr 2026 | ❌ No updates for years |
| Technical Support | ✅ Email support included | ❌ No support available |
| Multi-device Simultaneous | Up to 8 simultaneous connections | Single connection only |
ModScan32's interface was built for Windows XP. On a modern HiDPI or 4K display it renders blurry and cramped. ModbusSimulator is a native 64-bit application with a clean, high-DPI-aware interface.
ModScan32 only reads registers — it cannot simulate a device. ModbusSimulator switches between Master and Slave modes so you can test both sides of a Modbus network from a single install.
When running as a Slave, see every request your PLC or SCADA system sends — function code, register address, and value. Indispensable for commissioning and debugging field devices.
Inject Modbus exception responses (illegal function, illegal data address), simulate timeouts, and trigger CRC errors. Test how your automation software handles failures before going to site.
ModScan32 does not support Modbus UDP. ModbusSimulator includes UDP alongside TCP, RTU, and ASCII in the base license — no add-ons needed.
Full-featured trial, no registration, no feature locks. Download, connect to your device, and confirm it works for your setup before you spend a dollar.
Here is how ModbusSimulator compares to the other tools engineers typically consider:
Yes. ModbusSimulator covers every core task ModScan32 is used for — connecting to a Modbus device over RTU or TCP, reading coils and registers, writing values, scanning COM ports, and viewing raw communication data. It adds capabilities ModScan32 never had: Slave simulation, fault injection, Modbus UDP, and a modern Windows interface. You can be productive in ModbusSimulator on day one if you are already familiar with ModScan32.
Yes. This is one of the most common use cases. Run ModbusSimulator in Slave mode, configure your register map, and point your SCADA system (Ignition, WinCC, AVEVA, InTouch, etc.) at it as if it were a real PLC. You can populate registers with test values and simulate exception responses to validate your SCADA logic before hardware is available on site.
Yes. Use com0com (free, open source) to create a virtual COM port pair on Windows. Connect ModbusSimulator Master to one port and Slave to the other for complete Modbus RTU testing without any physical serial hardware or RS-485 adapters.
The application will prompt for a license key. All your connection configurations and register setups are preserved. Purchase a $99 one-time license to continue — no subscription, no renewal, no expiry.
Yes. ModbusSimulator is a native 64-bit Windows application tested on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It renders correctly on HiDPI and 4K displays where legacy tools like ModScan32 show blurry or improperly scaled interfaces.
Yes. A 3-license pack costs $79 per seat (save $60 vs buying individually). For 5 or more licenses, contact [email protected] for volume pricing.
30-day free trial · No credit card · Download in 30 seconds
Questions? Email [email protected]