OpenFOAM Alternatives

OpenFOAM is described as 'the leading free, open source software for CFD, owned by the OpenFOAM Foundation and distributed exclusively under the General Public Licence (GPL). The GPL gives users the freedom to modify and redistribute the software and a guarantee of continued free use, within' and is an app. There are more than 10 alternatives to OpenFOAM for Windows, Linux, Mac, GNU Octave and MATLAB. The best OpenFOAM alternative is Elmer, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like OpenFOAM are SimFlow, COMSOL Multiphysics, FEATool Multiphysics and Code_Aster.

OpenFOAM alternatives page was last updated

OpenFOAM

Free • Open Source

OpenFOAM is the leading free, open source software for CFD, owned by the OpenFOAM Foundation and distributed exclusively...

More about OpenFOAM

Elmer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
20 Elmer alternatives
Elmer is an open source multiphysical simulation software mainly developed by CSC - IT Center for Science (CSC). Elmer development was started 1995 in collaboration with Finnish Universities, research institutes and industry.
- - Elmer is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to OpenFOAM.
- - Elmer is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to OpenFOAM.
Suggest and vote on features
Elmer Features
Electromagnetics
Finite element
FEM
CFD
SimFlow
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
Linux
23 SimFlow alternatives
SimFlow is a powerful CFD software, focused on engineering and science. It combines an intuitive user interface with the advantages of the open-source OpenFOAM® libraries in something more than a compact OpenFoam® GUI.
- - SimFlow is the most popular commercial alternative to OpenFOAM.
Suggest and vote on features
SimFlow Features
Heat flow
CFD
Support
CAE
Finite element
Opinions about SimFlow as a Alternative to OpenFOAM
Almost everyone thinks SimFlow is a great OpenFOAM alternative.
COMSOL Multiphysics
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
52 COMSOL Multiphysics alternatives
COMSOL Multiphysics is an engineering, design, and finite element analysis software environment for the modeling and simulation of any physics-based system.
Suggest and vote on features
COMSOL Multiphysics Features
Multiphysics modelling
Finite element
CAE
CFD
Heat flow
FEATool Multiphysics
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
GNU Octave
MATLAB
38 FEATool Multiphysics alternatives
FEATool Multiphysics is a fully integrated Finite Element FEM CAE simulation toolbox for Matlab. With FEATool you can easily model and simulate heat transfer, fluid flow CFD, structural mechanics, chemical reactions, general PDEs, and more.
Suggest and vote on features
FEATool Multiphysics Features
1. PortableFEATool Multiphysics can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
FEM
CAE
CFD
Finite element
Code_Aster
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
15 Code_Aster alternatives
Structures and thermomechanics analysis for studies and research.
Suggest and vote on features
Code_Aster Features
Finite element
CAE
Add a screenshot
Code_Saturne
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
14 Code_Saturne alternatives
Code_Saturne solves the Navier-Stokes equations for 2D, 2D-axisymmetric and 3D flows, steady or unsteady, laminar or turbulent, incompressible or weakly dilatable, isothermal or not, with scalars transport if required.
Suggest and vote on features
Code_Saturne Features
CAE
CFD
Finite element
Add a screenshot
ANSYS Fluent
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
23 ANSYS Fluent alternatives
ANSYS Fluent software contains the broad physical modeling capabilities needed to model flow, turbulence, heat transfer, and reactions for industrial applications ranging from air flow over an aircraft wing to combustion in a furnace, from bubble columns to oil platforms, from...
Suggest and vote on features
ANSYS Fluent Features
CFD
Finite element
KRATOS Multiphysics
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
14 KRATOS Multiphysics alternatives
Kratos Multiphysics (A.K.A Kratos) is a framework for building parallel multi-disciplinary simulation software. Modularity, extensibility and HPC are the main objectives. Kratos has BSD license and is written in C++ with extensive Python interface.
Suggest and vote on features
KRATOS Multiphysics Features
CFD
C++
CFDTool
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
16 CFDTool alternatives
CFDTool™ (https://www.cfdtool.com) is a fully integrated and dedicated MATLAB® Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Toolbox for modeling and simulation of fluid flows with coupled heat transfer.
Suggest and vote on features
CFDTool Features
1. PortableCFDTool can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
CAE
CFD
One click installation
COSMOSWorks
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
38 COSMOSWorks alternatives
COSMOSWorks provides easy to use yet powerful design validation and optimization tools for designers and engineers alike. COSMOSWorks enables faster, less costly, and more optimized product development, as well as more in-depth examination of product performance than would ever...
Suggest and vote on features
COSMOSWorks Features
Finite element
Add a screenshot
FEATFLOW
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
15 FEATFLOW alternatives
The program package FEATFLOW is both a user oriented as well as a general purpose subroutine system for the numerical solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in two and three space dimensions.
Suggest and vote on features
FEATFLOW Features
CAE
CFD
Finite element
SimWorks
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
16 SimWorks alternatives
SimWorks is a free CFD software built upon established open-source simulation tools integrated into an intuitive GUI. It supports the entire CFD simulation process: CAD import, pre-processing, meshing, running and fully integrated post-processing.
Suggest and vote on features
SimWorks Features
CFD