Best Simulation Software

Compare the Top Simulation Software as of November 2025

What is Simulation Software?

Simulation software is a type of software that utilizes mathematical algorithms to replicate real-life scenarios. This allows for the testing and analysis of various systems, processes, and strategies. Many industries, such as aviation and engineering, use simulation software to predict performance outcomes and identify potential issues before implementing them in the real world. These programs are designed to accurately mimic the behavior of complex systems and provide visual representations of data for easier interpretation. They can be used for educational purposes or as tools for decision-making in business settings. Compare and read user reviews of the best Simulation software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

  • 1
    OrCAD X

    OrCAD X

    Cadence Design Systems

    OrCAD® X is a unified PCB design software platform that offers significant improvements in ease of use, performance, automation, data management, and collaboration. Our cloud-enabled product suite contains applications for schematic, simulation, and PCB layout. OrCAD X Capture is one of the most widely used schematic design solutions for the creation and documentation of electrical circuits. PSpice® is our virtual SPICE simulation environment integrated within Capture that allows you to prototype your designs using the industry-leading, native analog, mixed-signal, and advanced analysis engines to deliver a complete circuit simulation and verification solution. Our two PCB layout environments, OrCAD X PCB Editor and OrCAD X Presto, allow designers to easily collaborate between ECAD/MCAD teams and build better PCBs faster. OrCAD X Presto is a new user-friendly option offering a simpler interface for quick-turn PCB design.
    Starting Price: $107 USD/month
  • 2
    MATLAB

    MATLAB

    The MathWorks

    MATLAB® combines a desktop environment tuned for iterative analysis and design processes with a programming language that expresses matrix and array mathematics directly. It includes the Live Editor for creating scripts that combine code, output, and formatted text in an executable notebook. MATLAB toolboxes are professionally developed, rigorously tested, and fully documented. MATLAB apps let you see how different algorithms work with your data. Iterate until you’ve got the results you want, then automatically generate a MATLAB program to reproduce or automate your work. Scale your analyses to run on clusters, GPUs, and clouds with only minor code changes. There’s no need to rewrite your code or learn big data programming and out-of-memory techniques. Automatically convert MATLAB algorithms to C/C++, HDL, and CUDA code to run on your embedded processor or FPGA/ASIC. MATLAB works with Simulink to support Model-Based Design.
  • 3
    Solid Edge

    Solid Edge

    Siemens

    Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy to deploy, maintain, and use software tools that advance all aspects of the product development process – mechanical and electrical design, simulation, manufacturing, technical documentation, data management, and cloud-based collaboration. Developed on Siemens industry leading technologies, Solid Edge provides the most innovative and comprehensive approach to product development for the mainstream market.
    Starting Price: $75/month/user
  • 4
    Autodesk Fusion 360
    Fusion 360 unifies design, engineering, electronics, and manufacturing into a single software platform. Get integrated CAD, CAM, CAE & PCB on a single development platform. Also includes EAGLE Premium, HSMWorks, Team Participant, and access to consumptive services, such as generative design, cloud simulation, and cloud rendering. Engineer products with a comprehensive set of modeling tools. Ensure form, fit, and function of your products with various analysis methods. Create and edit sketches with sketch constraints, dimensions, and a powerful suite of sketch tools. Edit or repair imported geometry from non-native file formats. Make design changes without worrying about time-based features. Create and edit complex parametric surfaces for repairing, patching or designing geometry. Create history-based features, including extrude, revolve, loft, sweep, etc., that update with design changes.
    Starting Price: $495 per year
  • 5
    OnScale Solve
    OnScale is the first Cloud Engineering Simulation platform. It combines powerful multiphysics solver technology with the limitless compute power of cloud supercomputers. With OnScale, engineers can run massive numbers of full 3D multiphysics simulations in parallel to create true Digital Prototypes digital representations of physical high-tech devices that capture the complete behavior of a device over its operating envelope. With OnScale Solve we want to provide you with an awesome Cloud Engineering Simulation experience that’s easy, powerful, and gets the job done. OnScale Solve is built to run on public and private cloud supercomputers and includes a functional web-based UI, an API to efficiently integrate into any design workflow, scripting languages to fully customize engineering simulations, and plugins to enhance its modeling capabilities. OnScale Solve gives engineers the simulation capability necessary to synthetically generate data to train sophisticated AI/ML algorithms.
    Starting Price: $4
  • 6
    Ansys Cloud Direct
    Access Ansys Cloud Direct anywhere, anytime to obtain endless simulation capabilities compatible with most Ansys solvers. Engineering simulation has long been constrained by fixed computing resources available on a desktop or cluster. Ansys Cloud provides access to on-demand, cloud-based computing resources, including both interactive workstations and HPC clusters, for faster, high-fidelity results offering greater performance insight. Ansys Cloud increases simulation throughput by removing the hardware barrier. Ansys Cloud Direct is a scalable and cost-effective approach to HPC in the cloud. To leverage the combined benefits of cloud computing and best-in-class engineering simulation, Ansys partnered with Microsoft® Azure™ to create a secure cloud solution. Within Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Fluent, Ansys Electronics Desktop, Ansys SPEOS, Ansys Discovery, Ansys LS-Dyna, Ansys LST, Ansys CFX and Ansys Lumerical, you can easily access HPC in the cloud directly from the applications
  • 7
    Ansys Motor-CAD
    Ansys Motor-CAD is a dedicated electric machine design tool for fast multiphysics simulation across the full torque-speed operating range. Motor-CAD enables design engineers to evaluate motor topologies and concepts across the full operating range, to produce designs that are optimized for performance, efficiency and size. Motor-CAD software’s four integrated modules—EMag, Therm, Lab, Mech—enable multiphysics calculations to be performed quickly and iteratively, so users can get from concept to final design in less time. Fast calculations and streamlined data input processes leave time for Motor-CAD users to explore more motor topologies and fully assess the impact of advanced loss effects in the initial stages of an electromechanical design. The release includes powerful new features for design optimization, multi-physics analysis and system modelling for electric motors. Fast multiphysics simulation across a full torque-speed operating range.
  • 8
    Flaneer

    Flaneer

    Flaneer

    Say goodbye to latency due to software updates. You’ll stop losing time and use it to focus on your core mission. With Flaneer, you can change your graphics or computing power to suit your needs. ‍ You can modify your configuration yourself directly in the dedicated administration area of your virtual machine. By using Flaneer, you can say stop to E-waste while reducing your ecological impact. Keep using your old devices to stream state of the art machines! We’ve all had that moment when we thought our computer was going to take off for another planet. Protecting your information is our top priority. We store your data in secure servers, audited by 3rd party security firms, and the most sensitive data is encrypted. When a new employee joins a team, the first days are dedicated to installing the project and its dependencies. With Flaneer, you eliminate this waste of time and get a work environment ready at once.
    Starting Price: €47.50 per month
  • 9
    MechDesigner
    PSMotion Ltd is the developer of the world-leading machine design software - MechDesigner - the best software for cam, mechanism, and motion design of multi-axis machines. You can use MechDesigner to build, with confidence, the best possible packaging, assembly, and textile machines. You can also engage us at any stage of your machine design to quickly build your models, and, additionally, use all of our Motion-Design and Cam-Design expertise to give you the best possible machine performance within your design constraints. You can edit, update, and instantly observe changes, as the model continuously cycles, synchronized to a machine 'clock'. This working environment allows you to design a machine with optimal operating performance. You can collate important design parameters and their limits into one dialog, so you, or others, can review and edit your design at any time in the future.
  • 10
    Ansys Gateway powered by AWS
    Ansys Gateway powered by AWS is the solution for developers, designers, and engineers who want to manage their complete Ansys Simulation & CAD/CAE developments in the cloud. Access cloud computing resources from anywhere on virtually any device via your web browser. You can create, customize, and connect cloud applications with minimal technical skills. Simply install your 3rd party applications alongside Ansys applications. Accelerate innovation by removing on-premises hardware barrier for High Performance Computing (HPC) using the power of AWS cloud. Leverage Ansys expertise in configuration and deployment of Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) and High Performance Computing (HPC). Manage & control your CAD/CAE cloud consumption and costs directly within your AWS subscription.
  • 11
    CAESES

    CAESES

    FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS AG

    CAESES® foundation is a powerful and flexible parametric 3D modeler. The main purpose: Robust variable geometry with fewer parameters. Create a clean and robust parametric geometry that is ideal for automated meshing and analysis. Integrate, launch and control your simulation runs. Let it be your flexible GUI for process automation incl. 3D post-processing. CAESES® offers integrated methods for automated design explorations and shape optimization. Optimize imported geometries by using the shape deformation and morphing techniques of CAESES. CAESES® is a command-driven platform that can be fully scripted and customized. Includes batch mode capabilities. Accelerate your shape optimization process by mapping the results of an adjoint flow analysis to the geometry parameters. Get your flexible CAESES model in just a few days! Customized to your needs and easy to use. No CAESES expertise required.
  • 12
    Inventor Nastran
    CAD-embedded finite element analysis software. Use a wider variety of study types and materials in your analysis. Inventor® Nastran® delivers finite element analysis (FEA) tools for engineers and analysts. Simulation covers multiple analysis types, such as linear and nonlinear stress, dynamics, and heat transfer. Inventor Nastran is available only in the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection. The Product Design & Manufacturing Collection delivers tools that work right inside Inventor—including advanced simulation, 5-axis CAM, and nesting, plus AutoCAD and Fusion 360.
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