Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Circuit Simulator VS Multisim

Compare Circuit Simulator VS Multisim and see what are their differences

Circuit Simulator logo Circuit Simulator

Animated electronic circuit simulator using ideal components to visualize voltage and current.

Multisim logo Multisim

Multisim is industry standard SPICE simulation and circuit design software for analog, digital, and power electronics in education and research.
  • Circuit Simulator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27
  • Multisim Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-03

Circuit Simulator features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    The simulator features an intuitive, graphical-based interface that makes it easy for users to design and simulate circuits even without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Web-Based Access
    Being web-based, it can be accessed from any device with a browser, negating the need for installation and ensuring compatibility across various operating systems.
  • Real-Time Simulation
    It offers real-time simulation so users can see the behavior of their circuits immediately, which helps in quick learning and debugging.
  • Educational Focus
    Designed with an educational focus, it includes features that help users understand concepts better, such as visualizing voltage, current, and other electrical parameters.
  • Free of Cost
    The simulator is free to use, which makes it accessible to a wide audience including students and hobbyists with limited resources.

Possible disadvantages of Circuit Simulator

  • Limited Component Library
    The simulator has a more limited library of components compared to professional-grade simulation software, which can be restrictive for more complex designs.
  • Simplistic Analysis Tools
    While suitable for educational purposes, the analysis tools are less advanced compared to professional simulators, which might not suffice for detailed circuit analysis.
  • Performance Issues
    Being a web-based application, performance can vary based on internet connection and browser performance, potentially causing lag in complex simulations.
  • Lack of Professional Features
    It does not offer some advanced features found in professional circuit design software, such as PCB layout tools, SPICE simulation, or integration with other EDA tools.
  • Limited Export Options
    The options for exporting designs and simulation results are limited, which can be a hindrance for users needing to share their work in different formats or integrate it into other workflows.

Multisim features and specs

  • Comprehensive Simulation Environment
    Multisim offers a robust simulation environment that integrates analog, digital, and power electronics design, providing versatile tools for designing and testing circuits efficiently.
  • Component Libraries
    It includes extensive libraries of components and models, making it easier for engineers and educators to find relevant parts for their projects and educational purposes.
  • Interactive Interface
    The platform features an interactive user interface that simplifies the process of circuit design and simulation, making it accessible to both students and professionals.
  • PCB Design Integration
    Multisim can be seamlessly integrated with Ultiboard for PCB design, facilitating a smooth transition from circuit simulation to physical implementation.
  • Educational Tools
    The software includes educational resources such as tutorials and labs that are particularly beneficial for teaching electronics concepts effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Multisim

  • Cost
    Multisim can be expensive for individual users or small institutions, which might be a barrier for widespread adoption among hobbyists and smaller educational settings.
  • System Requirements
    The software may require significant computing resources, which could necessitate hardware upgrades for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its interactive interface, new users may experience a learning curve to utilize all features effectively, especially those without prior experience in circuit simulation.
  • Platform Limitations
    Multisim might have limitations when it comes to compatibility with other design tools or platforms, potentially restricting workflow integration for some users.
  • Complex Circuit Handling
    While it is powerful, Multisim might struggle with highly complex circuit simulations, possibly requiring simplification or segmentation of designs.

Analysis of Circuit Simulator

Overall verdict

  • Circuit Simulator (falstad.com) is generally considered a good tool for circuit simulation due to its user-friendly approach, educational value, and robust simulation capabilities. However, it may lack some advanced features found in more professional-grade software used for commercial purposes.

Why this product is good

  • Circuit Simulator on falstad.com is highly regarded for its intuitive interface and comprehensive suite of features that allow users to easily simulate and visualize electronic circuits. It is web-based, making it accessible without the need for installation, and it supports a wide variety of components and circuit configurations. The tool is suitable for both beginners looking to understand fundamental principles and advanced users who need a quick and effective way to test circuit designs.

Recommended for

  • Students learning electronics and circuit design
  • Hobbyists experimenting with circuit ideas
  • Educators seeking a teaching tool for electronics
  • Individuals looking for a free and easy-to-use simulation tool

Circuit Simulator videos

Best circuit simulator for beginners. Schematic & PCB design.

Multisim videos

What is NI Multisim?

More videos:

  • Review - Circuit Design - Multisim and Ultiboard

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Circuit Simulator and Multisim)
Simulation
76 76%
24% 24
Technical Computing
80 80%
20% 20
Electronics
65 65%
35% 35
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Circuit Simulator and Multisim

Circuit Simulator Reviews

Electronic circuit design and simulation software list
QUCS – Quite Universal Circuit Simulator is a free simulation software developed on GNU/Linux environment. Well, this software really works on other operating systems such as Solaris, Apple Macintosh, Microsoft windows, FreeBSD, NetBSD etc. User can simulate large signal, small signal and noise behavior of the circuit using this simple circuit simulator.

Multisim Reviews

Best circuit simulation software for electronics engineers
Multisim electronics circuit simulation software is based on Berkeley SPICE and comes in both free and paid additions. MultiSim, the circuit maker software enables you to capture circuits, create layouts, analyse circuits and simulation. Highlight features include exploring breadboard in 3D before lab assignment submission, create printed circuit boards (PCB) etc. Breadboard...
Electronic circuit design and simulation software list
MultiSim – is a student version circuit simulation software from National instruments. As you know, student versions always comes with limited access. Still this is a great simulation tool for beginners in electronics. MultiSim, the circuit maker software enables you to capture circuits, create layouts, analyse circuits and simulation. Highlight features include exploring...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Circuit Simulator seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 29 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Circuit Simulator mentions (29)

  • I am trying to recreate this circuit in TinkerCAD, which is not giving me the correct current values. What am I doing wrong here?
    Have you tried modeling it in falstad's onine circuit simulator? Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How do engineers be confident when printing a PCB?
    Simulation is not viable for all but the most trivial circuits, and even then it won't catch things like a wrong footprint. I do occasionally use the Falstad simulator for simple analog circuits, but that just isn't possible with complicated digital ICs. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How can I derive the equation on the right? Please help!
    I don't know, but you could try simulating the circuit in Falstad circuit simulator to look at what is going on. Source: about 2 years ago
  • ELI5: How to make an electrical circuit that can be switched on and of at specific intervals?
    You can use Falstad to make sure you have a basic understanding of how relays work. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Need recommendations for PCB simulation and printing software
    This is quit comprehensive, but missing the awesome and intuitive online simulator: falstad. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Multisim mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Multisim yet. Tracking of Multisim recommendations started around Jun 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Circuit Simulator and Multisim, you can also consider the following products

Pspice - OrCAD PSpice technology provides the best, high-performance circuit simulation to analyze and refine your circuits, components, and parameters before committing to layout and fabrication

LTspice - LTspice® is a high performance SPICE simulation software, schematic capture and waveform viewer with enhancements and models for easing the simulation of analog circuits.

Solve Elec - Solve Elec is a free educational program to draw and analyze electrical circuits.

QUCS - Qucs, briefly for Quite Universal Circuit Simulator, is an integrated circuit simulator which means you are able to setup a circuit with a graphical user interface (GUI) and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit.

BlackBoard Circuit Designer - Help building prototypes on so called breadboards easily

KiCad - A Cross Platform and Open Source Electronics Design Automation Suite