Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Scilab VS FreeCAD

Compare Scilab VS FreeCAD and see what are their differences

Scilab logo Scilab

Scilab Official Website. Enter your search in the box aboveAbout ScilabScilab is free and open source software for numerical . Thanks for downloading Scilab!

FreeCAD logo FreeCAD

An open-source parametric 3D modeler
  • Scilab Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-10
  • FreeCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

Scilab features and specs

  • Open Source
    Scilab is free and open-source software, allowing users to access the source code and modify it to suit their needs without any cost.
  • Extensive Mathematical Functionality
    Scilab provides a wide range of mathematical functions and capabilities for numerical computation, making it suitable for a variety of scientific and engineering applications.
  • Toolboxes and Modules
    It offers various built-in toolboxes and modules for specialized tasks, such as signal processing, control systems, and optimization, expanding its functionality.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Scilab runs on different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users working in diverse environments.
  • Strong Community Support
    A large and active user community means that users can find plenty of support, tutorials, and third-party contributions, easing the learning curve.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Scilab can be easily integrated with other software and tools, such as Modelica for modeling and simulation, enhancing its versatility in different workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Scilab

  • Performance
    Scilab may not be as performance-optimized as some other numerical computation software, like MATLAB, especially for very large datasets or highly complex calculations.
  • Learning Curve
    While Scilab is powerful, it can be challenging for beginners to master due to its extensive functionality and the need to learn its scripting language.
  • Less Commercial Support
    As open-source software, Scilab does not offer the same level of commercial support or extensive professional resources that are available for some paid alternatives like MATLAB.
  • Documentation Quality
    Although Scilab has a lot of documentation, some users find that it lacks depth or clarity compared to other software, making it harder to find thorough explanations or examples.
  • Graphical User Interface
    The graphical user interface (GUI) of Scilab is not as polished or user-friendly as that of some competitor tools, which can impact user experience.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Interoperability with MATLAB can be limited, potentially causing issues when porting code or collaborating with MATLAB users.

FreeCAD features and specs

  • Open Source
    FreeCAD is free to use and its source code is open to the public, allowing for customization and extension by the community.
  • Cross-Platform
    FreeCAD is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Parametric Modeling
    Users can create models with parameters that can be adjusted on-the-fly, offering a high degree of flexibility and ease of use.
  • Modular Architecture
    FreeCAD's modular design allows users to add or remove functionality through modules and extensions, catering to specific needs.
  • Community Support
    An active community of users and developers offers a wealth of tutorials, documentation, and forums for support.
  • Multi-Domain
    FreeCAD supports a wide range of engineering domains, including architecture, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering.

Possible disadvantages of FreeCAD

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software can be challenging for new users due to its complex interface and extensive features.
  • Performance Issues
    FreeCAD can be slower in terms of performance, especially when handling large or complex models.
  • Limited Documentation
    While community support is strong, official documentation can sometimes be lacking or incomplete.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Users may encounter bugs and stability issues, especially when using less stable versions or experimental features.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Although FreeCAD covers many basics, it may not offer all the advanced features available in commercial CAD software.
  • Not Industry Standard
    FreeCAD might not be accepted as an industry standard in many professional environments, which could limit its use for certain projects.

Scilab videos

Scilab IPCV 1.2

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi for Computer Vision with Scilab
  • Review - Tone Recognition with Scilab and LabVIEW to Scilab Gateway

FreeCAD videos

Is FreeCAD any good?

More videos:

  • Review - FreeCAD vs Fusion360 - What is the Best FREE CAD Program?
  • Review - FREECAD review | the best free cad software to download for free ! | mechanical modeling program

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Scilab and FreeCAD)
Technical Computing
100 100%
0% 0
3D
11 11%
89% 89
Numerical Computation
100 100%
0% 0
Architecture
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Scilab and FreeCAD

Scilab Reviews

25 Best Statistical Analysis Software
Scilab is a powerful, free, and open-source software widely used by researchers, students, and professionals in various fields such as engineering, mathematics, physics, and more.
7 Best MATLAB alternatives for Linux
The syntax of Scilab is similar to MATLAB it also provides a source code translator to convert MATLAB code to Scilab.
Matlab Alternatives
Scilab is an open-source similar to the implementation of Matlab. The approximation techniques known as Scientific Computing is used to solve numerical problems. To achieve this, the team of Scilab developers made use of Solvers and algorithms to build the algebraic libraries. Scilab is one of the major alternatives to Matlab along with GNU Octave.
Source: www.educba.com
10 Best MATLAB Alternatives [For Beginners and Professionals]
Scilab has 1700 mathematical functions for engineering applications and data analysis. You can also use Scilab to solve various constrained and unconstrained problems such as shape and topology optimizations etc.
4 open source alternatives to MATLAB
Scilab is another open source option for numerical computing that runs across all the major platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux included. Scilab is perhaps the best known alternative outside of Octave, and (like Octave) it is very similar to MATLAB in its implementation, although exact compatibility is not a goal of the project's developers.
Source: opensource.com

FreeCAD Reviews

15 Best Sketchup Alternatives 2022
From the description “FreeCAD” you can decipher that this software is free to use. Hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux amongst other operating systems.
9 Free CAD Software to Download
Although it is open source and free, FreeCAD is on par with other popular CAD programs due to its capability in creating real 3D solids, support for meshes, 2D drafting, right hand coordinate system plus many more features.
10 Free AutoCAD Alternatives
Its tools and concepts are quite similar to those of AutoCAD. So those who are already familiar with CAD will feel very comfortable using it. The FreeCAD source code can be downloaded, used and transformed as the user wants, because it is free. One of its most striking features is that by having a free source code, FreeCAD users have constantly changing software available...
Source: solidface.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeCAD seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

Scilab mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Scilab yet. Tracking of Scilab recommendations started around Mar 2021.

FreeCAD mentions (2)

  • SOLIDWORKS for Linux
    Important note[0] from author: > With the help of my script, You get a way to install Solidworks on your Linux system. > Certain packages and programs that are required will be set up for You, but it's important to know, that my script only helps You to get the program to run and nothing more! Personally I may recommend try & use SolveSpace[1,2] and FreeCAD[3] — free & open-source 2D/3D... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • STL to Gcode for CNC Router?
    Also FreeCAD has a gcode workbench for full 3D. I've used it a little and would describe it as "usable once you work out the quirks". Https://freecadweb.org/. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Scilab and FreeCAD, you can also consider the following products

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

SketchUp - 3D for Everyone

Wolfram Mathematica - Mathematica has characterized the cutting edge in specialized processing—and gave the chief calculation environment to a large number of pioneers, instructors, understudies, and others around the globe.

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

GNU Octave - GNU Octave is a programming language for scientific computing.

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.