Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SimFlow VS OpenSim

Compare SimFlow VS OpenSim and see what are their differences

SimFlow logo SimFlow

SimFlow is a powerful CFD software, focused on engineering and science.

OpenSim logo OpenSim

State-of-the-art. simulation software. advancing research. in rehabilitation science. Performance.
  • SimFlow Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-23

SimFlow is a desktop-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation software for Windows and Linux. SimFlow is easy to learn and intuitive interface based on well known OpenFOAM libraries. You can download a free version from our website and try it right now.

  • OpenSim Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-15

SimFlow

$ Details
freemium $8000.0 / Annually
Platforms
Windows Linux
Release Date
2012 July

OpenSim

Website
simtk.org
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

SimFlow features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SimFlow offers an intuitive GUI that simplifies the process of setting up and running simulations, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Integration with OpenFOAM
    SimFlow is built on top of OpenFOAM, leveraging its robust computational fluid dynamics (CFD) capabilities while providing enhanced usability and visualization tools.
  • Comprehensive Post-Processing
    The software includes advanced post-processing features for detailed analysis and visualization of simulation results, supporting better decision-making.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    SimFlow is available for multiple operating systems including Windows and Linux, providing flexibility for users working in different environments.
  • Affordability
    Compared to other CFD software, SimFlow is relatively cost-effective, offering substantial features without the high price tag.

OpenSim features and specs

  • Open-Source
    OpenSim is open-source software, allowing users to freely download, modify, and distribute it without any licensing fee. This encourages collaboration and innovation within the community.
  • Comprehensive Biomechanical Modeling
    OpenSim offers a detailed platform for biomechanical modeling and simulation, allowing researchers to create and analyze musculoskeletal models to study human and animal movement.
  • Wide Community Support
    The tool is supported by a wide community of users including researchers, educators, and professionals, providing extensive resources, discussions, and shared models.
  • Integration Capabilities
    OpenSim is capable of being integrated with other simulation and analysis tools, enhancing its utility in diverse research and application fields.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and user guides are available, helping new users to start quickly and efficiently with their projects.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSim

  • Complexity
    The software can be complex to use, especially for beginners, as it requires a steep learning curve to understand its full capabilities and effectively use its advanced features.
  • Computationally Intensive
    Running detailed simulations can be computationally demanding, requiring access to high-performance computing resources.
  • Limited Customer Support
    Unlike commercial software with dedicated support services, OpenSim relies largely on community support, which might not always meet the users' immediate needs.
  • Interface Limitations
    The user interface may not be as intuitive or user-friendly as some commercial counterparts, potentially slowing down workflow efficiency.
  • Niche Application
    Primarily focused on musculoskeletal modeling, OpenSim may have limited applications outside its specialized field, restricting its use to niche groups.

Analysis of SimFlow

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SimFlow is considered a good CFD tool, particularly for users who want to leverage OpenFOAM capabilities with more ease. Its combination of robust functionality and ease of use makes it a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced users in the field of computational fluid dynamics.

Why this product is good

  • SimFlow is often regarded as a good computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software due to its user-friendly interface, providing engineers and researchers with accessible tools for simulating fluid flow and heat transfer processes. It integrates the capabilities of OpenFOAM with an approachable graphical user interface, making it suitable for those who need powerful results without an extensive learning curve. Additionally, it supports a wide range of models and solvers, which can be beneficial for various applications.

Recommended for

    SimFlow is recommended for engineers, researchers, and students who need a cost-effective, yet powerful CFD tool. It is particularly useful for professionals who require detailed simulations of fluid dynamics processes and want the flexibility of OpenFOAM without the steep learning curve typically associated with command-line tools.

SimFlow videos

CFD Tutorial - von Karman Vortex Street | simFlow CFD

More videos:

  • Tutorial - CFD Simulation Tutorial - Cylinder Cooling | simFlow CFD

OpenSim videos

Introducing OpenSim 3.0

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SimFlow and OpenSim)
Numerical Computation
89 89%
11% 11
Technical Computing
74 74%
26% 26
CFD
100 100%
0% 0
Computational Fluid Dynamics

User comments

Share your experience with using SimFlow and OpenSim. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenSim seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 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.

SimFlow mentions (0)

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

OpenSim mentions (4)

  • Is there some kind of CAD program you can design Mujoco MJCF XML files in?
    The most famous and complete free sim for actual natural body parts is https://simtk.org/projects/opensim. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to use Motion Capture Data on OpenSim - Help!
    Hi, I take it you're meaning opensim which models musculoskeletal structures and creates dynamic simulations of movement rather than opensimulator. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: What problem are you close to solving and how can we help?
    My research specialty is biomechanics. For the arm motion thing, it sounds like you might want inverse kinematics or inverse dynamics. Take a look at OpenSim: https://simtk.org/projects/opensim For the oral appliance adjustment, I'm not sure what your output measures of interest are. If they're mechanical maybe you want to do a sensitivity analysis using FEA. Maybe look at FEBio: https://febio.org/ As for... - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • OpenSim issues
    The first link you shared doesn’t take me to the same spot I downloaded the models from. This link: https://simtk.org/projects/opensim should take you to the home site. Click “download latest releases” drop down and select “models and examples”. This is how I got them, should be in a zip file under “modules”. Hope this helps! Also I have struggled with a lot of different issues using Opensim for gait Lab marker... Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SimFlow and OpenSim, you can also consider the following products

ANSYS Fluent - ANSYS engineering simulation and 3D design software delivers product modeling solutions with unmatched scalability and a comprehensive multiphysics foundation.

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

OpenFOAM - OpenFOAM® - Official home of The Open Source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Toolbox.

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.

FEATool Multiphysics - FEATool Multiphysics is a fully integrated Finite Element FEM CAE simulation toolbox for Matlab.

COMSOL Multiphysics - COMSOL is the developer of COMSOL Multiphysics software, an interactive environment for modeling and simulating scientific and engineering problems.