Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SimScale VS Altair

Compare SimScale VS Altair and see what are their differences

SimScale logo SimScale

SimScale makes high-fidelity engineering simulation truly accessible. From anywhere. At any scale. In the cloud.

Altair logo Altair

Visually Analyze Any Data at the Speed of Business
  • SimScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-24

SimScale is the worldโ€™s first cloud-native SaaS engineering simulation platform, giving engineers and designers immediate access to digital prototyping early in the design stage, throughout the entire R&D cycle, and across the entire enterprise. By providing instant access to a single fluid, thermal, and structural simulation tool built on the latest cloud computing technology, SimScale has moved high-fidelity physics simulation technology from a complex and cost-prohibitive desktop application to a user-friendly web application, accessible to any designer and engineer in the world.

  • Altair Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-24

SimScale

$ Details
freemium
Release Date
2012 January
Startup details
Country
Germany
State
Bayern
City
Munich
Founder(s)
Alexander Fischer
Employees
100 - 249

Altair

Website
altair.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

SimScale features and specs

  • Accessibility
    SimScale is a cloud-based platform, which makes it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need for high-end local computing resources.
  • Collaboration
    The platform allows for easy collaboration between team members, as projects and simulations can be easily shared and worked on jointly.
  • Cost-effective
    By being a cloud-based service, SimScale reduces the need for expensive hardware and software licenses, making it a cost-effective solution for many users.
  • User-friendly Interface
    SimScale offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that can be more approachable for beginners compared to traditional FEA and CFD software.
  • Versatility
    The platform supports a wide range of simulation types, including FEA, CFD, and thermal simulations, providing users with a versatile toolset.
  • Learning Resources
    SimScale provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and webinars that help users learn how to use the platform more effectively, which is beneficial for both new and experienced users.

Possible disadvantages of SimScale

  • Internet Dependency
    Since it is cloud-based, a stable internet connection is required to use SimScale, which may be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Subscription Costs
    While there is a free tier, advanced features require a subscription, which might be costly for some users, especially small businesses or individual professionals.
  • Performance Limitations
    The performance is reliant on cloud computing resources which might be limited based on the user's subscription plan, potentially leading to longer simulation times for complex models.
  • Data Security
    Storing sensitive project data on a cloud service can pose security risks, which might be a significant concern for companies with stringent data protection policies.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, mastering advanced simulation capabilities can still have a steep learning curve, requiring a significant investment of time.
  • Limited Offline Capability
    SimScale's functionality is highly limited when offline, hindering work during internet outages or in remote locations without connectivity.

Altair features and specs

  • Comprehensive CAE Solution
    Altair provides an extensive suite of computer-aided engineering tools that cover a wide range of industries, from automotive to aerospace. This makes it a one-stop solution for various simulation needs.
  • Data Analytics and AI Integration
    The platform integrates data analytics and artificial intelligence, enabling companies to leverage data for more informed decision-making and improved operational efficiency.
  • High-Performance Computing
    Altair offers high-performance computing (HPC) solutions that enable faster processing of complex simulations, thereby reducing time-to-market for new products.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of setting up and conducting simulations, making it accessible even for users who are not experts in the field.
  • Strong Support and Community
    Altair provides robust customer support and has a strong community of users and developers who share their expertise and solutions, facilitating problem-solving and innovation.

Possible disadvantages of Altair

  • Cost
    Altair's solutions can be expensive, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises that may not have the budget to invest in high-end simulation software.
  • Complexity
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the software's advanced features and capabilities can still be overwhelming for new users who may require extensive training.
  • Hardware Requirements
    To fully utilize Altairโ€™s high-performance computing capabilities, significant investment in hardware may be necessary, which can be a barrier for smaller companies.
  • Licensing Model
    Altair's licensing model can be complex and might not be flexible enough for some businesses. Users may find the need to purchase multiple licenses for different modules.
  • Integration Challenges
    Integrating Altair with other existing systems can sometimes be challenging, requiring additional configuration and setup time.

Analysis of SimScale

Overall verdict

  • SimScale is generally considered a good option for cloud-based simulation and engineering analysis.

Why this product is good

  • SimScale offers a user-friendly platform for performing complex engineering simulations including CFD, FEA, and thermal simulations. It is accessible via a web browser, eliminating the need for high-performance local hardware. This makes it particularly convenient for small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, its collaborative features and wide range of simulation tools are highly appreciated by users.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized engineering firms
  • Educational institutions for teaching purposes
  • Freelance engineers seeking cost-effective simulation tools
  • Organizations looking for a scalable and collaborative simulation platform

SimScale videos

SimScale Review by DE Magazine

More videos:

  • Review - Nerf Ultra Dart Review and Analysis with SimScale CFD
  • Tutorial - External Aerodynamics Analysis - SimScale Tutorial
  • Review - SimScale Review: Easy to use, browser-based software with excellent customer support
  • Review - SimScale Features and Benefits

Altair videos

HyperMesh Review of the results with HyperStudy Bike frame

More videos:

  • Review - Erweiterte Modellierungsmรถglichkeiten fรผr Composites in HyperMesh und HyperView
  • Tutorial - Hypermesh Tutorial for Beginners : Basics of Hypermesh GUI

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SimScale and Altair)
Technical Computing
79 79%
21% 21
Data Dashboard
0 0%
100% 100
Numerical Computation
100 100%
0% 0
Data Transformation
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 SimScale and Altair

SimScale Reviews

Electronic circuit design and simulation software list
SimScale โ€“ SimScale is a cloud-based simulation software which you can do everything online. They have a free community plan which you can signup for but all the circuits you make will be publically available. .banner-1-multi-111{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:0px...

Altair Reviews

5 Best Python Libraries For Data Visualization in 2023
Itโ€™s a declarative statistical library built on top of the popular Vega-Lite visualization grammar. Altair is friendly, consistent, and comes with a simple API. Using this data visualization library, you can create beautiful and effective visualizations with a minimal amount of code. If you donโ€™t know, a declarative library needed to be mentioned only one link between the...
The 16 Best Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms for 2021
Description: Altair (formerly Datawatch) offers a suite of solutions through its Knowledge Works portfolio and is headlined by an advanced data mining and predictive analytics workbench called Knowledge Studio. The product features patented Decision Trees, Strategy Trees, and a workflow and wizard-driven graphical user interface. It also includes capabilities for data...
Top 8 Python Libraries for Data Visualization
Altair is a statistical data visualization library in Python. It is based on Vega and Vega-Lite which are a sort of declarative language for creating, saving, and sharing data visualization designs that are also interactive. Altair can be used to create beautiful data visualizations of plots such as bar charts, pie charts, histograms, scatterplots, error charts, power...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SimScale seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

SimScale mentions (1)

  • What are some core competencies I need to brush up on in order to start learning how to conduct CFD analysis?
    After you brush up the theory, you can take it to the next level by trying out some sample tutorials using the existing tools or any of the free tools available. (I personally prefer cloud native tools like SimScale, Onshape(for CAD design) to avoid any specific hardware requirements). Source: over 2 years ago

Altair mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SimScale and Altair, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Autodesk Fusion 360 - Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE featuring collaborative editing and cloud-based computation.

Tableau Prep - Tableau Prep is comprised of two products: Prep Builder and Prep Conductor.

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

Simscale CFD - SimScale CFD is a cloud-based leading CAE platform that offers access to CFD, FEA, and thermodynamics simulation capabilities 100% via a standard web browser.