Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SymPy VS MATLAB

Compare SymPy VS MATLAB and see what are their differences

SymPy logo SymPy

SymPy is a Python library for symbolic computation.

MATLAB logo MATLAB

A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming
  • SymPy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-24
  • MATLAB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-30

We recommend LibHunt MATLAB for discovery and comparisons of trending MATLAB projects.

SymPy features and specs

  • Symbolic Computation
    SymPy provides robust support for symbolic mathematics, allowing users to perform algebraic manipulations, calculus, equation solving, and more, symbolically rather than numerically, which can be crucial for exact computations.
  • Open Source and Free
    As an open-source library, SymPy is free to use, modify, and distribute, offering transparency and community contributions to enhance its functionality and reliability.
  • Integration with Python
    SymPy is implemented in Python, which makes it easy to integrate into Python-based workflows and take advantage of other powerful libraries within the Python ecosystem.
  • Extensive Documentation
    SymPy has comprehensive documentation and a large number of tutorials and resources available, which aids users in learning and effectively using the library.
  • Cross-Platform
    Being a Python library, SymPy can be used on any platform that supports Python, ensuring wide accessibility regardless of the operating system.
  • Interactive Use
    SymPy can be used interactively in a variety of environments, such as Jupyter notebooks, which makes it excellent for educational purposes and exploratory computing.

Possible disadvantages of SymPy

  • Performance Limitations
    Since SymPy is purely Python, it may suffer from performance issues, particularly with very large symbolic expressions, compared to libraries implemented in lower-level languages.
  • Numerical Limitations
    SymPy is primarily a symbolic computation library and may not be suitable or optimized for numerical computations compared to dedicated numerical libraries like NumPy or SciPy.
  • Complexity with Large Problems
    For highly complex or large-scale mathematical problems, SymPy can become cumbersome and may require significant memory and computation time.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Tasks
    While basic functionalities are easy to grasp, mastering advanced features of SymPy can be challenging due to the depth and breadth of its capabilities.

MATLAB features and specs

  • Versatility
    MATLAB is versatile and can be used across a wide range of applications, including engineering, data analysis, robotics, and image processing.
  • Built-in Functions
    MATLAB comes with a vast library of built-in functions and toolboxes that simplify complex mathematical computations and data visualization tasks.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software offers an intuitive and user-friendly graphical interface that makes it accessible even for those who are not experts in programming.
  • Excellent Visualization
    MATLAB provides high-quality, customizable plots and graphs that facilitate the clear and effective presentation of data.
  • Strong Community and Support
    Users can benefit from extensive documentation, community forums, and customer support from MathWorks, which aids in troubleshooting and learning.
  • Integration Capabilities
    MATLAB integrates well with other programming languages like C, C++, and Java, and supports interfaces to SQL databases.

Possible disadvantages of MATLAB

  • Cost
    MATLAB is expensive to license, making it less accessible for small businesses, individual professionals, and students without institutional access.
  • Memory Usage
    MATLAB can be very memory-intensive, which could be a limitation when dealing with large datasets or running on devices with limited computational resources.
  • Speed
    Although MATLAB is efficient for rapid prototyping, it is generally slower in execution speed compared to compiled languages like C or Fortran, particularly for heavy computations.
  • Proprietary Nature
    Being a proprietary software, MATLAB does not offer the same level of transparency and flexibility that open-source alternatives provide.
  • Learning Curve
    For some new users, especially those who have no prior experience with numerical computing environments, it might have a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility
    While MATLAB supports multiple operating systems, not all features and toolboxes are available on each platform, potentially limiting its utility in diverse environments.

SymPy videos

Python Sympy Integrals

MATLAB videos

Matlab Review Part 1

More videos:

  • Review - The Complete MATLAB Course: Beginner to Advanced!
  • Tutorial - Complete MATLAB Tutorial for Beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SymPy and MATLAB)
Technical Computing
5 5%
95% 95
Numerical Computation
4 4%
96% 96
Programming Language
100 100%
0% 0
3D
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 SymPy and MATLAB

SymPy Reviews

4 open source alternatives to MATLAB
SymPy, another BSD-licensed Python library for symbolic mathematics. It can be installed on any computer running Python. It aims to become a full computer algebra system; has an active development community with regular releases; and is used in many other projects (including SageMath, above).
Source: opensource.com
3 Open Source Alternatives to MATLAB
SymPy, another BSD-licensed Python library for symbolic mathematics. It can be installed on any computer running Python 2.7 or above. It aims to become a full computer algebra system; has an active development community with regular releases; and is used in many other projects (including SageMath, above).

MATLAB Reviews

25 Best Statistical Analysis Software
MATLAB is an exceptional choice for individuals seeking to perform advanced statistical analysis and data visualization. Its high-level programming environment and comprehensive range of tools enable users to efficiently process, analyze, and visualize their data.
7 Best MATLAB alternatives for Linux
MATLAB is a programming language and numeric computing environment. It is used for solving mathematical problems and displaying the result graphically. MATLAB is a paid tool, they provide a free trial for one month.
15 data science tools to consider using in 2021
Developed and sold by software vendor MathWorks since 1984, Matlab is a high-level programming language and analytics environment for numerical computing, mathematical modeling and data visualization. It's primarily used by conventional engineers and scientists to analyze data, design algorithms and develop embedded systems for wireless communications, industrial control,...
The 16 Best Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms for 2021
Description: 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, tested, and...
Matlab Alternatives
Matrix Laboratory also known as MATLAB is a high-level programming language. It provides an interactive environment to perform computations in various fields such as mathematics, sciences and engineering streams. The results can be visualized and generated as reports for further analysis. Matlab is the pioneer in combining these things. A team of professionals develop the...
Source: www.educba.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SymPy and MATLAB, you can also consider the following products

C++ - Has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features, while also providing the facilities for low level memory manipulation

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.

D (Programming Language) - D is a language with C-like syntax and static typing.

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

Perl - Highly capable, feature-rich programming language with over 26 years of development

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