# OpenFOAM vs SolidWorks Flow Simulation Comparison | | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.1 out of 5 | | **Total Reviews** | 35 | 35 | | **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (63.6% of reviews) | Small-Business (48.5% of reviews) | | **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | --- ## Ratings Comparison | Rating | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Meets Requirements** | 8.0 (26 reviews) | 8.6 (30 reviews) | | **Ease of Use** | 6.7 (26 reviews) | 8.3 (30 reviews) | | **Ease of Setup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | Not enough data | | **Quality of Support** | 6.1 (21 reviews) | 8.3 (30 reviews) | | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | Not enough data | | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 6.1 (24 reviews) | 7.1 (28 reviews) | --- ## Pricing ### OpenFOAM #### Entry-Level Pricing No pricing available #### Free Trial No information available ### SolidWorks Flow Simulation #### Entry-Level Pricing No pricing available #### Free Trial No information available --- ## Features Comparison By Category ### MEP | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **OpenFOAM** | N/A | N/A | | **SolidWorks Flow Simulation** | 8.9/10 | 11 | #### Design | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Systems** | Not enough data | 9.2 (10 reviews) | | **3D** | Not enough data | 8.7 (9 reviews) | | **Documentation** | Not enough data | 8.7 (10 reviews) | | **Fabrication** | Not enough data | 9.0 (8 reviews) | | **Clash Detection** | Not enough data | 8.8 (7 reviews) | #### Work | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Integrate** | Not enough data | 8.5 (9 reviews) | | **Drafting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (9 reviews) | | **Analysis** | Not enough data | 8.8 (10 reviews) | | **Simulations** | Not enough data | 9.2 (10 reviews) | ### Simulation & CAE | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **OpenFOAM** | 6.9/10 | 16 | | **SolidWorks Flow Simulation** | 8.2/10 | 9 | #### Design | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 6.2 (11 reviews) | 8.8 (8 reviews) | | **Drawing Tools** | 6.1 (11 reviews) | 8.3 (8 reviews) | | **Editing Tools** | 6.8 (11 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | | **Rendering tools** | 7.1 (12 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | #### Tools | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Fluid analysis** | 8.8 (13 reviews) | 8.1 (8 reviews) | | **Finite element analysis** | 6.5 (8 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | | **Multibody dynamics** | 6.3 (8 reviews) | 8.1 (8 reviews) | #### Work | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Discrete event modeling** | 6.7 (8 reviews) | 8.3 (8 reviews) | | **Continuous event modeling** | 6.9 (9 reviews) | 8.5 (8 reviews) | | **Mechanical event simulation** | 7.1 (8 reviews) | 8.3 (8 reviews) | | **Manufacturing process simulation** | 6.4 (7 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | | **Integrate** | 6.9 (9 reviews) | 8.5 (8 reviews) | #### Environment | Feature | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Hardware support** | 7.1 (8 reviews) | 8.1 (8 reviews) | | **Task** | 6.8 (10 reviews) | 8.3 (8 reviews) | | **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 7.4 (7 reviews) | 9.0 (8 reviews) | | **Command Clarity** | 7.2 (12 reviews) | 8.8 (8 reviews) | --- ## Categories **Shared Categories (1):** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae) **Unique to SolidWorks Flow Simulation (1):** [MEP Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mep) --- ## Reviewer Demographics ### By Company Size | Segment | OpenFOAM | SolidWorks Flow Simulation | |---|---|---| | **Small-Business** | 63.6% | 48.5% | | **Mid-Market** | 18.2% | 27.3% | | **Enterprise** | 18.2% | 24.2% | ### By Industry #### OpenFOAM - **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 30.3% - **Automotive:** 18.2% - **Research:** 12.1% - **Higher Education:** 9.1% - **Oil & Energy:** 6.1% - **Renewables & Environment:** 3.0% - **Information Technology and Services:** 3.0% - **Government Administration:** 3.0% - **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 3.0% - **Design:** 3.0% - **Other:** 9.1% #### SolidWorks Flow Simulation - **Information Technology and Services:** 21.2% - **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 12.1% - **Design:** 12.1% - **Higher Education:** 9.1% - **Automotive:** 9.1% - **Architecture & Planning:** 6.1% - **Oil & Energy:** 3.0% - **Military:** 3.0% - **Medical Devices:** 3.0% - **Machinery:** 3.0% - **Other:** 18.2% --- ## Alternatives ### Alternatives to OpenFOAM - [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews) - [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (279 reviews) - [Ansys Fluent](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-fluent/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (122 reviews) - [COMSOL Multiphysics®](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (36 reviews) - [Autodesk CFD](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-cfd/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (31 reviews) - [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews) - [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews) - [GNU Octave](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (55 reviews) - [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews) - [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews) ### Alternatives to SolidWorks Flow Simulation - [Ansys Fluent](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-fluent/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (122 reviews) - [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews) - [COMSOL Multiphysics®](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (36 reviews) - [Autodesk CFD](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-cfd/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (31 reviews) - [Moldflow](https://www.g2.com/products/moldflow/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (28 reviews) - [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews) - [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews) - [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (279 reviews) - [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews) - [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews) --- ## Top Discussions ### OpenFOAM - Title: [Is OpenFOAM free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-openfoam-free) — 1 comment > **Top comment:** "Yes! It's open source" - Title: [What do you use as mesher? Are there free ones that are good for complex geometries?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/30233-what-do-you-use-as-mesher-are-there-free-ones-that-are-good-for-complex-geometries) — 1 comment > **Top comment:** "I used snappyHexMesh to mesh a complicated geometry and it did well. Many like cfMesh too. If snappyHexMesh is used, can use blockMesh to generate background..." ### SolidWorks Flow Simulation No discussions available for this product. --- **Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/openfoam-vs-solidworks-solidworks-flow-simulation)