# Top 10 Mathematica Alternatives & Competitors

(86)4.1 out of 5

Thousands of users compare Mathematica with other Simulation & CAE Software tools to find the best fit for their team or business. In most cases, users compare alternatives based on reliability and ease of use.   
 The best overall alternative to Mathematica is [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews), rated ~4.5 stars on G2 from 751+ reviewers. It is frequently praised for data visualization and tools variety. Other well-known alternatives to Mathematica are: 
- [Scilab](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews) – known for functionality and reliability (G2 star rating ~4.5)
- [GNU Octave](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews) – highly rated for scalability and features (G2 star rating ~4.2)
- [Maple](https://www.g2.com/products/maple/reviews) – offers scalability and reliability (G2 star rating ~4.3)
- [SageMath](https://www.g2.com/products/sagemath/reviews) – best suited for teams that need integrations and reliability (G2 star rating ~4.3)

 Browse top options below. Based on G2 review data, Mathematica is most commonly used in industries like [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae), [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-science-and-machine-learning-platforms). Compare user ratings by vertical to find the best fit.

## Best Paid & Free Alternatives to Mathematica

- MATLAB
- Scilab
- GNU Octave
- Maple
- SageMath
- Autodesk Fusion
- COMSOL Multiphysics®
- Simulink

## Top 10 Alternatives to Mathematica Recently Reviewed By G2 Community

Browse options below. Based on reviewer data, you can see how Mathematica stacks up to the competition, check reviews from current & previous users in industries like Research, Computer Software, and Civil Engineering, and find the best product for your business.

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[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/d5738f5e7922b4552c3ba543a2b9dee6/matlab.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews)

[
MATLAB
](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews)

By [MathWorks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mathworks)

[

4.5/5(771)

](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

MATLAB is a high-level programming and numeric computing environment widely utilized by engineers and scientists for data analysis, algorithm development, and system modeling. It offers a desktop environment optimized for iterative analysis and design processes, coupled with a programming language that directly expresses matrix and array mathematics. The Live Editor feature enables users to create scripts that integrate code, output, and formatted text within an executable notebook. Key Features and Functionality: - Data Analysis: Tools for exploring, modeling, and analyzing data. - Graphics: Functions for visualizing and exploring data through various plots and charts. - Programming: Capabilities to create scripts, functions, and classes for customized workflows. - App Building: Facilities to develop desktop and web applications. - External Language Interfaces: Integration with languages such as Python, C/C++, Fortran, and Java. - Hardware Connectivity: Support for connecting MATLAB to various hardware platforms. - Parallel Computing: Ability to perform large-scale computations and parallelize simulations using multicore desktops, GPUs, clusters, and cloud resources. - Deployment: Options to share MATLAB programs and deploy them to enterprise applications, embedded devices, and cloud environments. Primary Value and User Solutions: MATLAB streamlines complex mathematical computations and data analysis tasks, enabling users to develop algorithms and models efficiently. Its comprehensive toolboxes and interactive apps facilitate rapid prototyping and iterative design, reducing development time. The platform's scalability allows for seamless transition from research to production, supporting deployment on various systems without extensive code modifications. By integrating with multiple programming languages and hardware platforms, MATLAB provides a versatile environment that addresses the diverse needs of engineers and scientists across industries.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, MATLAB is:

More usable

Better at support

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/6e50bdab7bc21f5fa01a7bd2ca7f33da/scilab.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews)

[
Scilab
](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews)

By [Scilab Enterprises](https://www.g2.com/sellers/scilab-enterprises)

[

4.5/5(64)

](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Scilab is a free open-source software for numerical computation and simulation similar to Matlab/Simulink.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, Scilab is:

More usable

Better at meeting requirements

Better at support

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/b7e89f607ee81a33926914cf8b010785/gnu-octave.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews)

[
GNU Octave
](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews)

By [FreeCAD](https://www.g2.com/sellers/freecad)

[

4.2/5(55)

](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

GNU Octave is an open-source mathematical modeling and simulation software very similar to using the same language as Matlab and Freemat.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, GNU Octave is:

More usable

Better at support

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

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](https://www.g2.com/products/maple/reviews)

[
Maple
](https://www.g2.com/products/maple/reviews)

By [Waterloo Maple](https://www.g2.com/sellers/waterloo-maple)

[

4.3/5(15)

](https://www.g2.com/products/maple/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Maple is a general-purpose computer algebra system developed and sold commercially by Waterloo Maple Inc.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, Maple is:

More usable

Better at support

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/b60f5937b391a668da9bf4723bb1ebcb/sagemath.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/sagemath/reviews)

[
SageMath
](https://www.g2.com/products/sagemath/reviews)

By [SageMath Project](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sagemath-project)

[

4.3/5(10)

](https://www.g2.com/products/sagemath/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

SageMath is a system for algebra and geometry experimentation via Python.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, SageMath is:

More usable

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/e00dd8bdafdafc988f2621d1c6fb30ad/fusion-360.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews)

[
Autodesk Fusion
](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews)

By [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk)

[

4.5/5(520)

](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Autodesk Fusion is a comprehensive cloud software platform that integrates various tools for 3D design, manufacturing, electronics, simulation, and generative design. It serves as a collaborative, cloud-enabled CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering), and PCB (Printed Circuit Board) software.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, Autodesk Fusion is:

More usable

Better at support

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/430788c054407e86310771e320229ed1/comsol-multiphysics.jpg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews)

[
COMSOL Multiphysics®
](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews)

By [COMSOL](https://www.g2.com/sellers/comsol)

[

4.3/5(36)

](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Engineers and scientists use the COMSOL Multiphysics® software to simulate designs, devices, and processes in all fields of engineering, manufacturing, and scientific research. COMSOL Multiphysics® is a simulation platform that provides fully coupled multiphysics and single-physics modeling capabilities. The Model Builder includes all of the steps in the modeling workflow — from defining geometries, material properties, and the physics that describe specific phenomena to performing computations and evaluating the results. The COMSOL Multiphysics® software brings a user interface and experience that is always the same, regardless of engineering application and physics phenomena. Add-on modules provide specialized functionality for electromagnetics, structural mechanics, acoustics, fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical engineering. Choose from a list of LiveLink™ products to interface directly with CAD and other third-party software. Deploy simulation applications with COMSOL Compiler™ and COMSOL Server™.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, COMSOL Multiphysics® is:

More expensive

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/d5738f5e7922b4552c3ba543a2b9dee6/simulink.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/simulink/reviews)

[
Simulink
](https://www.g2.com/products/simulink/reviews)

By [MathWorks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mathworks)

[

4.2/5(99)

](https://www.g2.com/products/simulink/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Simulink is a block diagram environment for multidomain simulation and Model-Based Design. It supports system-level design, simulation, automatic code generation, and continuous test and verification of embedded systems. Simulink provides a graphical editor, customizable block libraries, and solvers for modeling and simulating dynamic systems. It is integrated with MATLAB, enabling you to incorporate MATLAB algorithms into models and export simulation results to MATLAB for further analysis. Key Features: - Graphical editor for building and managing hierarchical block diagrams - Libraries of predefined blocks for modeling continuous-time and discrete-time systems - Simulation engine with fixed-step and variable-step ODE solvers - Scopes and data displays for viewing simulation results - Project and data management tools for managing model files and data - Model analysis tools for refining model architecture and increasing simulation speed - MATLAB Function block for importing MATLAB algorithms into models - Legacy Code Tool for importing C and C++ code into models Primary Value: Simulink enables engineers and scientists to design, simulate, and test complex systems within a unified environment, facilitating early detection of design issues and reducing development time. By integrating with MATLAB, it allows for seamless incorporation of algorithms and data analysis, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of system development. Simulink's support for automatic code generation and continuous verification streamlines the transition from design to implementation, ensuring robust and reliable embedded systems.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, Simulink is:

More usable

More expensive

Better at support

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/0198037acba79b477a7bfa122c512587/inventor.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews)

[
Inventor
](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews)

By [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk)

[

4.4/5(440)

](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

Inventor® 3D CAD software offers an easy-to-use set of tools for 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, Inventor is:

More usable

Better at meeting requirements

Better at support

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

[
 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/8a92e2c305bc2b2784390d729470b9b4/solidworks.png "Product Avatar Image")
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews)

[
SOLIDWORKS
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews)

By [Dassault Systemes](https://www.g2.com/sellers/dassault-systemes)

[

4.5/5(646)

](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews#reviews)

Product Description

SOLIDWORKS offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SOLIDWORKS products are easy to learn and use, and help you design products better.

Reviewers say compared to Mathematica, SOLIDWORKS is:

More usable

More expensive

Better at meeting requirements

Categories in common with Mathematica:

[
Simulation & CAE
](/categories/simulation-cae)

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