--- title: GNU Octave Reviews meta_title: 'GNU Octave Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 55 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how GNU Octave works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.2 review_count: 55 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-07' parent_category: name: CAD & PLM url: https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-plm --- # GNU Octave Reviews **Vendor:** FreeCAD **Category:** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae) **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 55 ## About GNU Octave GNU Octave is an open-source mathematical modeling and simulation software very similar to using the same language as Matlab and Freemat. ## GNU Octave Reviews ### 1. The most intuitive mathematically optimized language just doesnt quite hit it **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chummi C. | Google Analytics Consultant Contractor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2021 **What do you like best about GNU Octave?** Linear algebra is a complete breeze with the language's vanilla syntax. Compared to more modernly popular languages used for Data Science such as Python , GNU Octave allows you to run tensor algebra operations using only built-in functions without having to import any 3rd party packages or modules. Despite Numpy being the standard and most commonly used library for linear algebra, I would honestly say that I still believe that even Numpy could learn a thing or two about the ease of use of Octave's mathematical syntaxes. The fact that one could implement complex matrix-vector operations in GNU Octave with mostly only built-in operators and rarely having to call functions proves just how well-optimized the language is for mathematical purposes. **What do you dislike about GNU Octave?** Despite the language's well-optimized math functions, everything else just feels a bit too clunky and complicated for a high-level language. For instance, building functions and calling those functions **Recommendations to others considering GNU Octave:** Use it primarily for practicing building machine learning models from scratch to test your knowledge of the underlying algorithms and mathematical concepts but stick to Python along with frameworks such as Tensorflow 2.0, Pytorch, or Sci-kit learn when it comes to building bigger and more complex models. If you've been using Python or R for most of your previous projects, I'd say stick with those even for practicing and prototyping as learning GNU Octave syntax, though relatively easy to pick-up, might lead to unwanted syntax mixing when switching between the languages. **What problems is GNU Octave solving and how is that benefiting you?** Coding machine learning programs from scratch. Octave's inclination towards linear algebra allows you to create the building block functions of machine learning applications in only few lines of code. ### 2. Free, simple and fast language for Numerical Computation and Visualisation **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Raghuvar P. | Big Data Developer & AWS Certified Solution Architect, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 01, 2019 **What do you like best about GNU Octave?** One thing I like about the Octave is it is free and very fast. To learn GNU Octave is really easy, the learning curve is small. The graphs and visualisations they provide are really clean and looks beautiful. The Numerical calculations such as Matrix multiplication, Eigen values calculations, SVD etc etc are very much faster. **What do you dislike about GNU Octave?** Although this is free, there are some things which are not available in Octave. Also, in the market there are many good open source libraries available who does the same thing. I have given 6 ratings because of the same reason. It is good language but not the best. **Recommendations to others considering GNU Octave:** As I told you there are better libraries than GNU. One of them is Numpy which is also faster and easy to learn. By no doubt Octave is a good language to learn but there are use cases also. If you want to use Machine leaning models then I will suggest Numpy but if you are planning for the pure research base area where graphs and performance and numerical computation matter go with Octave. **What problems is GNU Octave solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use GNU octave in Computer graphics. Because of the fact that it is very good at visualisation. I used to work on GNU Octave extensively in my college days. GNU Octave also faster in Numerical computation, which makes it efficient also. ### 3. Me **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Accounting | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 13, 2018 **What do you like best about GNU Octave?** Efficiency Of the product makes it super **What do you dislike about GNU Octave?** Nothing that I dislike about that Product **What problems is GNU Octave solving and how is that benefiting you?** Mostly adminstrative ## GNU Octave Discussions - [Is Octave better than Python?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-octave-better-than-python) - [What is the difference between GNU Octave and MATLAB?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-difference-between-gnu-octave-and-matlab) - [What does GNU stand for in GNU Octave?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-gnu-stand-for-in-gnu-octave) - [Is GNU Octave as good as MATLAB?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-gnu-octave-as-good-as-matlab) - [View GNU Octave pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/gnu-octave/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=3§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-10+14%3A43%3A41+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=4484d150-7d24-4e8f-8d7e-9718e3029888&secure%5Btoken%5D=f874eff51fb8011109785d12752d24e4126fc5b0cf050b9f20263e2e71767851&format=llm_user) ## GNU Octave Features **Administration** - Quality Control - Data Sampling - Collaboration - Multiple Data Sources - Real-Time Data - Statistical Process Control **Design** - 3D/solid modeling Tools - Drawing Tools - Editing Tools - Rendering tools - Stochastic Modeling - Presentation Tools **Capabilities** - Data Visualization - Survival Analysis - Risk Data Attributes - Cost Analysis - Multivariate Analysis - What-if Analysis - Statistical Analysis - Bayesian Analysis - Trend Analysis - Regression Analysis **Tools** - Fluid analysis - Finite element analysis - Multibody dynamics - Design Analysis **Methodology** - ANOVA Support - Regression - Time Series Analysis **Work** - Discrete event modeling - Continuous event modeling - Mechanical event simulation - Manufacturing process simulation - Integrate - Turbulence Modeling - Motion Modeling - Dynamic Modeling - Mathematical Modeling - Agent-Based Modeling - Monte Carlo Simulation **Environment** - Hardware support - Task - Manage Multiple Profiles - Command Clarity **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization - Generative AI **Additional Functionality** - Compliance Tracking - Real-Time Reporting - Statistical Simulation - Forecasting - Neural Network Modeling - Visual Analytics - Access Controls/Permissions - Data Connectors - Customizable Reports - Drag & Drop - Self Service Data Preparation - Performance Metrics - Data Transformation - Activity Dashboard - Data Extraction - Reporting/Analytics - Predictive Analytics - API - AI Copilot - Association Discovery - Ad hoc Reporting - Reporting & Statistics - Third-Party Integrations - Customization - Search/Filter - Monitoring - Data Clustering - Data Import/Export - SSL Security - File Storage - Decision Tree - Multiple Scoring Models **Additional Functionality** - Activity Dashboard - Configurable Workflow - API - Data Verification - Data Visualization - Generative AI - 3D Imaging - Projections - Data Import/Export - Design Management - Drag & Drop - Real-Time Monitoring - Version Control - Visual Analytics - Third-Party Integrations - Access Controls/Permissions - Workflow Management - Direct Manipulation - Scenario Planning - Product Data Management - Predictive Analytics - Change Management - Process Control - Customization - Content Library - Document Management - Real-Time Data - Reporting & Statistics - Rules-Based Workflow - File Management - Compliance Management - Policy Management - Graphical Data Presentation - Customizable Reports - Graphical Workflow Editor - Reporting/Analytics - Industry Specific Database - Project Workflow - AI Copilot - Performance Management ## Top GNU Octave Alternatives - [Scilab](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (58 reviews) - [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (751 reviews) - [Posit Team](https://www.g2.com/products/posit-team/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (568 reviews)