Comparison of system dynamics software


This is a comparison of various aspects of software offering system dynamics features:
Due to concerns over commercial postings on the system dynamics main topic, commercial hyperlinks are specifically NOT active on this list.

Table of system dynamics software

Package nameLicensingImplementation languageLast update More info
AMESim, commercialC2017Distributed by Siemens. Modelica-models supported.
Analytica, commercial, free limited versionC++2018Supports system dynamics, Monte Carlo simulation for uncertainty, array abstraction for handling multidimensional data, linear and non-linear optimization. Uses influence diagrams to define, navigate, and document models.
AnyLogic, commercial, free Personal Learning Edition for education, formal or notJava2020Supports system dynamics, agent based and discrete event modeling, allows making hybrid models.
ASCEND, GNU General Public License C2012For solving small to very large mathematical models, systems of non-linear equations, linear and nonlinear optimisation problems, dynamic systems expressed as differential-algebraic equations.
Berkeley Madonna, sharewareC++, Java2018Developed on Berkeley campus under sponsorship of NSF and NIH, used by academic and commercial institutions to build mathematical models for research and teaching. Solves ordinary differential equations, difference equations it puts much greater emphasis on probabilistic simulation techniques to support representation of uncertain and/or stochastic systems; and 2) it provides a wide variety of specialized model objects in order to make models less abstract and help represent processes and events that cannot easily be represented using a traditional system dynamics approach. These differences are due to the fact that GoldSim is primarily used for engineering and scientific applications where quantitative probabilistic predictions of future performance are required.
Free, Insight Maker Public License JavaScript2017Insight Maker supports System Dynamics modeling: a powerful method for exploring systems on an aggregate level. It is 100% browser based with an open support group using Google mail list.
iThink, commercialC++, Javascript2018System dynamics and discrete event modeling with some agent-based capabilities. Drag and drop user interface builder allows simulations to be published online. Includes multilevel hierarchical models, reusable modules, multidimensional arrays, optimization, and Monte Carlo analysis.
Free, CC Zero licenseJavaScript2019A tool for thinking in systems. Users draw circles and lines to build an interactive simulation of a complex system.
MapleSim, commercialJava, C, Maple 2017Modelica-based system-level modeling tool. Leverages symbolic computing via tight integration with Maple.
NetLogo, GPLv2Java, Scala2018Agent-based modeling environment in LOGO; supports system dynamics models as a secondary feature.
OpenModelica, OSMC Public License, Eclipse Public License, GNU General Public License C, C++, MetaModelica2018Modelica-based modeling and simulation environment. Modelica is an object-oriented, declarative, multi-domain modeling language for component-oriented modeling of complex systems; there is a freely available .
Powersim StudioProprietary, commercial, free limited versionC++2018Supports system dynamics; building graphical diagrams using stocks and flow, including delays and feedback for non-linear models. Supports units, multi-dimensions running scenario simulations and Monte Carlo simulations.
Simcad ProProprietary, commercial, free full featured demoVisual interface2019Interactive process simulation software with support for manufacturing, healthcare and supply chain. 2D and 3D visualization with VR capability
Simantics System Dynamics, Eclipse Public License Java, Modelica2018Free and open source system dynamics modelling software with stock and flow modelling, hierarchical models and array variables.
Simulink, commercial?2019Tight integration with MATLAB
Stella, commercial, limited free online versionC++, Javascript2020System dynamics and discrete event modeling with some agent-based capabilities. Drag and drop user interface builder in Architect versions allows simulations to be published online. Includes multilevel hierarchical models, reusable modules, multidimensional arrays, optimization, and Monte Carlo analysis.
Free, proprietaryWlanguage2019The System Dynamics software TRUE, developed by True-World System Dynamics, is a tool for modeling, simulating, analyzing and optimizing multidomain dynamic applications
Vensim, commercial, free Personal Learning Edition for education and personal useC, C++2020Continuous simulation with stocks and flows, some discrete delay and discrete event functionality. Flexible array syntax with mapping among dimensions. Extensive support for time series data import and export, with calibration optimization and Markov chain Monte Carlo for estimation. Monte Carlo and other sensitivity simulation methods. Graphical model construction and interfaces. External functions and compiled simulation.
Ventity, commercial, free academic versionC#2019Entity-based simulation, supporting classic SD as well as detailed and agent simulations with dynamic creation of structure, ad hoc data and sparse matrices. Collaboration and source control friendly. Continuous simulation with stocks and flows and discrete event actions between time steps. Time series and initialization data import and export, with calibration optimization sensitivity simulation. Graphical model construction and interface. Geospatial viewer for GIS-based simulation.
VisSim, commercialC2011Accredited education institutions are allowed to site license VisSim v3.0 for free. The latest versions, and add-ons, are available to students and academic institutions at reduced pricing. A read-only version of the software, VisSim Viewer is available for free and provides a way for unlicensed users to run VisSim models.
Wolfram SystemModeler, commercial2019Supports system dynamics, discrete event modeling, external C-functions, hierarchical models, and the Modelica modeling language with tight integration with Mathematica. Models can be exported to run as standalone applications for users without SystemModeler.