List of finite element software packages


This is a list of software packages that implement the finite element method for solving partial differential equations.
SoftwareFeaturesDeveloperVersionReleasedLicensePricePlatform
Agros2DMultiplatform open source application for the solution of physical problems based on the Hermes libraryUniversity of West Bohemia3.22014-03-03GNU GPLFreeLinux, Windows
CalculiXIt is an Open Source FEA project. The solver uses a partially compatible ABAQUS file format. The pre/post-processor generates input data for many FEA and CFD applicationsGuido Dhondt, Klaus Wittig2.162019-11-24GNU GPLFreeLinux, Windows
DIANA FEAGeneral purpose finite element package utilised by civil, structural and geotechnical engineers.DIANA FEA BV, The Netherlands10.12016-11-14Proprietary commercial softwarePaidWindows, Linux
deal.IIComprehensive set of tools for finite element codes, scaling from laptops to clusters with 10,000+ cores. Written in C++.Wolfgang Bangerth, Timo Heister, Guido Kanschat, Matthias Maier et al.9.02018-05-12LGPLFreeLinux, Unix, Mac OS X, Windows
DUNEDistributed and Unified Numerics Environment, written in C++DUNE Developer team2.4.12016-02-29GPL Version 2 with Run-Time ExceptionFreeLinux, Unix, Mac OS X
ElmerOpen source multiphysical simulation software developed by Finnish Ministry of Education's CSC, written primarily in Fortran CSC8.22016-03-15GPLFreeLinux, Mac OS X, Windows
FEBioFinite Elements for BiomechanicsUniversity of Utah, Columbia University 2.7April, 2018CustomFreeLinux, Mac OS X, Windows
FEniCS ProjectSoftware package developed by American and European researchers with the goal to enable automated solution of differential equationsFEniCS Team1.6.02015-07-29LGPL & GPL/LGPL FreeLinux, Unix, Mac OS X, Windows
FEATool MultiphysicsMATLAB FEM and PDE multiphysics simulation toolboxPrecise Simulation1.102019-05-17Proprietary EULAFree for personal useWindows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix
FreeFEMFreeFEM is a free and open-source parallel FEA software for multiphysics simulations. The problems are defined in terms of their variational formulation and can be easily implemented using FreeFEM language. Written in C++.Sorbonne University and Jacques-Louis Lions Laboratory4.2.12019-06-06LGPLFreeLinux, MacOS, Windows, Solaris
GOMAGOMA is an open-source, parallel, and scalable multiphysics software package for modeling and simulation of real-life physical processes, with a basis in computational fluid dynamics for problems with evolving geometry.Sandia National Laboratories, University of New Mexico6.1Aug 28, 2015GPL Version 2FreeLinux
GetFEM++A generic finite element library written in C++ with interfaces for Python, Matlab and Scilab. It focuses on modeling of contact mechanics and discontinuities.Yves Renard, Julien Pommier5.02015-07LGPLFreeUnix, Mac OS X, Windows
Hermes ProjectModular C/C++ library for rapid development of space- and space-time adaptive hp-FEM solvershp-FEM group3.02014-03-01LGPLFreeLinux, Unix, Mac OS X, Windows
MathematicaGeneral purpose computation software.Wolfram ResearchRegularlyProprietaryLinux, Mac OS X, Windows, Raspbian, Online service.
MATLAB Partial Differential Equation ToolboxMATLAB Toolbox for solving structural, thermal, electromagnetics, and other general PDEsMathWorks3.3 2019-09-11Proprietary commercial softwareLinux, Mac OS X, Windows
MFEMMFEM is a free, lightweight, scalable C++ library for finite element methods that features arbitrary high-order finite element meshes and spaces, support for a wide variety of discretizations, and emphasis on usability, generality, and high-performance computing efficiency.MFEM team4.12020-03-10BSDFreeLinux, Unix, Mac OS X, Windows
MoFEM JosePHMesh Oriented hp-FE code, written in C++University of Glasgow0.6.82017-11-16LGPLFreeUnix, Mac OS X
MOOSEObject Oriented FE framework, written in C++Idaho National LaboratoryregularlyLGPLFreeUnix, Mac OS X
OOFEMObject Oriented Finite EleMent solver, written in C++Bořek Patzák2.42016-02-15GPL Version 2FreeUnix, Windows
OpenSeesOpen System for Earthquake Engineering SimulationNon CommercialFreeUnix, Linux, Windows
SESAM Software suite for structural and hydrodynamic analysis of ships and offshore structuresDNV GLregularlyProprietary, SaaSWindows, Web browser
Range SoftwareMultiphysics Finite Element Analysis SoftwareTomáš Šoltys3.02018-04-30GPLFreeLinux, Windows
Z88/Z88AuroraFreeware finite element package; The present version Z88Aurora V4 offers, in addition to static strength analysis modules such as non-linear strength calculations, simulations with non-linear materials, natural frequency, static thermal analysis and a contact module.Frank RiegZ88 V15, Z88Aurora V52017-07-17, 2019-04-01GNU GPL, CustomFreeLinux, Windows, Mac OS X
AbaqusAdvanced Franco-USA software from SIMULIA, owned by Dassault SystemesAbaqus Inc.20192019-12Proprietary commercial softwareLinux, Windows
CONSELFCAE simulation from your browserCONSELF SRL2.92015-10SaaSFreemiumWeb browser
FreeCADParametric 3D modeler with a FEM workbench allowing it to use external solvers like CalculiX, Z88, Elmer, and OpenFoamFreeCAD Team0.18LGPL 2FreeLinux, Windows, Mac OS X
ADINAFinite element software for structural, fluid, heat transfer, electromagnetic, and multiphysics problems, including fluid-structure interaction and thermo-mechanical couplingAdina R&DProprietary commercial software
Advance DesignBIM software for FEM structural analysis, including international design eurocodesGRAITEC20142013-09Proprietary commercial software
Autodesk SimulationFinite Element software of AutodeskAutodeskProprietary commercial softwareWindows
ANSYSUS-based and -developed full CAE software packageAnsys Inc.19.22018-09-18Proprietary commercial softwareFree student version available, up to 32,000 nodes/elementsWindows, Linux
COMSOL MultiphysicsCOMSOL Multiphysics Finite Element Analysis Software COMSOL Inc.5.52019-11-14Proprietary EULALinux, Mac OS X, Windows, Web browser
CosmosWorksPart of SolidWorksDassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.Proprietary commercial softwareWindows
QuickfieldEM, Heat Transfer and Stress AnalysisTera Analysis Ltd6.42020-04-17Proprietary EULAFree Student Edition availableWindows
LS-DYNABest known for explicit dynamics / crash analysisLSTC - Livermore Software Technology CorporationR8.02015-03Proprietary commercial softwareLinux, Windows
NastranOriginally developed for NASA, now available commercially from several software companiesMSC NASTRAN, Siemens PLM NX Nastran20142014Proprietary EULALinux, Mac OS X, Windows
RFEM3D finite element analysis softwareDlubal Software5.062016-02Proprietary commercial softwareFree student license availableWindows
SimScaleGerman 100% web-based CAE platformSimScale GmbH142013-07SaaSFree community version availableWeb browser
VisualFEAFinite element software for structural, geotechnical, heat transfer and seepage analysisIntuition Software5.112016-01Proprietary softwareFree educational version availableMac OS X, Windows
JCMsuiteFinite element software for the analysis of electromagnetic waves, elasticity and heat conductionJCMwave GmbH3.6.12017-01-27Proprietary EULALinux, Windows
JMAG2D and 3D finite element analysis software for electromagnetic field, thermal, structuralJSOL18.12019-06Proprietary commercial softwareEducation pack availableLinux, Windows, Web browser
StressCheckFinite element analysis software based on p-FEM with a focus on solid mechanics applicationsESRD, Inc.10.42018-04Proprietary commercial softwareStudent version available Windows
SDC VerifierAn extension for Ansys Mechanical, Femap and Simcenter with out of the box predefined standards on fatigue, stiffener and plate buckling, beam member checks, joint checks and weld. Such as AISC 360-10, API 2A RP, ISO 19902, Norsok N004, DIN15018, Eurocode 3, FEM 1.001, ABS 2004, ABS 2014, DNV RP-C201 2010, DNV CN30/1995, FKM etc.SDC Verifier5.3.12020-03Proprietary commercial softwareStudent version availableWindows

Feature comparison

This table is contributed by a FEA-compare project, which provides an alternative view of this table with the first row and Feature column being fixed for ease of table exploration.