FEATool Multiphysics vs OpenFOAM
FEATool Multiphysics
featool.com
OpenFOAM
openfoam.comSide by side
| Figure | FEATool Multiphysics | OpenFOAM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Physics Simulation Software | 8.6 (#10) | 8.7 (#5) |
| Data export | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery mode | desktop | desktop |
| Founded | 2012 | 2004 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Intended users | The maker describes the product for engineers, researchers, teachers, and students in industry and academia. | OpenCFD describes its services for science and engineering companies, consultancies, and universities. |
| Purpose | FEATool Multiphysics is an engineering simulation toolbox for modeling and solving physics problems. | OpenFOAM is an open-source computational fluid dynamics toolbox for simulating fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physical processes. |
| Support | Limited free help is available through the public community forum, with dedicated developer support available as an add-on. | OpenCFD offers a one-year support package covering installation, bug fixes, updates, CFD assistance, and code customisation, with a maximum number of service hours per year. |
| 3D visuals | Yes | Yes |
Plans
FEATool Multiphysics
- Default free trial licenseFree
- 1-Year licensePrice not published
- Perpetual licensePrice not published
In their own words
FEATool Multiphysics
FEATool Multiphysics is desktop software for engineering simulation, with tools to model and solve problems across heat transfer, mass transport, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetics. Models can be built in 1D, 2D, or 3D, including axisymmetric configurations. Geometry tools support modeling and exchange in STEP, IGES, STL, and OBJ formats; meshes can be generated with built-in tools or Gmsh, Netgen, tetWild, and Triangle. FEATool connects its solvers with OpenFOAM, SU2, FEniCS, and redbKIT workflows. Interface actions map to MATLAB functions, and projects can be saved as MATLAB scripts or exported as Python scripts for FEniCS. Results can be exported to MATLAB, CSV, GMV, and VTK, or as interactive ParaView Glance and Plotly web models. It runs as a standalone app on Windows and Linux, or as a MATLAB toolbox on Windows, Linux, and Intel Mac; no standalone macOS app is available. A limited-functionality trial is offered, with full-feature trials requestable for 30 days.
OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source computational fluid dynamics toolbox for simulating fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physical processes. It provides pre-processing, mesh generation, solvers for different flow and physics problems, and post-processing tools. Built-in utilities include blockMesh and snappyHexMesh, and it can convert meshes from external formats. ParaView visualization is supported through the paraFoam launcher, reader modules, VTK conversion, and VTK output during simulations. OpenFOAM runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and supports self-hosted use. Its current release is v2606, released on 26 June 2026; GPU offloading is available as a compile-time option, with that work on a separate development track. It is distributed under the GNU General Public Licence. OpenCFD offers a one-year support package for installation, fixes, updates, CFD assistance, and code customization, subject to a yearly service-hours maximum. It does not respond to support queries without a prior package. Training courses are also offered, with prices provided through a schedule or enquiry process.