OpenFOAM vs PetIBM
OpenFOAM
openfoam.comPetIBM
barbagroup.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | OpenFOAM | PetIBM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Physics Simulation Software | 8.7 (#5) | 8.0 (#33) |
| Delivery mode | desktop | desktop |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| License | OpenFOAM is distributed under the GNU General Public Licence (GPL). | PetIBM code is under the BSD 3-Clause License. |
| Purpose | OpenFOAM is an open-source computational fluid dynamics toolbox for simulating fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physical processes. | PetIBM implements immersed-boundary methods to solve 2D and 3D incompressible Navier–Stokes equations on stretched Cartesian grids using a projection approach. |
| Support | 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. | The project directs bug reports, feature requests, and questions to its GitHub issue tracker and lists email contacts for questions, suggestions, or feedback. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
PetIBM
PetIBM has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.