Comparison of EM simulation software

| open source

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| In some distributions

| {{yes}}

| manual

| MoM

| Antenna modeling, especially in Amateur Radio. Widely used as the basis for many GUI-based programs on many platforms. Version 2 is open source, but Versions 3 and 4 are commercially licensed.

| commercial

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{partial}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| equidistant

| MoM

| For passive planar elements development, integrated into Keysight EEsof Advanced Design System.

| commercial

| {{yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Automatic adaptive

| FEM, FDTD, PO, Hybrid FEBI, MoM, and Eigenmode expansion (EME).

| For antenna/filter/IC packages, Radome, RFIC, MMIC, Antenna Placement, Waveguide (radio frequency), EMI, Frequency selective surfaces (FSS), Electromagnetic metamaterials, Composite Material, RCS-Mono and Bi development.

| commercial

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Automatic (project optimized)

| FDTD

| RF and microwave antennas, components, and systems, including mobile devices. MRI coils, radar, waveguides, SAR validation.

|commercial

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|Automatic, Hybrid

|MoM

|PCBs, multi-layer PCBs, LTCC, HTCC, on-chip passives, printed antennas. Integrated into Microwave Office.

|commercial

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}

|Automatic and adaptive

|FEM

|3D structurers (including 3D antennas), waveguides, 3D filters, PCBs, multi-layer PCBs, LTCC, HTCC, on-chip Passives, printed antennas. Integrated into Microwave Office.

| commercial

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Automatic, error-controlled

| FEM

| Nano- and micro-photonic applications (light scattering, waveguide modes, optical resonances).

|commercial and free editions

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Partial}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| Automatic or Manual

|FEM

|General purpose for research, engineering and educational use, includes AC, DC and Transient Magnetics, Electrostatics, AC and DC Conduction, Transient Electrics, Heat Transfer and multiphysics

|commercial

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| Automatic

|FEM, MoM, BPM, ray tracing

|General purpose

| commercial

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Automatic or manual; adaptive

| | MoM, FEM FDTD MLFMM PO RL-GO UTD

| For antenna analysis, antenna placement, windscreen antennas, microstrip circuits, waveguide structures, radomes, EMI, cable coupling, FSS, metamaterials, periodic structures, RFID

|open source (GPL)

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| manual, or can import other mesh formats

|FEM

|General purpose, includes 2D and 3D magnetics solvers, both static and harmonic. 3D solver is based on the Whitney AV formulation of Maxwell's equations.

|Commercial

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

|Automatic, variable mesh

|FDTD, PIC, finite volume

|Simulating electromagnetics, and electrostatics in complex dielectric and metallic environments. Phased array antenna systems, radar equipment, and photonics.

| open source (GPL)

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| manual

| FDTD, FDFD

| Optics and photonics (nanophotonics, photonic crystals, plasmonics, silicon photonics, metamaterials)