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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FreeCAD

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AFreeCAD is an open-source CAD software that specialized in 3D design. New features are added to FreeCAD by an active community of developers.N/A

    Simcenter STAR-CCM+

    Score9.5 out of 10
    N/ASimcenter, from Siemens, is a suite of simulation tools and software. STAR-CCM+ is a multiphysics computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study how products operate under real-world conditions.N/A
    Pricing
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Considered Both Products
    FreeCAD
    No answer on this topic
    Siemens AG
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Would buy again
    14 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    9 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    93%
    Happy with the feature set
    13 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    11 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    91%
    Implementation went as expected
    10 Answers
    Features
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of FreeCAD and Simcenter STAR-CCM+
    Feature
    FreeCAD
    7.4
    1 Ratings
    1% below category average
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+
    -
    Ratings
    3D Modeling7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    2D Drafting6.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization5.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Parametric Design7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing5.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Assembly Design7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Small Businesses
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    PTC Creo
    Score7.6 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    9.5
    (14 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    6.0
    (1 ratings)
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.5
    (8 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FreeCADSimcenter STAR-CCM+
    Likelihood to Recommend
    FreeCAD
    I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    A case where you are interested in modeling various physics such as
    Aerodynamics,
    Hydrodynamics, Heat Transfer & Thermal Management, Multiphase Flow, Fluid-Structure
    Interaction (FSI), Combustion & Reacting Flows, Aeroacoustics, Electrochemistry, and Electromagnetics. STARCCM+ is recommended. But if your interest is complex Structural dynamics, durability, or Motion analysis, etc. better to go with other tools.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    FreeCAD
    • Importing CAD formats
    • Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
    • Fixing errors in geometry cad
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • Meshing is very easy to do in STAR CCM+
    • Post-processing results is also very intuitive, making extracting results very enjoyable and easy to use.
    • The Advanced rendering options that are available in STAR CCM+ can really help make very well-generated videos that can make the simulation easy to visualize, share with non-technical engineers, and showcase the study done.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    FreeCAD
    • Overall, the UI feels very old and non-polished.
    • There are some quirky behaviors, like being unable to select a plane by having the cursor over it; it has to be over the edges of the plane.
    • It's overwhelming having those many modules and options for doing things that appear to be similar.
    Incentivized
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    Siemens AG
    • Maybe a little bit on the automation side and if you want to script something, if you want to automate procedures, that happens through every simulation round that you have. That part could be a little bit cumbersome right now, depending on the operating system that you use.
    • Introducing the software on other platforms like Mac OSS.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    FreeCAD
    Usability is awkward. Perhaps if you learn it as your first CAD, it will feel OK. Still, it comes from commercial CAD products like mine (Onshape, Solid Works, Inventor, Solid Edge). You will feel it is less intuitive, with a less polished UI, difficult to customize and, this is a subjective one, less serious. I'd love to see it improve the usability and UI. I believe the engine behind it is powerful, but how you interact with the software is still lacking.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Great single window GUI
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    FreeCAD
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    STAR CCM+ technical support was very quick to respond when a ticket was raised for issues. For support in setting up a test case for the Lagrangian particle tracking technique, a support assist agent was assigned immediately, and after having a detailed discussion, my problem was understood by them, and a suitable test case was shared, which I was able to understand and use to build my case.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    FreeCAD
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    It is super easy when it comes to implementing it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    FreeCAD
    Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Competitive tools, both Fluent and STARCCM+, but the user interface and ease of learning, along with everything in a single interface, and a wide variety of proven physics capabilities, along with good scalability and automation, made the choice easy for me. Also, the user guide and tutorials available to explore various kinds of Physics capability, and A single license for access to all physics, also made it easy.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    FreeCAD
    • It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
    • It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
    • It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • Time saved in creating a inhouse code, tens and tens of hours.
    • Time saved in experimental setup, tens of hours.
    • Does add some time in testing to confirm star is doing what you think it's doing, but an overall net gain in productivity.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Screenshots

    Screenshot of Multiphysics Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulationScreenshot of Car aerodynamics CFD simulationScreenshot of Integrated Design Exploration and OptimizationScreenshot of Fully integrated CFD based topology optimizationScreenshot of Multiphysics CFD - Electric Motor CoolingScreenshot of Multiphase Flows