DWSIM
by DWSIM
Free, open-source chemical process simulator released under GPL v3 that runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. It is CAPE-OPEN compliant and widely used in teaching and by smaller engineering teams.
Specification
- Vendor
- DWSIM
- Categories
- Process Simulation
- Phase
- EEngineering
- Status
- Active
- Deployment
- Desktop · Mobile
- Licensing
- Open source
- Standards
- CAPE-OPEN
- Official site
- dwsim.org
Capabilities
- aSteady-state and dynamic simulation in one flowsheet
- bEquations of state, activity models and CoolProp
- c35+ unit operations including columns and reactors
- dPython, .NET and COM automation and Excel add-in
- eCAPE-OPEN 1.0/1.1 unit and property interoperability
Assessment
The best free process simulator available and a genuine asset for teaching and early studies. Not a replacement for commercial suites on contract deliverables.
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Capability25%6/10
Steady-state and dynamic simulation with standard thermodynamic models and more than 35 unit operations.
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Interoperability20%8/10
CAPE-OPEN compliant with Python, .NET and Excel automation.
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Scale15%4/10
Suited to studies, teaching and small projects rather than large EPC design.
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Usability15%7/10
Free, cross-platform and approachable.
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Deployment10%7/10
Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, with mobile versions cited by the project.
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Ecosystem15%5/10
Active open-source community, but little contractual use on major projects.
Strengths
- Free and open source
- CAPE-OPEN interoperability
- Cross-platform
Considerations
- Limited validation and support for contractual work
- Smaller unit-operation library
- Some extras are paid
Editorial assessment from public documentation, 23 October 2026. Not a hands-on benchmark. Methodology
In the same circuit · Process Simulation
- 01 84
- 02 81
- 03 77
- 04 73
- 05 71
- 06 71
- 07 70
- 08 70
- 09 68
- 10 67
- 11 62
Sources
- DWSIMDWSIM · accessed 22 October 2026
Plate updated 22 October 2026 · revision 1