The website CFD-Online lists more than 200 CFD software packages, with new ones being released every month claiming better features and performance compared to well-known tools.

With so many options available, it can be hard to figure out which CFD software is the right choice. That is why we put together this review based on our own experience with many of the tools mentioned here, along with research-based impressions for those we have not used directly.

CFD software can generally be grouped into four main types: CAD Embedded, Open-Source, Semi-Comprehensive (often for specialized uses), and Comprehensive. In this five-part series, we discuss each type and also share insights from a user survey we conducted.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ – A Leading Multiphysics Simulation Platform

• Part 1: CAD Embedded CFD Software Packages – Includes SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Autodesk CFD, ANSYS Discovery Live, and more.
  
• Part 2: Open-Source CFD Software Packages – Includes OpenFOAM, SU2, MFIX, and SimScale.
  
• Part 3: Semi-Comprehensive CFD Software Packages – Includes COMSOL CFD, CONVERGE CFD, and NUMECA OMNIS.
  
• Part 4: Comprehensive CFD Software Packages – Includes Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and ANSYS Fluent.
  
• Part 5: Results from the CFD User Survey.

CAD Integrated:

The most widely used CAD integrated CFD tools are SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor CFD add-ons. These are built into the 3D modeling platforms they belong to and are mainly designed for product designers. They are best suited for solving steady-state, single-phase, non-reacting flow problems and focus on being easy to use. These packages usually include built-in meshing and post-processing tools. However, they cannot handle more advanced tasks like conjugate heat transfer, fluid-structure interaction, chemical reactions, or multiphase flows.

Open Source with Wrappers:

To make open-source CFD software easier to use, developers have built wrappers that package codes like OpenFOAM into user-friendly interfaces, often with added tools for pre- and post-processing. Examples include Visual-CFD, HELYX, and simFlow. A new approach is web-based simulation platforms such as SimScale. While wrappers make open-source software more convenient, they add another software layer between the user and the code. Supporters of wrappers argue they provide commercial-like ease at a lower price. Critics point out that they don’t fix open-source limitations like limited support or missing specialized features, and they may introduce bugs or maintenance issues of their own.

Specialized Tools:

Many CFD tools are designed for specific industries or applications. For example, CONVERGE is strong in moving meshes, multiphase flows, and turbulent combustion, making it popular in the automotive and internal combustion sectors. AVL Fire also focuses on automotive engines. Other examples include FloTHERM for electronics cooling, FINE/Marine for marine applications, 6Sigma for data center ventilation, EXA for external aerodynamics, XFlowCFD for Lattice-Boltzmann simulations, SPH-flow for smoothed particle hydrodynamics, CPFD for fluidized bed reactors, and CFX for turbomachinery. These can be cost-effective if their specialized features match your needs.

Comprehensive Packages:

For years, the top choices in CFD have been ANSYS Fluent and Simcenter STAR-CCM+, both widely respected and versatile. Fluent is more common in electronics and industrial product markets, while STAR-CCM+ has a stronger presence in aerospace, automotive, and energy industries. COMSOL’s CFD Module and Altair’s AcuSolve are less common but growing quickly as part of larger multiphysics platforms, now approaching the feature range of the top two. All four offer meshing, post-processing, and compatibility with most file types and formats. The main drawback is their high price.

Costs:

Even with their high cost, comprehensive CFD packages are still inexpensive compared to the staffing costs required to use them effectively. The cost gap between commercial and open-source options is not large, and the added time and effort needed to set up and run open-source tools often outweigh any savings, especially since they usually require Linux-based systems. CAD integrated tools don’t save much either, but they are useful when designers want CFD features directly within the CAD platform.