A free process simulator that runs in your browser
Looking for a free, no-license, open way to simulate a process? Open a browser and go — rigorous thermodynamics, 60+ unit operations and an AI copilot, with a free tier and usage-based pricing beyond it. No install, no seat license.
The modern alternative to open-source desktop simulators
Open-source tools like DWSIM are great desktop software — but they still mean a local install, a .NET runtime, and no collaboration or automation out of the box. MaximaLabs keeps the “free and open to use” part and drops the desktop:
Free to start
A real $0 tier with 50 solves/month — plus an Academia program for students and researchers.
Nothing to install
A browser tab, not a desktop app or a license server. Works on any OS.
Open API, not a black box
Drive it from an open REST + WebSocket API and a Python SDK; see the exact equations the solver works.
Comparing specifically against DWSIM? See the MaximaLabs vs. DWSIM breakdown. Building AI or academic work? See MaximaLabs for Academia.
Frequently asked questions
Is MaximaLabs free?
Yes — there is a free tier: $0/month with 50 solves per month, the full flowsheet canvas, the AI copilot and the example library. It's ideal for learning, coursework and small studies. Beyond that you pay per solve, not for a seat license. Students and researchers get more via the Academia program.
Is MaximaLabs open source?
No — MaximaLabs is a proprietary, hosted product, so we're upfront about that. But if what you want from "open source" is a free, no-license, inspectable, scriptable simulator, that's exactly what the free browser tier plus an open REST + WebSocket API and a Python SDK give you. We also validate our thermodynamics against the open-source DWSIM and publish the results. If you specifically need a GPL desktop package, DWSIM is excellent; if you want the hosted, zero-install step up, that's us.
Do you have a CAPE-OPEN interface?
No. MaximaLabs isn't a CAPE-OPEN desktop plug-in — it's a cloud-native simulator with an open REST + WebSocket API and a Python SDK, so you can drive simulations and pull results from any language, notebook or spreadsheet. For most interoperability and automation needs that's a simpler, more portable integration than a CAPE-OPEN COM component.
Is there anything to download or install?
No. It's a web-based process simulator — open a browser and simulate. Nothing to install, no license server, no OS lock-in. The optional Python SDK is a normal pip package and the Excel add-in is a small workbook helper.