Last updated on
Company health
Ratings
Vensim description
Vensim is simulation software for business and policy planning. It lets you build computer models of your company or market to test ideas and see the long-term effects of your decisions. Vensim helps you understand complex systems, communicate your findings clearly, and make better strategic choices.
Who is Vensim best for
Vensim is a powerful system dynamics modeling software praised for its clear instructions and effective visualizations. Users appreciate its value, especially beginners. However, some find the interface outdated and the free version limited. Consider Vensim if you need robust modeling capabilities but be prepared for a learning curve and potential performance issues.
-
Best fit for small businesses seeking affordable system dynamics modeling.
-
Ideal for researchers and students in economics, social sciences, engineering, and policy planning.
Vensim features
| Supported Vensim fully supports system dynamics modeling with feedback loops and accumulations. |
| Supported Vensim supports visualizing simulation results with charts and graphs. |
| Supported Vensim supports visual diagramming via a drag-and-drop interface. |
| Supported Vensim supports scenario analysis through modeling, simulation, and comparison features. |
Vensim reviews
We've summarised 27 Vensim reviews (Vensim G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- Straightforward model creation and simulation process.
- Clear and easy-to-follow instructions, suitable for beginners.
- Helpful built-in features and comprehensive online resources facilitate learning.
- Effective visualization tools, particularly for causal loop diagrams and simulation results.
- Good value for money, especially considering its powerful capabilities for system dynamics modeling.
- Outdated and unintuitive interface, reminiscent of older design styles.
- Limited free version functionality; essential features like sensitivity analysis require a paid license.
- Occasional performance issues, including slow simulations and software crashes; an autosave feature is needed.
- Difficulty integrating with other programming languages beyond specific wrappers like PySD.
Vensim pricing
See the Vensim pricing page.
-
Vensim has a free plan.
DSS
Vensim DSS
Professional
Vensim Professional
PLE Plus
Vensim PLE Plus
PLE
Vensim PLE
DSS
Vensim DSS
Professional
Vensim Professional
PLE Plus
Vensim PLE Plus
PLE
Vensim PLE
DSS
Vensim DSS
Professional
Vensim Professional
PLE Plus
Vensim PLE Plus
PLE
Vensim PLE
Vensim alternatives
AnyLogicBetter for larger enterprises. Wider industry fit. More multi-method modeling capabilities. Steeper learning curve.Read more
TecnomatixBetter for manufacturing process planning, simulation, and optimization. Suited for users seeking advanced 3D modeling and visualization in manufacturing contexts. More complex to use, with a steeper learning curve.Read more
FlexSimBetter for 3D visualizations and digital twin integration. Has a more user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality. Offers more flexible scripting and customization. A steeper learning curve for complex models. Vensim is growing faster.Read more
SIMUL8Better for users without coding experience seeking ease of use. Grows slower and has less momentum. More suitable for retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, education, and other industries.Read more
Automate Robotic Process AutomationBetter for automating repetitive tasks. Easier to use, with a drag-and-drop interface and pre-built actions. A Vensim alternative and competitor for task automation.Read more
SAP Analytics CloudBetter for enterprise planning, business intelligence, and reporting. More user-friendly interface, but can be complex to implement with non-SAP data sources and has performance issues. Better for companies in various industries, including finance, manufacturing, and software.Read more
Vensim FAQ
What is Vensim and what does Vensim do?
Vensim is system dynamics software used for business and policy planning. It allows users to build computer models to simulate the impact of decisions. With features like visual diagramming and scenario analysis, Vensim helps understand complex systems and improve strategic choices.
How does Vensim integrate with other tools?
Vensim offers integration with R and Python using specific wrappers like PySD. However, users have noted difficulties integrating with other programming languages, indicating limited integration options beyond these specific cases.
What the main competitors of Vensim?
Vensim competitors include AnyLogic, Tecnomatix, FlexSim, SIMUL8, MATLAB, and Analytica. These alternatives offer similar features for system dynamics modeling, simulation, and analysis, catering to various industries and user needs.
Is Vensim legit?
Yes, Vensim is legitimate software for system dynamics modeling. It's known for its straightforward model creation and helpful resources, though some users find the interface outdated. It offers various pricing options for commercial, research, and academic use.
How much does Vensim cost?
Vensim PLE is free for academic users. Other Vensim pricing varies by user type and product level. Commercial users can expect to pay between $50 and $1995. Public research and academic users receive discounted pricing. Contact the vendor for volume discounts.
Is Vensim customer service good?
There is no information available about Vensim's customer service. However, users appreciate the software's straightforward model creation, clear instructions, and helpful resources. Some have noted the outdated interface and limited free version.
Reviewed by
Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.
Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.