Feature comparison - plaa/Modular GitHub Wiki

This page provides a side-by-side feature comparison of OpenRocket and RockSim. Both represent the latest version of the software.

While hosted on the OpenRocket wiki site, we have attempted to make this an objective comparison between the functionality of the two software products. If you think something is wrong or omitted, please contact us.

Table of Contents General UI features Design features Simulation features Optimization and analysis Printing

General

	OpenRocket	RockSim
License	Open Source (GPLv3)	Proprietary
Price	Free	$124
Supported platforms	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac
Supported file formats	ORK, RKT	RKT

UI features

	OpenRocket	RockSim
Side/back view	Yes	Yes
3D view	No	Yes
Design view rotation	Any angle	Side and top only
Live CG/CP view	Yes	Yes
Realtime simulation	Yes	No

Design features

	OpenRocket	RockSim
Basic components	Yes	Yes
Freeform fins	Yes	Yes
Asymmetric fin configurations	Yes	Yes
Tube fins	No	Yes
Ring-tail fins	No	Yes
External pods	No	Yes
Canted fins / roll stabilization	Yes	No
Standard component libraries	No	Yes
Decals	No	Yes
Clustering support	Yes, modifiable	Yes, one-time wizard
Staging support	Yes, unlimited	Yes, 3 stages

Simulation features

	OpenRocket	RockSim
Degrees of freedom	6DOF	3DOF
Geodetic calculation (Earth coordinates, coriolis effect)	Yes	No
Simulations extensible by own code	Yes	No
Simulation animation	No	Yes
Plotting any simulated variables	Yes	Yes
Exporting simulated data	Yes	Yes

Optimization and analysis

	OpenRocket	RockSim
General design optimization	Yes	No
Mass optimization	Yes (using general optimizer)	Yes
Stability analysis	Yes, per component	Yes, per stage
Drag analysis	Yes, per component	Yes, per stage
Roll analysis	Yes	No

Printing

	OpenRocket	RockSim
Schematic view	Yes	Yes
Stability information	Yes	Yes
Simulation results	Yes	Yes
Parts list	Yes	Yes
Component templates	Nose cone, fin sets	Nose cone, fin sets, centering rings
Fin placement guide	Yes	No
Export to PDF	Yes	No