Xcos vs SimEvents

Xcos8.2Visit SSimEvents8.1Visit

Higher score Xcos #7 in Physics Simulation Software 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 6 features Visit Xcos

vs

S SimEvents #8 in Physics Simulation Software 8.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit MathWorks

• Xcos fits best

  Free engineering system modeling

• SimEvents fits best

  Discrete-event systems modeling

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Xcos 8.2/10 Visit ↗	SSimEvents 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.2	8.1
Ranking	#7 in Physics Simulation Software	#8 in Physics Simulation Software
Best for	Free engineering system modeling	Discrete-event systems modeling
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free	30-day trial
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Xcos 2/6 · SimEvents 1/6
Lesson library	—	—
Authoring tools	✓	✓
Assessment tools	Not checked yet	—
3D visuals	Not checked yet	—
Offline access	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Data export	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Delivery mode	Desktop	Desktop
Our review
Pros	Free, open-source desktop software distributed with Scilab Supports continuous, discrete, symbolic-equation, and hybrid simulation Custom blocks, Modelica modeling, and Scilab post-processing	Deep modeling for queues, servers, routing, resources, and event actions Combines event-based models with time-based Simulink models Includes statistics, debugging, visualization, and custom system objects
Cons	Desktop delivery may not suit browser-first teams Requires working within the Scilab ecosystem No lesson library for guided learning	Requires MATLAB and Simulink Focused on discrete-event systems rather than general physics simulation Standalone SimEvents pricing is not provided
Our verdict	Xcos is a graphical editor and simulator for designing, loading, saving, compiling, and simulating hybrid dynamical-system models. It is distributed with the free, open-source Scilab software and is suited to engineering, science,… Read the review →	SimEvents is a desktop discrete-event simulation engine and component library from MathWorks. It is designed for engineers and researchers modeling message communication, queues, servers, routing, resource allocation, communication… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Xcos — where it wins

  • Free, open-source desktop software distributed with Scilab
  • Supports continuous, discrete, symbolic-equation, and hybrid simulation
  • Custom blocks, Modelica modeling, and Scilab post-processing

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop delivery may not suit browser-first teams
  • Requires working within the Scilab ecosystem
  • No lesson library for guided learning

• SimEvents — where it wins

  • Deep modeling for queues, servers, routing, resources, and event actions
  • Combines event-based models with time-based Simulink models
  • Includes statistics, debugging, visualization, and custom system objects

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires MATLAB and Simulink
  • Focused on discrete-event systems rather than general physics simulation
  • Standalone SimEvents pricing is not provided

• Xcos8.2/10 · Free plan

  Free, open-source system modeling across continuous, discrete, hybrid, and Modelica workflows.

  Visit XcosFull verdict →
• SSimEvents8.1/10 · 30-day trial

  A technically deep choice for modeling queues, routing, resources, and event-driven behavior.

  Visit MathWorksFull verdict →