CoppeliaSim Edu
CoppeliaSim Edu: Broad, free desktop simulator for academic robotics work with strict noncommercial licensing. Ranked #6 of 24 in Robotic Simulation Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for robotics simulation with broad physics and planning.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forRobotics simulation with broad physics and planning
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- ROS supportYes
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Five physics engines cover MuJoCo, Bullet, ODE, Vortex, and Newton
- ROS, ROS 2, and OMPL interfaces support planning and robotics workflows
- Kinematics, sensors, collision checks, and robot-scene import are included
Where it doesn't
- License bars commercial use and use by companies or non-school entities
- Desktop deployment only on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- No CAD import capability is provided
Our verdict on CoppeliaSim Edu
CoppeliaSim Edu is a desktop robotics simulator with an integrated development environment for students, teachers, and professors at schools and universities. It supports robot and factory-automation simulations, algorithm prototyping, kinematics, dynamics, and sensor modeling. Robots and scene objects can be controlled through embedded scripts, plugins, ROS or ROS 2 nodes, remote API clients, or custom solutions. The vendor describes the Edu edition as providing full simulation functionality and editing capabilities for qualifying academic users.
Its technical scope spans five physics engines—MuJoCo, Bullet, ODE, Vortex, and Newton—along with forward and inverse kinematics for branched, closed, redundant, and looped mechanisms. Simulated vision sensors provide image access and processing options, while proximity sensors model detection. An OMPL plugin supports path and motion planning, and ROS and ROS 2 interfaces use publishers, subscribers, and service calls. Mesh, octree, and point-cloud calculations cover collision and distance operations, while URDF and SDF support helps import and export robot scenes and models.
CoppeliaSim Edu is free for qualifying school and university users, with Windows, macOS, and Linux support. Its license explicitly bars commercial use and use by companies or other non-school entities, so commercial teams should consider the separately sold CoppeliaSim Pro edition instead. Deployment is desktop-based, and the published specifications do not include CAD import. Email and community channels are available for support. Choose Edu when academic instruction, research, or noncommercial prototyping requires varied physics, sensing, kinematics, and ROS-connected planning in one simulator; choose another edition or product when commercial licensing, CAD workflows, or a non-desktop deployment is required.
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CoppeliaSim Edu pricing
CoppeliaSim Edu fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| ROS support | Yes |
| Sensor simulation | Yes |
| CAD import | No |
| Hardware-in-the-loop | Not verified |
| USD support | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: ROS, ROS 2, OMPL |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | coppeliarobotics.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
CoppeliaSim Edu integrations
CoppeliaSim Edu lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- ROS
- ROS 2
- OMPL
Alternatives to CoppeliaSim Edu
- RoboDKRoboDK combines controller-specific offline programming with simulation and virtual commissioning.9.2
- Yaskawa MotoSim EG-VRCA focused desktop tool for programming and validating Yaskawa robot cells offline.8.8
- OCTOPUZOffline robot programming with CAD import, path planning, reachability checks, and controller post-processing.8.5
See all CoppeliaSim Edu alternatives →
CoppeliaSim Edu vs the competition
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs RoboDK
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs Yaskawa MotoSim EG-VRC
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs OCTOPUZ
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs KUKA.Sim
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs Webots
- CoppeliaSim Edu vs NVIDIA Isaac Lab
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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