FREEWAT
FREEWAT: A free, GIS-centered modeling environment spanning groundwater simulation, analysis and planning. Ranked #2 of 11 in Groundwater Modeling Software by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for GIS-centered modeling and water-management workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forGIS-centered modeling and water-management workflows
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Combines MODFLOW-family flow modeling with solute and density-dependent transport.
- Connects groundwater and surface-water interaction modeling with QGIS.
- Includes calibration, sensitivity analysis and water-management planning tools.
Where it doesn't
- The current plugin is installable on Windows and Linux only.
- Its workflow is delivered through the QGIS desktop GIS plugin.
- Support channels are community and documentation.
Our verdict on FREEWAT
FREEWAT is a free, open-source modeling environment delivered as a plugin for the QGIS desktop GIS. It is intended for engineering and geoenvironmental companies, water and river-basin authorities, environmental agencies, universities, and research institutions. The software brings groundwater and surface-water simulation, transport, data analysis, time-series work, calibration, and water-management planning into a GIS-centered workflow. Its combination of modeling and planning tools suits teams that need to connect spatial data with water-resource questions, rather than a narrow flow-modeling tool alone.
The modeling stack covers MODFLOW-family groundwater flow, saturated and unsaturated solute transport, and density-dependent flow with SEAWAT. FREEWAT also supports surface-water and groundwater interactions, including lake interactions. For analysis, akvaGIS handles hydrogeological and hydrochemical data, while the OAT module supports time-series analysis. UCODE provides model calibration, sensitivity analysis, and parameter estimation. This breadth is a clear fit for projects that need several connected modeling and analysis capabilities in one environment; it may be more than necessary for users seeking only a focused analysis task.
FREEWAT has no license cost and is described as open source. Its integrations include QGIS, SpatiaLite, MODFLOW, MT3DMS, MT3D-USGS, SEAWAT, UCODE_2014, and FloPy. The current plugin is installable on Windows and Linux; macOS use requires a Windows or Linux virtual machine. Deployment is desktop-based, with community and documentation support channels. Choose FREEWAT if a QGIS-centered workflow and broad water-management modeling are priorities. It is a less direct fit for teams that need native macOS installation or prefer a non-desktop modeling environment.
Questions about FREEWAT
What does FREEWAT run on? Windows and Linux. It runs as a desktop app.
What does FREEWAT integrate with? 8 integrations, including QGIS, SpatiaLite, MODFLOW, MT3DMS and MT3D-USGS.
Who is FREEWAT built for? Small businesses, mid-market companies and enterprises (our editorial estimate).
Your product? Our editors can test FREEWAT in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
FREEWAT pricing
FREEWAT fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Flow modeling method | Not verified |
| Transport modeling | Yes |
| Surface-water coupling | Yes |
| Model dimensions | Not verified |
| GIS data exchange | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows, Linux (macOS via Windows/Linux virtual machine) |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: QGIS, SpatiaLite, MODFLOW, MT3DMS, MT3D-USGS, SEAWAT … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | freewat.eu |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
FREEWAT integrations
FREEWAT lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- QGIS
- SpatiaLite
- MODFLOW
- MT3DMS
- MT3D-USGS
- SEAWAT
- UCODE_2014
- FloPy
Alternatives to FREEWAT
- MODFLOW 6A free, open-source model for 3D groundwater flow, transport, and coupled simulations.9.3
- ModelMuseFree Windows GUI for preparing groundwater model inputs, not a simulator itself.8.4
- SUTRAA free USGS simulator for advanced flow, transport, thermal, and lake modeling.8.2
See all FREEWAT alternatives →
FREEWAT vs the competition
- FREEWAT vs MODFLOW 6
- FREEWAT vs ModelMuse
- FREEWAT vs SUTRA
- FREEWAT vs PFLOTRAN
- FREEWAT vs MODFLOW-USG
- FREEWAT vs Watershed Modeling System (WMS)
Compare FREEWAT with any tool side by side →
Used FREEWAT? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used FREEWAT for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
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