MODFLOW 6

Free#1 of 11 in Groundwater Modeling Software

MODFLOW 6: A free, open-source model for 3D groundwater flow, transport, and coupled simulations. Ranked #1 of 11 in Groundwater Modeling Software by our editors (9.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for broad groundwater-flow and coupled-transport modeling.

9.3/10Editor score

Visit USGS

MODFLOW 69.3 Visit USGS

At a glance

Editor score
9.3 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Broad groundwater-flow and coupled-transport modeling
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Flow modeling method
Finite-difference
Founded
2017
Facts checked
24 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Models 3D transient groundwater flow, solute transport, and thermal transport
- Couples multiple models, including groundwater and surface-water flow
- Supports regular and unstructured grids on Windows, Linux, and macOS
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires users to manage their own environment
- No AI features are included
- Email is the listed support channel

Our verdict on MODFLOW 6

MODFLOW 6 is an object-oriented hydrologic simulation program developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. It is intended for groundwater modelers, including academics, consultants, and government scientists, who need to represent three-dimensional transient flow and related hydrologic processes. Its scope extends to solute and thermal-energy transport and advective particle tracking, so it can serve projects that need more than a flow-only model. The program is open source and free, and it runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

The modeling framework is notable for allowing multiple models and model types in one simulation, with information exchange or coupling between them. Groundwater models can connect with surface-water flow models; packages represent wells, rivers, lakes, recharge, and streamflow routing. Flow uses a generalized control-volume finite-difference approach, and support for regular and unstructured grids gives modelers options for representing different domains. This breadth makes MODFLOW 6 a fit for work spanning flow, transport, and surface-water interactions, rather than a narrow single-purpose workflow.

MODFLOW 6 is distributed for self-hosted use, so teams should be prepared to manage the modeling environment rather than rely on a hosted application. Its free access suits academic, consulting, and government work as well as other users seeking a capable core model without a paid plan. The trade-off is that its broad modeling scope may be more than needed for a project focused on a simpler task, and it has no AI features. Email is the listed support channel. Choose it when coupled groundwater-flow and transport simulation, grid flexibility, and platform choice matter; consider a more focused tool if those capabilities would add unnecessary complexity.

Your product? Our editors can test MODFLOW 6 in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

MODFLOW 6 pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on usgs.gov

MODFLOW 6 fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Flow modeling method	Finite-difference
Transport modeling	Yes
Surface-water coupling	Yes
Model dimensions	3d
GIS data exchange	Not verified
Supported platforms	Not verified
Deployment	Self-hosted
Platforms	Windows, Linux, macOS
Support	Email
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Free plan
Website	usgs.gov
Facts checked	24 Sep 2026

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MODFLOW 6 vs the competition

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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used MODFLOW 6 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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Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update