PySDM review
A focused simulation library for aerosol, cloud and rain particle processes.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PySDM is an open-source Python library for particle-based atmospheric microphysics, aimed at researchers modeling aerosol, cloud and rain populations. Its Super-Droplet Method Monte Carlo implementation supports particle coagulation, while additional processes include diffusional and collisional growth, collisional breakup and aqueous chemistry. Researchers can work in box, parcel, single-column or 2D prescribed-flow environments. That makes PySDM a specialist research tool rather than a general-purpose physics simulator or a conventional desktop application.
Its scientific scope is a key strength: the package brings several particle-growth processes and atmospheric workflows together, with examples covering aqueous chemistry, freezing and isotopes. The computational options include multi-threaded CPU and CUDA GPU backends; a JAX backend supporting CPU, GPU and TPU devices is developing. Separate PySDM-examples notebooks provide tutorials, literature-reproducing cases and interactive visualisation and export workflows. Raw simulation data can be exported in VTK and netCDF formats, useful for taking results into analysis workflows that support those formats.
PySDM is open source, with a free plan, and supports web and self-hosted platforms; deployment is self-hosted. Documentation, community and ticket channels are listed for support. The notebook-led examples are a natural starting point for researchers comfortable working in Python, but the package's library format means it is less suited to buyers seeking a turnkey graphical application. Choose PySDM for particle-scale atmospheric cloud microphysics and its focused process coverage; consider another tool if your work needs a broad range of physics domains or a conventional desktop workflow.
PySDM pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Simulates diffusional and collisional particle growth, coagulation and breakup
- Supports multi-threaded CPU and CUDA GPU backends, with JAX in development
- Includes Jupyter tutorials and exports raw data to VTK and netCDF
- Where it doesn't
- Its focus is atmospheric microphysics rather than general-purpose physics simulation
- PySDM is a Python library, not a conventional desktop application
- The JAX backend is still developing
PySDM fact sheet, pricing and score →
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