SIMION
SIMION: A specialist desktop toolkit for modeling fields and charged-particle trajectories. Ranked #45 of 69 in Simulation Software by our editors (4.6/10); pricing: Paid; best for researchers simulating charged-particle trajectories.
At a glance
- Editor score4.6 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forResearchers simulating charged-particle trajectories
- Free planNo
- Cloud deploymentNo
- Facts checked25 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Models electrostatic and magnetic fields in 2D and 3D
- Simulates ion and electron trajectories with optional physical effects
- Supports geometry import, visualization, programming, and batch operation
Where it doesn't
- Paid desktop software with no free plan
- Mac support uses CrossOver; Linux includes Wine and a preliminary native binary
- No cloud deployment, AI features, or broad general-purpose simulation modes
Our verdict on SIMION
SIMION is desktop software for modeling electric and magnetic fields and simulating charged-particle trajectories, particularly for ion and electron optics systems. Researchers can define electrode geometry and particle conditions, calculate fields, visualize trajectories, record results, and analyze or optimize designs. Its stated applications include mass spectrometers, ion traps, quadrupoles, and ion sources, making it a focused choice for specialist physics and instrumentation work.
The software’s core modeling scope is detailed. It calculates electric fields from electrode geometries and voltages, models electrostatic and magnetic potential arrays in two and three dimensions, and supports optional low-frequency RF, magnetic-field, and collision effects. Geometry can be created in a graphical editor, through GEM files, or by importing STL CAD files. Trajectory contours, potential-energy surfaces, and recorded trajectory data support inspection and downstream analysis. User programming and batch-mode operation extend workflows, with integrations or scripting support for Excel, gnuplot, Python, Perl, C++, and Lua.
Licensing is paid and organized around several SIMION 2020 options: a one-year academic lease, an academic license for US academic and government use, a new commercial license, and a university-only Lab Kit site license covering 30 seats. Deployment is desktop-based across Windows, Linux, and macOS; macOS support is provided through CrossOver, while Linux support includes Wine and a preliminary non-GUI native binary. Email, phone, community, and documentation channels are available, but support is not 24/7. Choose SIMION when charged-particle optics and field modeling are central requirements; teams needing cloud deployment or broader simulation paradigms should look elsewhere.
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SIMION pricing
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SIMION fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Discrete-event models | No |
| System-dynamics models | No |
| Agent-based models | No |
| Finite-element analysis | No |
| Multiphysics simulation | No |
| Cloud deployment | No |
| API access | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| Support | Email, Phone, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Excel, gnuplot, Python, Perl, C++, Lua |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | simion.com |
| Facts checked | 25 Sep 2026 |
SIMION integrations
SIMION lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Excel
- gnuplot
- Python
- Perl
- C++
- Lua
Alternatives to SIMION
- SimulinkA broad engineering simulation environment for modeling, verification, and code generation.9.4
- COMSOL MultiphysicsA desktop environment for coupled physics models, engineering studies, and custom simulation apps.9.3
- Ansys FluentA broad CFD toolkit for engineering teams that need advanced physics and scalable solving.9.2
Also Ranked In
SIMION is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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