SIMION review
A specialist desktop toolkit for modeling fields and charged-particle trajectories.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
SIMION pros and cons
- 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
SIMION fact sheet, pricing and score →
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