Webots review
A cross-platform robot simulator with configurable sensors, ROS support, and multi-language controllers.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Webots is an open-source robot simulator from Cyberbotics for education, research, and robotics development. It runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux, where users can model robots and environments, program controllers, and run repeatable experiments. Its combination of physics-based simulation, configurable sensors, and ROS support makes it relevant to teams exploring robot behavior before deployment to physical hardware.
The simulator’s scope centers on constructing and evaluating robot scenarios. Users can configure cameras, lidar, GPS, and inertial sensors, import external 3D robot and object models, and record experiments for playback. Controller programming is supported in C, C++, Python, Java, and MATLAB, while integration interfaces include ROS and ROS 2. This makes Webots a fit for projects that need to connect simulated robots to established robotics and programming workflows; buyers seeking a focused scheduling or visual-only modeling tool may find its simulation and controller capabilities unnecessary.
Webots is distributed as open-source software and has a free plan, rather than a paid tier structure described here. Its desktop availability across the three major operating systems can suit individuals, educational settings, and organizations that want local simulation. Support channels are documentation and community, so teams that require a named support channel should weigh that against their needs. Choose Webots when cross-platform modeling, sensor simulation, and ROS-connected experimentation matter; consider an alternative if browser-based deployment or a different support model is essential.
Webots pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Models 3D robots and environments with physics-based simulation.
- Configurable cameras, lidar, GPS, and inertial sensors support sensor simulation.
- Supports ROS and ROS 2 plus controllers in several programming languages.
- Where it doesn't
- Desktop-focused rather than a browser-based simulation workflow.
- Controller programming requires working with a supported programming language.
- Docs and community are the listed support channels.
Webots fact sheet, pricing and score →
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