Feature comparison
This page provides a side-by-side feature comparison of OpenRocket and RockSim. Both represent the latest version of the software.
While hosted on the OpenRocket wiki site, we have attempted to make this an objective comparison between the functionality of the two software products. If you think something is wrong or omitted, please contact us.
General
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Open Source (GPLv3) | Proprietary |
| Price | Free | $124 |
| Supported platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac |
| Supported file formats | ORK, RKT | RKT |
UI features
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| Side/back view | Yes | Yes |
| 3D view | No | Yes |
| Export 3D design | No | Yes (3DS) |
| Design view rotation | Any angle | Side and top only |
| Live CG/CP view | Yes | Yes |
| Realtime simulation | Yes | No |
Design features
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic components | Yes | Yes |
| Freeform fins | Yes | Yes |
| Asymmetric fin configurations | Yes | Yes |
| Tube fins | No | Yes |
| Ring-tail fins | No | Yes |
| Fins attached to fins | No | Yes |
| External pods | No | Yes |
| Canted fins / roll stabilization | Yes | No |
| Standard component libraries | Yes | Yes |
| Decals | No | Yes |
| Clustering support | Yes, modifiable | Yes, one-time wizard |
| Staging support | Yes, unlimited | Yes, 3 stages |
Simulation features
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| Degrees of freedom | 6DOF | 3DOF |
| Geodetic calculation (Earth coordinates, coriolis effect) | Yes | No |
| Simulations extensible by own code | Yes | No |
| Simulation animation | No | Yes |
| Plotting any simulated variables | Yes | Yes |
| Exporting simulated data | Yes | Yes |
| Computing custom variables | Yes | No |
Optimization and analysis
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| General design optimization | Yes | No |
| Mass optimization | Yes (using general optimizer) | Yes |
| Stability analysis | Yes, per component | Yes, per stage |
| Drag analysis | Yes, per component | Yes, per stage |
| Roll analysis | Yes | No |
Printing
| OpenRocket | RockSim | |
|---|---|---|
| Schematic view | Yes | Yes |
| Stability information | Yes | Yes |
| Simulation results | Yes | Yes |
| Parts list | Yes | Yes |
| Component templates | Nose cone, fin sets | Nose cone, fin sets, centering rings |
| Fin placement guide | Yes | No |
| Export to PDF | Yes | No |
Usage
One attribute of interest when comparing pieces of software is how much each software is used and how much of a community exists around the software. While it's impossible to get an objective measure of the usage and community activity, Google Trends does a rather good job at providing an indication of the relative interest levels over time.
As of early 2013, RockSim receives more search hits than OpenRocket. However, OpenRocket has quickly gained a significant amount of search interest when compared to RockSim. The first version of OpenRocket was released in May 2009, RockSim in 1997.