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
|
| Design view rotation
|
Any angle
|
Two directions
|
| Live CG/CP view
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Realtime simulation
|
Yes
|
No
|
Design features
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|
OpenRocket
|
RockSim
|
| Basic components
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Freeform fins
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Asymmetric fin configurations
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Tube fins
|
No
|
Yes
|
| Ring-tail fins
|
No
|
Yes
|
| External pods
|
No
|
Yes
|
| Canted fins / roll stabilization
|
Yes
|
No
|
| Standard component libraries
|
No
|
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
|
4DOF
|
| Supersonic simulation
|
Limited accuracy
|
Yes
|
| 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
|
Optimization and analysis
|
|
OpenRocket
|
RockSim
|
| General design optimization
|
Yes
|
No
|
| Mass optimization
|
Yes (using general optimizer)
|
Yes
|
| Stability analysis
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Drag analysis
|
Yes, per component
|
?
|
| Roll analysis
|
Yes
|
No
|
Printing
|
|
OpenRocket
|
RockSim
|
| Schematic view
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Stability information
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Basic simulation results
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Parts list
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Nose cone profile
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Fin templates
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Fin placement guide
|
Yes
|
?
|
| Export to PDF
|
Yes
|
?
|