What are the best computer algebra systems?

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10

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175

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Apr 28, 2021

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

8 Options Considered

Best computer algebra systems	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
87 Maxima	Free	Windows, Linux, Mac	Apr 28, 2021
-- SageMath	Free	-	Apr 17, 2021
-- Wolfram Mathematica	Paid	-	Apr 1, 2021
-- Maple	Paid	Linux, macOS, Windows	Apr 18, 2021
-- SymPy	-	-	Mar 1, 2021

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Magma

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Jupyter

SciPy

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score 53 · Answer 1

Maxima

Top Pro

Very good open source sorftware for general mathematical work with a nice frontend (wxmaxima)

ExceptionalJurate's Experience

It is a very powerful software. I use from simple calculus to very non-trivial computations in theoretical particle physics. See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Linux, Mac

Top Pro

Cross platform

While the desktop experience is good, it runs pretty well on Android phones too. See More

FriendlyLadon's Experience

it is a powerful software,but full of unexpected bugs everywhere. See More

UpbeatHidimba's Experience

Very good for general work. I use it for doing physics at all level: from undergrad problems in mechanics and electromagnetism to professional work in particle physics and gravitation See More

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score 32 · Answer 2

SageMath

Top Pro

Versatile

Though SageMath depends on other software packages for the heavy lifting, SageMath offers a centralized interface for working with many subfields of mathematics. See More

Top Con

Bloated

SageMath does not do much mathematics by itself. Instead, it depends on many CAS and non-CAS software packages, which it calls based on the desired operations. Installing SageMath pulls in all those packages as mandatory prerequisites. There is no lightweight GUI either. See More

GenerousSekhmet's Experience

Best opensource CAS system See More

Top Pro

Free open-source software. Compares favorably to Mathematica. INCLUDES Maxima in distro. Web-based CoCalc is excellent app based on Sagemath.

Jupyter Notebook supports Sagemath Kernel. See More

FriendlyLadon's Experience

really easy to use for people who are familiar with python. and the sagecell server allows you to run it on your server. by the way,the sagmath notebook(ipython jupyter notebook) is really helpful See More

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score 25 · Answer 3

Wolfram Mathematica

Top Pro

Very mature

Wolfram Mathematica has been around for a long time without any major changes in the basic design. See More

Top Con

Proprietary

DecentTanfana's Experience

Best of the lot.Unbeatable Supercomputing System See More

Top Pro

Lots of functionality

Top Pro

Built-in CPU Parallelization

Top Pro

Coherent API over different domains

Top Pro

Supports units and can do much more than just maths

Other platforms severely lack this useful feature. See More

Top Pro

Very powerful and fast, also possible to get for free

See All

score 11 · Answer 4

Maple

Top Pro

Powerful symbolic and numeric capabilities

Top Con

Mathematica is worth the money

When you create and market software, do not claim you are better than anything you cannot even come close to. Robs the bank for no bloody reason and does not provide anything. See More

KnowledgeableTaronhiawagon's Experience

Very good for physics See More

Specs

Platforms:Linux, macOS, Windows

Top Pro

Object-oriented features

Modules act like classes, can have methods & properties. Can create whole hierarchies. See More

Top Con

This is proprietary software an it is expensive

See All

score 6 · Answer 5

SymPy

Top Con

Python interface is clunky

If you're using CAS within another program, it's great that SymPy is written in Python. But most of the time you're just trying to do some math, and having to declare all your variables and write equations in obscure ways so they fit Python syntax can be annoying. See More

Top Pro

Lightweight

Needs only Python and mpmath library. See More

score 8 · Answer 6

MathStudio

Top Pro

Free web version

Top Con

No keyboard

Lacks a dedicated keyboard to enter functions. DESolve is full of errors. You're much better off using almost anything else. See More

RickZeeland's Experience

User friendly and can be used for free. See More

Specs

Platforms:Mac, Web

Top Pro

Excellent stand-alone CAS

Developer Chris Desalvo is constantly improving program. He also answers questions directly, unusual in a world where developers hide. See More

Top Con

Only Mac apps

No Android or apps for other platforms. See More

See All

score 4 · Answer 7

PTC Mathcad

Top Con

Windows only

Top Pro

Engineering community use

8 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Maxima

My Recommendation for Maxima

Very good open source sorftware for general mathematical work with a nice frontend (wxmaxima)

Cross platform

My Recommendation for SageMath

My Recommendation for SageMath

Versatile

Bloated

Free open-source software. Compares favorably to Mathematica. INCLUDES Maxima in distro. Web-based CoCalc is excellent app based on Sagemath.

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

Very mature

Proprietary

Lots of functionality

Built-in CPU Parallelization

Coherent API over different domains

Supports units and can do much more than just maths

Very powerful and fast, also possible to get for free

My Recommendation for Maple

My Recommendation for Maple

Powerful symbolic and numeric capabilities

Mathematica is worth the money

Object-oriented features

This is proprietary software an it is expensive

My Recommendation for SymPy

My Recommendation for SymPy

Python interface is clunky

Lightweight

My Recommendation for MathStudio

My Recommendation for MathStudio

Free web version

No keyboard

Excellent stand-alone CAS

Only Mac apps

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

Windows only

Engineering community use

My Recommendation for Magma

My Recommendation for Magma

Don't see your favorite option? Add it.

My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for SciPy

My Recommendation for SciPy

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