What are the best computer algebra systems?

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May 31, 2023

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Updated

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12 Options Considered

Best computer algebra systems	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
88 Maxima	Free	Windows, Linux, Mac	May 31, 2023
73 SageMath	Free	-	May 2, 2023
-- Wolfram Mathematica	Paid	-	May 27, 2023
-- Maple	Paid	Linux, macOS, Windows	May 2, 2023
-- SymPy	-	-	Feb 15, 2023

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score 89 · Answer 1

Maxima

Top Pro

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

Top Con

Only basic computer algebra.

PassionateIlmarinen's Experience

I actually bought the old Macsyma program going to school ~30 years years. It was good then, this is an improvment, and it's now free! Hats off to developers. 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

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

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 48 · 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

Poor documentation

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

Top Con

Incoherent design

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

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

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score 36 · Answer 3

Wolfram Mathematica

Top Pro

Lots of functionality

Top Con

Unintuitive data types and strange assignment statements

Representation of data still remains highly fragmented technically and one fumbles between data types and stumbles on strange assignment statements to attempt conversions of meaning. See More

DecentTanfana's Experience

Best of the lot.Unbeatable Supercomputing System See More

Top Pro

Built-in CPU Parallelization

Top Con

Proprietary

ReverentVedenemo's Experience

User for 40 years since version 0 (aka SMP). See More

Top Pro

Fully integrated symbolic processing

JovialThinanMalkia's Experience

ellathukkum idhu dhan bossu itha OC a vaanganumna enna kaelu See More

Top Pro

Supports units and can do much more than just maths

Other platforms severely lack this useful feature. See More

Top Pro

Very mature

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

Top Pro

Coherent API over different domains

Top Pro

Very powerful and fast, also possible to get for free

See All

score 19 · 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

NonchalantErimon's Experience

very easy to use 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 and it is expensive

JovialThinanMalkia's Experience

rascal kolla adichtan na vaangina evanume badhil sollala dhrabha See More

KnowledgeableTaronhiawagon's Experience

Very good for physics See More

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score 8 · Answer 5

SymPy

Top Con

Quite basic

Top Pro

Lightweight

Needs only Python and mpmath library. See More

JovialThinanMalkia's Experience

ithu romba lightweight pa semmaya irukku pythone porum See More

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

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score 3 · Answer 6

GNU Octave

All

1

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD, Android

score 3 · Answer 7

GeoGebra CAS Calculator

Top Pro

Polished and intuitive

It has a polished and intuitive interface. See More

Top Con

Clunky controls

In addition to the instability, the menus and general usage feels clunky and often counter-intuitive. See More

SuaveMagec's Experience

Often breaks when instructions get more complex See More

Top Pro

Simple

GeoGebra CAS is easy to use. See More

Top Con

Often hangs or breaks

Simple instructions work fine. But if you want to reuse your Calculations it simply doesn't work or hangs. Many little not reproduceable Bugs. See More

See All

score 6 · Answer 8

Math Handbook calculator

Top Pro

Easy to use

Click continuously to calculate calculus, solve equations, give analytical solutions and numerical solutions and diagrams, interactively zoom in the drawing, and zoom in with the mouse wheel. See More

RealisticAequitas's Experience

easy to use See More

score 11 · Answer 9

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

JovialThinanMalkia's Experience

kanda moodhevi senjan na use pannanuma evanum onnum pudungala See More

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score 6 · Answer 10

PTC Mathcad

Top Con

Windows only

Top Pro

Engineering community use

JovialThinanMalkia's Experience

chee thoo kazhishada See More

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score 1 · Answer 11

EngineeringPaper.xyz

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12 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Maxima

My Recommendation for Maxima

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

Only basic computer algebra.

Cross platform

My Recommendation for SageMath

My Recommendation for SageMath

Versatile

Poor documentation

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

Incoherent design

Bloated

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

My Recommendation for Wolfram Mathematica

Lots of functionality

Unintuitive data types and strange assignment statements

Built-in CPU Parallelization

Proprietary

Fully integrated symbolic processing

Supports units and can do much more than just maths

Very mature

Coherent API over different domains

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 and it is expensive

My Recommendation for SymPy

My Recommendation for SymPy

Quite basic

Lightweight

Python interface is clunky

My Recommendation for GNU Octave

My Recommendation for GNU Octave

My Recommendation for GeoGebra CAS Calculator

My Recommendation for GeoGebra CAS Calculator

Polished and intuitive

Clunky controls

Simple

Often hangs or breaks

My Recommendation for Math Handbook calculator

My Recommendation for Math Handbook calculator

Easy to use

My Recommendation for MathStudio

My Recommendation for MathStudio

Free web version

No keyboard

Excellent stand-alone CAS

Only Mac apps

My Recommendation for Magma

My Recommendation for Magma

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

My Recommendation for PTC Mathcad

Windows only

Engineering community use

My Recommendation for EngineeringPaper.xyz

My Recommendation for EngineeringPaper.xyz

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My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for Jupyter

My Recommendation for SciPy

My Recommendation for SciPy

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