
GoldSim
Simulation & CAE software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$1,050 per year
Small
Medium
Large
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
- Energy and utilities
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
What is GoldSim
GoldSim is a simulation platform for building and running dynamic models of complex systems with an emphasis on probabilistic (Monte Carlo) analysis. It is commonly used by engineers and analysts for risk-informed decision support in areas such as environmental systems, water resources, mining, and reliability/availability modeling. The product uses a graphical, object-based model-building approach and supports time-dependent simulations with uncertainty and scenario analysis.
Strong probabilistic simulation
GoldSim is designed around Monte Carlo simulation and uncertainty propagation, which supports risk-based analysis without requiring users to build custom sampling frameworks. It handles correlated inputs, distributions, and scenario comparisons within the same model structure. This is useful for decision support where variability and uncertainty materially affect outcomes.
Graphical, object-based modeling
The tool provides a visual, component-based way to assemble system models, which can be easier to review and maintain than large script-only models. Model structure and data flow are explicit, supporting stakeholder review and model governance. This approach can reduce development time for multidisciplinary teams compared with code-centric environments.
Time-dependent system simulation
GoldSim supports dynamic, time-stepped simulation for systems that evolve over time (e.g., inventories, flows, degradation, and operational logic). It can represent feedback loops, delays, and event-driven behavior within a single model. This makes it suitable for integrated system models that combine physical processes with operational rules.
Not a general CAE solver
GoldSim is not a full finite element or computational fluid dynamics environment and does not replace geometry-centric CAE workflows. Users typically need other tools for detailed structural, thermal, or fluid physics and then integrate results at a higher system level. This can add integration effort when detailed physics drives the decision model.
Learning curve for complex logic
While the interface is graphical, building large models with conditional logic, custom elements, and careful time-step management can be complex. Modelers often need disciplined versioning, documentation, and validation practices to avoid hidden assumptions. Teams without prior simulation modeling experience may require training to use it effectively.
Ecosystem and interoperability limits
Compared with widely adopted numerical computing platforms, GoldSim has a smaller third-party ecosystem for reusable libraries and community examples. Integration with external data sources and enterprise pipelines may require custom scripting, file-based exchange, or additional tooling. This can be a constraint for organizations standardizing on broader engineering or data-science stacks.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan / License Type | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Standalone (GoldSim) | $5,600 per seat | Perpetual (one-time) purchase; includes 1 year of maintenance and 1 hour live web-based training. (US$). cite |
| Enterprise Standalone (GoldSim) | $8,400 per seat | Perpetual (one-time) purchase; includes 1 year maintenance and 1 hour live web-based training. cite |
| Concurrent Network (GoldSim) | $11,200 per seat | Perpetual (floating/network) licensing; includes 1 year maintenance and 1 hour live web-based training. Administrative fee applies for configuring concurrent server. cite |
| Leased Standalone — 1 year (GoldSim) | $2,750 per seat per year | Annual lease (includes maintenance for lease period). Good for minimizing upfront cost. cite |
| Leased Standalone — 3 months (GoldSim) | $1,375 per seat | 3-month lease (includes 3 months maintenance). cite |
| GoldSim Research — Leased Standalone (1 year) | $1,050 per seat per year | Reduced-price annual lease available for qualifying academic researchers; Research licenses available only as annual leases. cite |
| GoldSim Academic | Free | Academic standalone licenses for teaching and student research (limited use—see Academic license restrictions). cite |
| GoldSim Player | Free | Free download that allows viewing, navigating and running existing GoldSim models (cannot create/edit models). Not an evaluation of full GoldSim. cite |
GoldSim Add-on Modules (per-seat)
| Module | Desktop Standalone | Enterprise Standalone | Concurrent Network | Leased Standalone (1 year) | Leased Standalone (3 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distributed Processing Module Plus (DP Plus) | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | $1,175 | $575. cite |
| Reliability Module (RL Professional) | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | $1,175 | $575. cite |
| Contaminant Transport Module (CT) | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | $1,175 | $575. cite |
| Radionuclide Transport Module (RT) | $11,350 | $17,025 | $22,700 | $5,200 | $2,600. cite |
Other offerings
| Offering | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GoldSim QuickStart Package (training + consulting) | $10,500 (within North America) | Options for on-site training (2–4 days) + remote advanced support; travel expenses not included. cite |
Notes: Prices are listed in US$ and are subject to change. Credit-card transaction fee applies; volume discounts available; Software Maintenance included for 1 year with purchases and included with leases. cite
Seller details
GoldSim Technology Group LLC
Issaquah, Washington, US
1996
Private
https://www.goldsim.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldsim-technology-group/