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Maple

Features
Ease of use
Ease of management
Quality of support
Affordability
Market presence
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Pricing from
$75.00 per year
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
User corporate size
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User industry
  1. Education and training
  2. Energy and utilities
  3. Information technology and software

What is Maple

Maple is a technical computing and computer algebra system used to perform symbolic and numeric mathematics, build analytical models, and develop engineering calculations. It is used by engineers, scientists, and educators for equation solving, calculus, linear algebra, optimization, and algorithm prototyping, often as part of simulation and analysis workflows. The product combines a math engine with an interactive worksheet interface and supports programmatic development for reusable calculations and applications.

pros

Strong symbolic math engine

Maple is designed for symbolic manipulation such as algebraic simplification, exact equation solving, differentiation/integration, and closed-form transformations. This supports workflows where exact expressions are needed before numerical simulation or code generation. It is well-suited to deriving governing equations, validating analytical results, and exploring parameterized models.

Integrated numeric and visualization tools

Maple supports numerical computation alongside symbolic work, enabling users to move from derived formulas to evaluated results in the same environment. It includes plotting and visualization capabilities for functions, data, and model behavior. This helps users iterate on models and communicate results without exporting to separate tools for basic visualization.

Worksheet-based technical documentation

Maple worksheets combine executable math, code, text, and plots in a single document. This format supports traceability for engineering calculations and makes it easier to review assumptions and steps. It can be used to standardize internal calculation templates and share reproducible analyses across teams.

cons

Not a full CAE suite

Maple focuses on mathematical modeling and computation rather than end-to-end CAD/CAE workflows. It does not natively replace dedicated geometry modeling, meshing, or multiphysics solvers typically used for production-grade finite element or CFD analysis. Many organizations still need additional tools for geometry preparation and high-fidelity simulation.

Ecosystem and integration variability

Integration depth can vary depending on the target environment and the specific engineering toolchain in use. Teams may need custom scripting or intermediate formats to connect Maple-derived models to downstream simulation, PLM, or automation systems. This can add implementation effort compared with platforms that are more standardized within certain engineering stacks.

Learning curve for advanced use

While basic worksheet use is approachable, advanced modeling often requires familiarity with Maple language constructs and the product’s libraries. Users transitioning from other numerical computing environments may need time to adapt to Maple’s syntax and workflows. Governance for shared worksheets (versioning, testing, and review) may require additional process and tooling.

Plan & Pricing

Plan Price Key features & notes
Professional (Commercial) $1,570 per year (subscription); Standard Professional License + EMP: $3,140 one-time, then $629/year EMP renewal Commercial/professional single-user pricing; subscription auto-renews; updates included while subscription active; multi-user/volume licensing available by quote.
Academic (Single‑user) $680 per year (subscription); Standard Academic License + EMP: $1,360 one-time, then $545/year EMP renewal Available to accredited educational institutions; subscription provides 12‑month term license; standard license does not expire but EMP required for updates after first year.
Student $75 per year (subscription); Standard Student License + EMP: $149 one-time, then $60/year EMP renewal; Graduate Student Research: $249 per year (subscription) Student licenses require verification and are restricted to personal/student use; graduate research license available for students doing research.
Personal $305 per year (subscription); 3‑Year Subscription: $824 (every 3 years); Personal Edition + EMP: $349 one-time, then $295/year EMP renewal For personal (non-commercial, non-academic) use only; eligibility may be verified.
Enterprise / Multi-user / Volume Custom pricing (contact Maplesoft / request a quote) Maplesoft offers flexible licensing (site licenses, volume, concurrent-use); request a quote or contact sales for pricing.

Seller details

Maplesoft
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
1988
Private
https://www.maplesoft.com/
https://x.com/maplesoft
https://www.linkedin.com/company/maplesoft

Tools by Maplesoft

Maple
MapleMBSE
MapleSim

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