Altair SimLab
Simulation & CAE software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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What is Altair SimLab
Altair SimLab is a simulation and CAE application used to set up, run, and review engineering analyses from a unified modeling-and-simulation environment. It targets design and analysis engineers who need to perform structural, thermal, and related multiphysics studies without switching between many separate pre- and post-processing tools. SimLab emphasizes guided workflows, geometry preparation, meshing, and solver setup within a single interface, and it integrates with Altair’s broader simulation ecosystem for solving and data exchange.
Guided CAE workflow templates
SimLab provides workflow-driven setup for common analysis types, which can reduce the number of manual steps required to prepare a model. This approach helps standardize how teams apply loads, constraints, contacts, and meshing practices. It is particularly useful for users who need repeatable processes rather than building every simulation setup from scratch.
Integrated pre/post processing
The product combines geometry handling, meshing, model setup, and results review in one environment. This can reduce handoffs between separate tools for CAD cleanup, meshing, and visualization. For organizations that run many similar studies, the consolidated workflow can simplify training and day-to-day execution.
Ecosystem integration with Altair
SimLab is designed to work with Altair’s solver and data ecosystem, supporting common CAE data flows and interoperability within that portfolio. This can streamline licensing, support, and deployment when a company already standardizes on Altair simulation tools. It also supports mixed toolchains where geometry and analysis data must move between CAD and CAE systems.
Best fit within Altair stack
While SimLab can participate in broader CAD/CAE workflows, many capabilities are optimized for use with Altair’s own solvers and related products. Organizations centered on other solver ecosystems may face additional integration work or may not realize the same end-to-end efficiency. This can influence total cost and toolchain complexity depending on existing standards.
Not a full CAD system
SimLab focuses on simulation-centric modeling and preparation rather than full parametric mechanical CAD authoring. Teams that need deep feature-based design, drawings, and manufacturing documentation typically rely on a dedicated CAD platform alongside SimLab. This can add coordination overhead between design changes and analysis updates.
Learning curve for robust simulation
Although guided workflows help, accurate CAE still requires domain knowledge in meshing, boundary conditions, contacts, and material modeling. New users can produce results that look plausible but are not well validated without appropriate engineering checks. Organizations often need governance, templates, and review practices to ensure consistent analysis quality.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Altair Units — units-based subscription (Altair Units/AUs). Customers purchase a pool of sharable Altair Units (AUs) and products draw AUs at runtime (Altair Units documentation).
Free tier/trial:
- Free trial: Available — SimLab product page offers a "Request Trial" / "Request a Free Trial" option (new customers).
- Student (academic) free access: Altair Student Edition includes SimLab at no cost for enrolled students (1-year renewable student license, non‑commercial use only). This is an academic/student offering, not a general commercial free tier.
Example costs (unit draws — documented AUs drawn by Solvers / in-app licensing):
- Flux2D / SimLabFlux2DSolver (In-App licensing): 1–4 cores = 15 AUs. (help docs)
- Typical in‑app solvers (AcuSolve, OptiStruct, Radioss, and SimLab-related solver features): 1–4 cores = 30 AUs; 5–8 cores = 35 AUs; 9–16 cores = 40 AUs; (table values continue up through larger core counts). (help docs)
- EDEM in‑app solver example: 1–4 cores = 50 AUs (shows higher draw for some solvers).
Notes:
- Altair Units are a pooled unit system; exact US$/€ pricing per AU or minimum AU‑pool purchase amounts are not published on Altair's public site — customers must contact Altair or an Altair reseller for commercial pricing and quotes.
- Solver licensing can be "In‑App" (draws AUs per job) or "HPC" (draw per CPU core); unit draws vary by solver and core/GPU count (see official solver unit-draw tables).
Seller details
Altair Engineering Inc.
Troy, Michigan, USA
1985
Public
https://www.altair.com/
https://x.com/altair
https://www.linkedin.com/company/altair-engineering/
