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EnglishWhat Is the Difference Between Maple, Maple Flow, and MapleSim?
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Maple, Maple Flow, and MapleSim are three distinct Maplesoft products built on the same underlying Maple math engine but aimed at different jobs. Maple is general-purpose math software for symbolic and numeric computation, visualization, and technical documentation. Maple Flow is a calculation-and-documentation tool for engineering design work. MapleSim is a system-level modeling and simulation platform for physical and multidomain systems. Choose Maple if you need broad math capability, Maple Flow if your main output is engineering calculations you must record and reuse, and MapleSim if you need to simulate how a whole system behaves over time.
Maple: General-Purpose Math Software
Maple is described by Maplesoft as "powerful math software that is easy to use." It is the core product and the base of the other two tools.
What it does: symbolic and numeric mathematics, plotting, and technical document creation in a worksheet-style environment.
Who it is for: Maplesoft lists editions for academics, students, industry and government, and individuals, plus a free Maple Player for viewing content. This breadth is the clearest signal that Maple is the general entry point rather than a niche engineering tool.
Typical scenario: a student or researcher derives a formula symbolically, plots it, and writes up the result in one document.
Related add-ons: e-books and study guides for students, Maple Toolboxes, and MapleNet for deployment.
Maple Flow: Engineering Calculations and Documentation
Maple Flow is positioned under "Engineering calculations & documentation." That pairing is the key distinction: the product is organized around producing calculation sheets that are both computed and recorded.
What it does: engineering calculation work where the calculation and its documentation live together, so a design calculation can be reviewed and reused.
Who it is for: working engineers who need traceable design calculations rather than exploratory mathematics.
Typical scenario: an engineer sets up a sizing or load calculation, documents assumptions alongside the math, and hands the sheet to a reviewer.
Migration note: Maplesoft lists a Maple Flow Migration Assistant, which implies existing worksheets can be brought into Maple Flow — useful if you are moving from another calculation format.
MapleSim: System-Level Modeling and Simulation
MapleSim sits under "Advanced System Level Modeling." It is the simulation product in the lineup, not a calculation tool.
What it does: builds and simulates models of physical systems at the system level, with add-on libraries and connectors for extending model scope.
Who it is for: engineering teams modeling machine and system behavior — Maplesoft's application areas include vehicle dynamics, powertrain, battery modeling and design, heat transfer modeling, vibration analysis, and virtual commissioning.
Related offerings: MapleSim for Web, MapleSim for Digital Twins, MapleSim for Education, and MapleSim Insight. Maplesoft also lists consulting, training, and turnkey solutions around this product line.
Typical scenario: a team models a drivetrain or thermal system, runs simulations, and uses results to compare design options.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Dimension | Maple | Maple Flow | MapleSim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | General math computation and documentation | Engineering calculations and documentation | System-level modeling and simulation |
| Primary output | Worksheets, plots, technical documents | Calculation sheets with recorded assumptions | Simulation models and results |
| Typical user | Students, academics, researchers, individuals | Practicing engineers | Engineering teams modeling systems |
| Maplesoft category | Core math software | Engineering calculations & documentation | Advanced system level modeling |
| Notable extras | Toolboxes, MapleNet, Maple Player, e-books | Migration Assistant | Add-on libraries and connectors, MapleSim Insight, digital twins, web version |
How to Decide
- Pick Maple if your work is mathematical in nature — symbolic derivation, coursework, research, or general technical documents — and you want the broadest feature set.
- Pick Maple Flow if your deliverable is an engineering calculation that someone else must check or reuse, and documentation matters as much as the number.
- Pick MapleSim if the question is how a system behaves over time and you need simulation rather than a single calculation.
- Combine them if needed: because all three build on Maple, a team can use Maple Flow for design calculations and MapleSim for system simulation without leaving the same math foundation.
Practical Notes Before You Choose
- Licensing varies by audience. Maplesoft separates academic, student, industry/government, and individual editions, and lists institutional student licensing and virtualization options. Confirm which edition fits your situation rather than assuming one license covers all uses.
- Pricing is not stated on the pages summarized here. Maplesoft provides product pricing pages and a request-a-quote path; check those directly for current figures.
- Maple T.A. and Möbius are not part of this comparison. Maplesoft notes that these products are now offered by DigitalEd, a Maplesoft technology partner.
- Try before committing. The free Maple Player lets you open Maple content, which is a low-risk way to see whether the worksheet format suits your workflow.