Scilab compared with MATLAB, Mathematica and Simulink| Scilab | MATLAB | Mathematica | Simulink |
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| Technical focus: Scilab is a numerical computation environment with a matrix-oriented high level language. It is aimed at students, academics, engineers and scientists, and it adds Xcos for graphical models. | Technical focus: MATLAB is a programming and numeric computation environment for algorithm development, data analysis and visualization. Its listed application areas include signal and image processing, control systems, wireless communications and robotics. Scilab is free and open source, whereas MATLAB is a commercial product. | Technical focus: Mathematica is built on the Wolfram Language and covers symbolic work, algebra, number theory and numerical computation. Compared with Scilab, whose core is matrix-based numerics, it puts computer algebra at the centre. | Technical focus: Simulink is a block diagram environment for multidomain models used in Model-Based Design. It is not a general numerical language, so it is compared here with Xcos, the block diagram editor inside Scilab. |
| Modelling and interface: Xcos is described as a graphical editor for hybrid dynamical systems models, with simulation, standard palettes and the option to customize models and create Modelica blocks. Scilab also lists a Jupyter kernel and a VS Code extension. | Modelling and interface: MATLAB is the foundation for Simulink, and it also offers interactive apps and integration with Python, Visual Studio and GitHub. Block diagram modelling needs the separate Simulink product, whereas Scilab ships Xcos. | Modelling and interface: Work is organized in Wolfram Notebooks, which combine text, runnable code and dynamic graphics. The language lists nearly 7,000 built-in functions. The notebook model differs from the script and block diagram workflow of Scilab. | Modelling and interface: Models combine electrical, mechanical, thermal, hydraulic and software components. It supports software-in-the-loop, processor-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and it generates C, C++, CUDA, PLC, Verilog and VHDL code. That code generation scope is wider than what the Scilab page describes for Xcos. |
| 平台： Scilab runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. | 平台： Installers are available for Windows, macOS and Linux. Apple silicon Macs also need a separately installed Java runtime. | 平台： Mathematica is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and cloud, with a Wolfram Cloud App and a Wolfram Player App for mobile. | 平台： Simulink runs on the desktop, and Simulink Online gives access through a web browser. Large simulations can run locally or on clusters and cloud compute. |
| 许可证和费用： Scilab is free and open source. Since Scilab 6 it is distributed under the GPL, and it remains available under the CeCILL licence, which is GPL compatible. | 许可证和费用： MathWorks states that MATLAB is not free. Licences exist for personal, commercial, teaching and academic research use, and a free trial is offered. | 许可证和费用： Pricing is organized by category: commercial, government, education, student and personal, plus group licences. A free trial is available, and the vendor page links to a check on whether an organization already provides free access. | |
