List of Optimization Software and Their Licensing Models

Given an input and output transformation, a mathematical function f can be defined to model many real‑world problems, such as motor design parameters to power consumption or business choices to profit.

In an optimization problem (here a minimization), we seek an element x₀ in a set A such that f(x₀) ≤ f(x) for all x in A.

In continuous optimization, A is a subset of Euclidean space ℝⁿ defined by constraints; in combinatorial optimization, A is a discrete set such as binary strings, permutations, or integer sets.

Optimization software requires the function f to be defined in a suitable programming language and linked at compile‑time or run‑time; the software evaluates f(x) and may also request derivatives or other information.

This separation of concerns allows different optimization packages to be tested on the same function, or the same package to be applied to different functions.

The table below (images) lists notable optimization software organized by license and business model.

Free and open‑source software

Applications

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Software libraries

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Proprietary software

AIMMS – goal‑oriented optimization modeling system with GUI support.

ALGLIB – dual‑licensed (GPL/commercial) C++/C# library for quadratic and nonlinear optimization.

Altair HyperStudy – experimental design and multidisciplinary design optimization.

AMPL – modeling language for large‑scale linear, mixed‑integer, and nonlinear optimization.

ANTIGONE – deterministic global MINLP solver.

APMonitor – modeling language and optimization suite for large‑scale nonlinear, mixed‑integer, differential and algebraic equations, with MATLAB, Python, Julia interfaces.

Artelys Knitro – large‑scale nonlinear optimization for continuous and mixed‑integer problems.

ASTOS – aerospace ballistic optimization software for launch, re‑entry, and general space problems.

BARON – optimization of algebraic nonlinear and mixed‑integer nonlinear problems.

COMSOL Multiphysics – cross‑platform finite‑element analysis and multiphysics simulation.

CPLEX – integer, linear, and quadratic programming.

FEATool Multiphysics – MATLAB toolbox for multiphysics FEA GUI.

FICO Xpress – integer, linear, quadratic and nonlinear programming.

FortMP – integer, linear and quadratic programming.

FortSP – stochastic programming.

HEEDS MDO – multidisciplinary design optimization using SHERPA, hybrid, adaptive algorithms.

IMSL Numerical Libraries – linear, quadratic, nonlinear, sparse QP/LP algorithms for C, Java, C#, Fortran, Python.

IOSO – self‑organizing indirect optimization, a multi‑objective, multidimensional nonlinear technique.

Kimeme – open platform for multi‑objective and multidisciplinary design optimization.

LINDO – linear, interactive, discrete optimizer for LP, IP, NLP, stochastic and global optimization.

LIONsolver – integrated software for data mining, modeling, intelligent optimization, and reactive BI.

modeFRONTIER – integrated platform for multi‑objective, multidisciplinary optimization with seamless coupling to third‑party engineering tools.

Maple – linear, quadratic, nonlinear, continuous and integer optimization, with global optimization toolboxes.

MATLAB Optimization Toolbox – linear, integer, quadratic, nonlinear problems; multi‑objective, nonsmooth, parameter estimation.

MIDACO – lightweight evolutionary‑computation based optimizer for single‑ and multi‑objective problems, with interfaces to C/C++, Fortran, Excel, VBA, Java, Python, MATLAB, Octave, R, C#, Julia.

Mathematica – large‑scale multivariate constrained/unconstrained, linear/nonlinear, continuous/integer optimization.

ModelCenter – graphical environment for integration, automation, and design optimization.

MOSEK – linear, quadratic, conic, convex nonlinear, continuous and integer optimization.

NAG – linear, quadratic, nonlinear, sum‑of‑squares, sparse, bounded/unbounded, local and global optimization for continuous or integer problems.

NMath – linear, quadratic, nonlinear programming.

OptimJ – Java‑based modeling language, with support for Gurobi, MOSEK, CPLEX.

Optimus platform – Noesis Solutions workflow integration and optimization design platform.

optiSLang – CAE‑based sensitivity analysis, optimization, robustness evaluation.

OptiY – modern optimization strategies and probabilistic algorithms for uncertainty, reliability, robustness, sensitivity analysis, data mining, meta‑modeling.

OptiStruct – award‑winning CAE technology for conceptual design synthesis and structural optimization.

PottersWheel – ODE parameter estimation (MATLAB toolbox, free for academia).

pSeven – engineering simulation automation, multidisciplinary optimization, data mining platform.

SAS – software suite for statistics, forecasting, machine learning, optimization, BI, risk management.

SmartDO – intelligent multidisciplinary global design optimization for CAE, using direct global search.

SNOPT – large‑scale optimization.

The Unscrambler X – product formulation and process optimization.

TOMLAB – global optimization, integer programming, least‑squares, linear, quadratic, unconstrained MATLAB programming; supports GUROBI, CPLEX, SNOPT, KNITRO, MIDACO.

VisSim – visual block‑diagram language for dynamic system simulation and optimization.

WORHP – large‑scale sparse solver for continuous nonlinear optimization.

Freeware / free for academic use

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AIMMS

AMPL

APMonitor – free for academic and commercial use, integrates with Julia, Python, MATLAB.

ASTOS

CPLEX

Couenne – open‑source deterministic global MINLP solver under Eclipse Public License.

FICO Xpress

Galahad library

GEKKO Python

Gurobi

LIONsolver

MIDACO – evolutionary‑based numerical optimization package.

MINTO – branch‑and‑bound integer programming solver, free for personal use.

MOSEK – large‑scale optimizer for linear, quadratic, conic, convex nonlinear, continuous and integer problems.

OptimJ – Java modeling language; free version supports lp_solve, GLPK, LP/MPS formats.

PottersWheel – ODE parameter estimation (free MATLAB toolbox for academia).

SCIP – free for non‑commercial and academic research.

WORHP

See also

Optimization software comparison

List of computer algebra systems

List of constraint programming languages

List of numerical libraries

List of optimization algorithms

List of SMT solvers

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_optimization_software

Original article: https://pub.intelligentx.net/book/export/html/747