Mathematica vs Maxima : Which is Better?

Mathematica icon

Mathematica

Wolfram Mathematica (usually termed Mathematica, Mathematica software suite) is a mathematical symbolic computation program. Developed by Wolfram Research

License: Commercial

Categories: Education & Reference

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux Online

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Maxima icon

Maxima

Maxima is a fairly complete computer algebra system written in Lisp with an emphasis on symbolic computation.

License: Open Source

Categories: Education & Reference

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux

Mathematica VS Maxima

Mathematica is a powerful commercial software known for its advanced symbolic computation, extensive graphing capabilities, and integration with other systems, making it suitable for professionals in various fields. In contrast, Maxima is an open-source alternative focused on symbolic mathematics with a good community support but lacks some of the advanced features and user-friendliness of Mathematica.

Mathematica

Pros:

  • Advanced symbolic computation capabilities
  • Robust numerical algorithms
  • Extensive graphing and visualization tools
  • User-friendly interface
  • Powerful programming language
  • Integration with various software and systems
  • Comprehensive documentation and support
  • Strong community support
  • High performance for complex calculations
  • Cross-platform compatibility

Cons:

  • High cost for licenses
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Resource-intensive
  • Requires a robust computational environment
  • Limited free resources

Maxima

Pros:

  • Open-source and free to use
  • Good for symbolic mathematics
  • Decent community support
  • Lightweight compared to Mathematica
  • Customizable through Lisp programming

Cons:

  • Less user-friendly interface
  • Limited built-in functions compared to Mathematica
  • Performance may lag for very complex computations
  • Fewer graphical capabilities
  • Less extensive documentation

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