# GNU Octave review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/gnu-octave
Website: https://octave.org/

Free numerical computing language compatible with many MATLAB scripts

GNU Octave is free software for high-level numerical computing, licensed under GPL-3.0 and compatible with many MATLAB scripts. It runs on GNU/Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows.

Octave provides matrix operations, plotting and scripting in a MATLAB-like syntax, so many MATLAB scripts run with little change. Its plotting tools cover 2D and 3D graphics.

The project is free software, and its site has donate and support links. It suits engineers and students who want a free MATLAB-style environment. It is less complete than MATLAB, with a smaller set of toolboxes.

- Free and open source | Linux, macOS, Windows | open source (GPL-3.0)
- Price: Free software under GPL-3.0; donations accepted
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- Free software under GPL-3.0
- Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows
- Many MATLAB scripts run with little change

## Limits

- Smaller toolbox set than MATLAB

## Rankings

- #7 of 10 in [best Math and graphing software](https://listme.name/best/math-software), score 81.0: Free software for numerical computing that runs many MATLAB scripts with little change, on Linux, macOS and Windows. It has fewer toolboxes than MATLAB and suits numerical work more than graphing.

## Alternatives

- [Desmos](https://listme.name/software/desmos), score 91.0
- [GeoGebra](https://listme.name/software/geogebra), score 89.0
- [Mathematica](https://listme.name/software/mathematica), score 88.5
- [Wolfram|Alpha](https://listme.name/software/wolfram-alpha), score 86.5
- [SageMath](https://listme.name/software/sagemath), score 84.0
- [MATLAB](https://listme.name/software/matlab), score 82.0
- [Scilab](https://listme.name/software/scilab), score 79.0
- [Photomath](https://listme.name/software/photomath), score 76.0