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COMSOL Multiphysics vs RealityScan

COMSOL Multiphysics logo

COMSOL Multiphysics

CAD

Finite element simulation built around coupling physics, with add-on modules licensed separately

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RealityScan logo

RealityScan

CAD

The photogrammetry engine formerly called RealityCapture, free below a one million dollar revenue line

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only RealityScan has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: COMSOL Multiphysics the base licence covers very little on its own and nearly every practical problem needs one or more add-on modules, each priced separately, so the quoted total is typically a multiple of the headline base figure.; RealityScan the free tier is bounded by company revenue rather than by usage, so a business crossing one million US dollars of turnover acquires a per-seat cost overnight for software its workflow now depends on
  • They diverge on capability: COMSOL Multiphysics covers Coupled multiphysics solving, RealityScan covers Photogrammetric reconstruction.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which COMSOL Multiphysics and RealityScan actually diverge.

Attributes where COMSOL Multiphysics and RealityScan differ
AttributeCOMSOL MultiphysicsRealityScan
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteFree below a revenue threshold, then per seat per year
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, macOSWindows

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in COMSOL Multiphysics

  • Coupled multiphysics solving
  • Equation-based modelling
  • Add-on module library
  • Application Builder
  • COMSOL Compiler and Server
  • CAD import and LiveLink
  • Parametric sweeps and optimisation
  • Cluster and cloud computing

Only in RealityScan

  • Photogrammetric reconstruction
  • Laser scan fusion
  • Ground control points
  • Texturing and unwrapping
  • Command line interface
  • Unreal Engine path
  • Component alignment control

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

COMSOL Multiphysics

  • Modelling a device where physics are strongly coupled, such as induction heating that changes material properties which change the fieldnot RealityScan
  • Research work needing custom partial differential equations that no packaged solver in a mainstream tool providesnot RealityScan
  • Packaging a validated model as an app so process engineers can run studies without learning the simulation toolnot RealityScan
  • A department wanting shared concurrent access via a Floating Network Licence, with cluster runs at no extra licence costnot RealityScan

RealityScan

  • A two-person heritage survey practice under the revenue threshold that can now run professional photogrammetry at no licence costnot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • A film or games asset team scanning props and environments at very high image counts where processing speed decides the schedulenot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • A survey firm combining terrestrial laser scans with drone photography and needing both aligned in a single reconstructionnot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • A construction reality-capture operator producing meshes for Unreal-based client visualisation from the same source imagerynot COMSOL Multiphysics

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

COMSOL Multiphysics

  • The base licence covers very little on its own and nearly every practical problem needs one or more add-on modules, each priced separately, so the quoted total is typically a multiple of the headline base figure.
  • Perpetual licences renew maintenance at 20% of the then-current price each year, and because that percentage applies to the whole module stack the annual bill grows as your module list does and as list prices rise.
  • No pricing at all is published, so procurement cannot benchmark or budget without a sales engagement, and comparisons against Ansys or SolidWorks Simulation are effectively impossible before that point.
  • Named Single-User and CPU-locked licences do not share, so a team of six that bought individual licences ends up with idle seats while a Floating Network Licence would have covered them, and switching licence type is a commercial renegotiation.
  • Solving strongly coupled systems is memory hungry and slow, and models that look modest in the GUI routinely need tens of gigabytes of RAM, so hardware cost is a real and often underestimated part of adoption.

RealityScan

  • The free tier is bounded by company revenue rather than by usage, so a business crossing one million US dollars of turnover acquires a per-seat cost overnight for software its workflow now depends on
  • New perpetual licences are no longer sold, so an organisation that deliberately avoided subscription software has no route in; existing perpetual holders keep their version but stop receiving updates unless they accept the current terms
  • It is Windows only and needs an NVIDIA CUDA capable GPU, which excludes macOS studios and makes the real cost of adoption a workstation purchase rather than a licence
  • The rename from RealityCapture to RealityScan in 2025 means tutorials, forum answers and third party pipeline documentation are split across two names and several licensing regimes, and much of it is now wrong about price
  • The interface assumes photogrammetry knowledge; alignment failures, control point placement and reconstruction region setup are not guided, so a team without an experienced operator produces poor models quickly rather than good ones slowly

Pricing, plan by plan

COMSOL Multiphysics

On request
  • COMSOL Multiphysics base licence$undefined/year
    • CPU-locked, Named Single-User or Floating Network licence types
    • Perpetual or term licensing
    • Perpetual includes updates and support for 12 months, then renews at 20% of current price
  • Academic licences$undefined/year
    • Class Kit Licence for up to 30 concurrent users per class
    • Academic Server Licence for up to 300 concurrent app users
    • Quote through the academic sales channel

RealityScan

Free
  • Free tierFree
    • For individuals and companies with annual revenue under 1,000,000 USD
    • Full application, no metered input charges
    • Epic account required
  • RealityScan seat$1250/year
    • Required once annual revenue exceeds 1,000,000 USD
    • Per seat, per year
    • Commercial use without output restrictions
  • Unreal Engine subscription$1850/year
    • Per seat per year
    • Includes RealityScan and Twinmotion
    • For teams that also need Unreal Engine for non-game commercial use

Which should you pick?

Choose COMSOL Multiphysics if

  • You need coupled multiphysics solving.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS.
  • You also want equation-based modelling.
COMSOL Multiphysics review

Choose RealityScan if

  • You need photogrammetric reconstruction.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want laser scan fusion.
RealityScan review

Questions people ask

Is COMSOL Multiphysics or RealityScan better?
Neither clearly leads. COMSOL Multiphysics starts at On request and RealityScan at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, COMSOL Multiphysics or RealityScan?
RealityScan has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for COMSOL Multiphysics and Free for RealityScan.
Does COMSOL Multiphysics or RealityScan run on more platforms?
COMSOL Multiphysics runs on Windows, Linux, macOS. RealityScan runs on Windows.
Can I use RealityScan for free?
Yes. RealityScan has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. COMSOL Multiphysics starts at On request.
What is COMSOL Multiphysics best used for?
COMSOL Multiphysics is most often used for modelling a device where physics are strongly coupled, such as induction heating that changes material properties which change the field, research work needing custom partial differential equations that no packaged solver in a mainstream tool provides, packaging a validated model as an app so process engineers can run studies without learning the simulation tool, a department wanting shared concurrent access via a floating network licence, with cluster runs at no extra licence cost. Of those, modelling a device where physics are strongly coupled, such as induction heating that changes material properties which change the field and research work needing custom partial differential equations that no packaged solver in a mainstream tool provides are not what RealityScan is typically brought in for.
What can COMSOL Multiphysics do that RealityScan cannot?
COMSOL Multiphysics covers Coupled multiphysics solving, Equation-based modelling, Add-on module library, Application Builder. RealityScan covers Photogrammetric reconstruction, Laser scan fusion, Ground control points, Texturing and unwrapping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

COMSOL Multiphysics: Does the base licence include CFD or structural mechanics?

Only limited capability. Serious CFD, structural, RF and acoustics work each require the relevant add-on module at extra cost.

RealityScan: Is RealityCapture still called that?

No. Epic rebranded it to RealityScan with version 2.0 in 2025. It is the same engine and the same team.

COMSOL Multiphysics: What does maintenance cost?

Perpetual licences include 12 months of updates and support, then renew at 20% of the then-current price per year.

RealityScan: Who gets it free?

Individuals and companies with annual revenue under one million US dollars. Above that, a seat is 1,250 US dollars per year.

COMSOL Multiphysics: Which licence type should a team buy?

Floating Network if more than a couple of people use it, since it shares concurrency and includes cluster and cloud computing at no extra charge.

RealityScan: Can I still buy a perpetual licence?

Not for new purchases. Existing perpetual licences remain valid for the version owned, with updates only under the current terms.

COMSOL Multiphysics: Is pricing published?

No. COMSOL publishes licence types but no prices; every purchase goes through a quote.

RealityScan: Does the free version restrict output?

No output metering or watermarking; the restriction is on who qualifies, based on company revenue, not on what you export.

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