JaamSim

Free open-source discrete-event simulation software

Researched profile
Free plan
Open source

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Starting price: Free
Free option: Free plan
Pricing: Free
Licence: Open source
Deployment: Desktop

The lean-stack take

A lean team can model a line or process with measured cycle times. The model shows where queues and bottlenecks form before changes are made on the floor.

Best for

Engineers who want to test line balance and buffer changes in a simulation without paying for a license.

Watch out for

JaamSim does not capture cycle times itself, so you need time study data from another tool to feed the model.

About

About JaamSim

JaamSim is free, open-source discrete-event simulation software written in Java. It is released under the Apache 2.0 license, and its source code is on GitHub.

Written by lean-stack from JaamSim's public pages. Vendors can replace it with their own description by claiming this profile.

Features

What JaamSim offers

Drag-and-drop modeling

Models are built by placing objects in a 3D view, so engineers can lay out a line without writing code.

Discrete-event simulation

The engine simulates each event in a process, which helps test line balancing and bottleneck changes.

Open source under Apache 2.0

The source code is public on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license, so there is no license fee.

Monthly releases

New versions are released about monthly, and releases through 2026-05 are archived on Zenodo.

User and programming manuals

The project publishes a user manual and a programming manual as PDFs on its website.

User community

A JaamSim users group runs on Google Groups, and the project held a virtual user conference in January 2025.

Lean techniques supported

The lean practices JaamSim is built to support.

Pricing

JaamSim pricing

Checked October 12, 2026

Starting price

Free

Pricing: Free
Free option: Free plan

How pricing works

JaamSim is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license.

JaamSim is free to use under the Apache 2.0 open-source license.

See current prices on jaamsim.com

JaamSim doesn't publish a full plan list, so we show what it does publish. Confirm prices with the vendor.

Strengths and limitations

What stands out, and what to watch

Strengths

Free and open source under Apache 2.0
Source code is public on GitHub
Regular monthly releases
Published user and programming manuals
Active user group on Google Groups

Limitations

Does not record time studies itself; you supply the process times
Building a useful model takes simulation skills
No vendor support plan confirmed during this check
Supported operating systems not confirmed from search results

Based on the vendor's published plans and documentation, not a hands-on test.

Fit

Is JaamSim right for your team?

A good fit if…

You have cycle time data and want to test a new line balance before moving people
You need to size buffers or WIP limits between stations
Your budget does not cover a paid simulation license
You want to see a process change in 3D before a kaizen event

Look elsewhere if…

You need to capture cycle times with a stopwatch or video
You want a simple line balancing chart rather than a simulation model

Support and training

Support: Community forum
Training: Docs, User conference
Deployment: Desktop

Reviews

What JaamSim users say

We haven't found published reviews of JaamSim on G2 or Capterra yet. Smaller lean tools often have none, so judge it on the facts above and a trial.

Similar tools

JaamSim alternatives

Autodesk FlexSim

Price on request

3D simulation software for modeling production lines, buffers and material flow to test layouts and lean changes.

SimulationLine BalancingBottleneck Analysis

AVIX Suite

Price on request

Modular video-analysis suite for method study, line balancing, SMED and ergonomics, with a shop-floor instruction viewer.

Time StudyLine BalancingSMED

Timer Pro Professional

Price on request

Video-based time and motion study software that produces Yamazumi charts, line balances, standard work and SMED analyses.

Time StudyYamazumiLine Balancing

UMT Plus (Laubrass)

Price on request

Canadian work-measurement software for stopwatch and video time studies, work sampling and waste identification on PC and mobile.

Time StudyWork SamplingLine Balancing

JaamSim compared with Autodesk FlexSim, AVIX Suite, Timer Pro Professional, UMT Plus (Laubrass)
Tool	Pricing	Starting price	Free plan or trial	Deployment
JaamSim	Free	Free	Free plan	Desktop
Autodesk FlexSim	Price on request	Subscription; price on request	Free trial	Windows
AVIX Suite	Price on request	Quote-based	None listed	Desktop
Timer Pro Professional	Price on request	Quote-based	Free trial	Windows
UMT Plus (Laubrass)	Price on request	Quote-based	Free trial	iOS, Android, Windows tablets, Windows PC

From each vendor's published pricing. Check current prices on their sites.

FAQ

JaamSim: common questions

What is JaamSim?

It is free, open-source discrete-event simulation software written in Java.

Is JaamSim free?

Yes. It is released under the Apache 2.0 license at no cost.

Is JaamSim a time study tool?

Not directly. It simulates a process using times you measure elsewhere, which helps with line balancing.

How often is JaamSim updated?

New releases come out about monthly. Releases through 2026-05 are listed on GitHub and Zenodo.

Where can I get help with JaamSim?

The project publishes user and programming manuals, and users discuss models on the JaamSim Google Group.

For the JaamSim team

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Sources, checked October 12, 2026

Listed October 12, 2026.