Frontline Systems, Excel Solver, optimization software, Solver Excel, simulation software
Solver.com
From Frontline Systems, developers of the Excel Solver.

Solver tutorials

Learn to use optimization for resource allocation, and Monte Carlo simulation for risk analysis of your model.


 

Compare Excel Solver and Premium Solvers

Compare the Standard Excel Solver and Premium Solvers

The Premium Solver products are all upward compatible from the standard Microsoft Excel Solver, with much greater problem solving capacity, much greater speed, many new diagnostic and user interface aids, and the ability to solve entirely new kinds of problems -- with global optimization, non-smooth optimization, and more. Your spreadsheet models and VBA macros designed for the standard Excel Solver with work as-is with any member of the Premium Solver product family.

Premium Solver handles up to 2,000 variables for LP problems -- ten times the capacity of the standard Excel Solver, and double the capacity of previous Premium Solver versions.  Premium Solver Platform is upward compatible from Premium Solver.  It handles up to 8,000 variables for LP problems -- forty times the capacity of the standard Excel Solver!  And Premium Solver Platform supports our full set of field-installable Solver engines for unlimited expansion potential. The table below compares the capacity, speed, features and price of the Premium Solver products.

And there's more -- Premium Solver and Premium Solver Platform can be upgraded to our integrated products for simulation and optimization!  Compare Risk Solver, Risk Solver Premium, and Risk Solver Platform.

FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE

Standard Excel Solver

Premium Solver

Premium Solver Platform

Psi Technology:

 

 

 

Find linear, nonlinear, nonsmooth formulas

No

No

Yes

Determine whether model is convex

No

No

Yes

"Linearize" IF, MIN, MAX, ABS, logical formulas

No

No

Yes

Built-in Engines:

 

 

 

Simplex Linear Solver

LP Only

LP Only

LP/Quadratic

GRG Nonlinear Solver

Yes

Yes

Yes (faster)

Mixed-Integer Solver

Yes

Yes (fast)

Yes (faster)

Evolutionary Solver

No

Yes

Yes (faster)

Interval Global Solver

No

No

Yes

SOCP Barrier Solver

No

No

Yes

Field-Installable Solver Engines

No

No

All Engines

Problem Size:

 

 

 

Linear Variables x Constraints

200 x 200

2000 x 1000

8000 x 8000

Nonlinear Variables x Constraints

200 x 100

400 x 200

500 x 250

Non-Smooth Variables x Constraints

N/A

400 x 200

500 x 250

Integer Constraints on Variables

200

1000

2000

Solver Engine Variables x Constraints

N/A

N/A

Unlim x Unlim

Speed (approximate):

 

 

 

Problem Setup

1X

1-50X

2-100X

Linear Problems

1X

3X

20X

Nonlinear Problems

1X

1X

7-15X

Mixed-Integer Problems

1X

10-20X

10-200X

Non-Smooth Problems

N/A

1-10X

1-10X

Solver Engines (On Various Problems)

N/A

N/A

10-1000X

Variables and Constraints:

 

 

 

Normal Decision Variables

Yes

Yes

Yes

Normal, Integer, and Binary Constraints

Yes

Yes

Yes

Semi-continuous Constraints

No

Yes

Yes

All-different Constraints

No

Yes

Yes

Second Order Cone Constraints

No

No

Yes

Global Optimization:

 

 

 

Non-Smooth Problems (Evolutionary)

No

Yes

Yes

Nonlinear Problems (Multistart)

No

Yes

Yes

Nonlinear Problems (Interval Global)

No

No

Yes

Solver Engines (Several Approaches)

No

No

Yes

Constraint Programming and Conic Optimization:

 

 

 

Built-In Engines (alldifferent constraints)

No

Yes

Yes

Built-In Engines (second order cone constraints)

No

No

Yes

Solver Engines (alldifferent and cone constraints)

No

No

Yes

Solver Reports:

 

 

 

Answer Report

Yes

Yes

Yes

Sensitivity Report

Yes

Yes

Yes

Limits Report

Yes

Yes

Yes

Linearity Report

No

Yes

Yes

Feasibility Report

No

Yes

Yes

Population Report

No

Yes

Yes

Report Outlining

No

Yes

Yes

Block Selection and Comments

No

Yes

Yes

Solutions Report

No

No

Yes

Scaling Report

No

No

Yes

Structure/Convexity Report

No

No

Yes

Transformation Report

No

No

Yes

Solver Engine Custom Reports

No

No

Yes

> Compare Risk Solver, Risk Solver Premium, and Risk Solver Platform

< Back to Premium Solver Platform Product Overview

< Back to Learn About Excel Products