FreeMat is a free environment for rapid engineering and scientific prototyping and data processing. It is similar to commercial systems such as MATLAB from Mathworks, and IDL from Research Systems, but is Open Source.
Publisher’s description
What is FreeMat?
FreeMat by Humanity is open-source Windows software in the science & maths category.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 56.4 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Popularity and file types
On Windows it registers 2 file types, including .txt and .m. Similar programs include Stellarium, KiCad and Quarto.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
- No update for more than a year
In short: FreeMat is an open-source science & math tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is FreeMat safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
A92E7B6B087D6A4D1ABA8C413E8FE9AC295533F3E38AC6ABE0BAEDC9AF036066· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2Latest | March 30, 2021 | 56.4 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id FreeMat.FreeMat -edownload /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Humanity
- Category
- Science & maths
- Licence
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 4.2
- Released
- March 30, 2021
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 1
- Website
- freemat.sourceforge.net
- winget ID
- FreeMat.FreeMat
File types it opens (2)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is FreeMat free?
Yes. FreeMat is open-source software under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
Is FreeMat safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install FreeMat with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can FreeMat be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does FreeMat support?
The installer requires Windows 10 or newer and is available for 64-bit and 32-bit.
Does FreeMat run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to FreeMat?
Stellarium, KiCad, Quarto, Qalculate! and JASP. The alternatives page compares them.
