When beginning the process of purchasing top-of-the-line Electromagnetic Simulation software in 2026, potential buyers typically have these main questions: Can the software accurately and efficiently deliver analysis that will help define solutions for our engineering challenges? How much does it cost (and what is included)? and How do I purchase? To help answer these questions, let’s review some of the strengths and capabilities of this tool, the starting price-points for different licensing schemes, and the process for purchasing the software.
What are the capabilities of CST Studio Suite?
OK, this is going to be a bit of a long read, but bear with us… CST is built around the idea that no single numerical method wins for every EM problem, so it gives you multiple solver “families” under one user interface and lets you switch solvers (or hybridize them) as the electrical size, bandwidth, and geometry complexity change. We’re using different solvers on different parts of a project for efficiency, with field transfer between solvers when needed. A typical decision flow would look like:
- Pick the solver based on bandwidth + electrical size + material complexity
- Use cross-checks (swap solvers) when results are sensitive
- Use hybrids when one part is “small & detailed” and another is “huge & mostly empty space”
Time Domain Solver (your broadband workhorse)
CST’s Time Domain Solver is the one most teams lean on for broadband antennas and general 3D EM, because a single transient run can produce wideband behavior efficiently and it’s designed to be used as a general-purpose engine. It’s also one of the solver types explicitly called out as part of CST’s core high-frequency toolkit.
- Best for: broadband S-parameters, antennas, many EMC-style radiating structures
- Strength: wide frequency band extraction from one run
- Typical application(s): large models where you care about trends across a band, not a few discrete points
Frequency Domain Solver (multiport + resonant accuracy)
The Frequency Domain Solver is CST’s go-to for cases where resonance detail and multiport behavior matter and where frequency-domain workflows are naturally efficient. It is a core solver for resonant/smaller structures and multiport use.
- Best for: connectors, filters, cavities, resonant devices, dense multiport components
- Strength: strong narrowband / targeted sweep workflows
- Typical application(s): high accuracy around resonances and multiport extraction
Integral Equation & planar (MoM-style) solvers (electrically large efficiency)
When your structure is electrically large and most of the volume is “air,” surface/planar formulations can be far cheaper than volume-meshing everything. The integral equation solver is most valuable for very large structures, and this is the bucket you use for large platforms, scattering, and many installed-antenna style problems.
- Best for: very large structures, scattering/RCS-type work, installed antennas (often as part of a hybrid)
- Strength: avoids meshing big empty volumes
- Typical application(s): platform + antenna problems where “air mesh” would dominate runtime
Asymptotic / ray-based solvers (when the model is huge)
For extremely large problems (think “thousands of wavelengths”), you often move to ray/asymptotic methods to keep solves tractable. CST includes an asymptotic solver and explicitly supports hybrid linking between asymptotic and full-wave solvers.
- Best for: electrically massive platforms where full-wave is impractical
- Strength: scales to very large scenes
- Typical application(s): installed performance and scattering where details can be approximated
Eigenmode workflows (natural resonances, detuning, Q)
CST includes eigenmode-style workflows for resonant structures; this is how you get natural modes, resonant frequencies, and Q, and it’s commonly paired with thermal/structural coupling when you care about detuning. CST’s solver portfolio includes resonant-focused tools and allows it to account for multiphysics impacts on EM performance.
- Best for: cavities, filters, resonators, mode identification
- Strength: direct access to modal behavior (not just driven response)
- Typical application(s): resonance tuning and sensitivity/detuning studies
Low-frequency + statics solvers (motors, sensors, HV/DC)
CST isn’t only “RF.” It includes DC/static and low-frequency solvers aimed at sensors, HV/DC, and electromechanical devices.
- Best for: magnetostatics/electrostatics, DC conduction, low-frequency coupling
- Strength: handles machines/sensors/HV style physics without forcing an RF workflow
- Typical application(s): inductors, transformers, magnetic circuits, eddy-current-type problems (depending on setup)
PCB/Package + Electronics + EMC toolchain (SI/PI and compliance pain)
CST has dedicated capabilities for electronics EMC, including everything from rule checking through full-wave 3D and specialized cable/PCB solvers, and these can be linked and hybridized through the SAM framework.
- Best for: SI/PI, PCB/package EM, electronics EMC investigations
- Strength: “electronics-native” workflows (rule checks → solver runs → hybrid system context)
- Typical application(s): reducing late-stage EMC surprises by modeling coupling paths earlier
Cable/harness simulation (because cables are antennas at the wrong time)
CST supports specialized cable and harness analysis and the ability to link cable solvers with other solvers via SAM/hybridization—critical when a harness interacts with a 3D enclosure or platform.
- Best for: harness crosstalk, coupling, conducted/radiated emissions pathways
- Strength: cable-specific abstractions that still connect to 3D EM context
- Typical application(s): vehicle/aerospace harness EMC where the return path and environment dominate
Particle dynamics (tracking, PIC, wake Fields)
Particle simulation is a major differentiator for CST in organizations doing vacuum electronics, guns, or accelerator-type components. This includes particle tracking solvers, space charge models, and broader multiphysics investigation around the EM/thermal/stress chain.
- Best for: electron guns, beam transport, accelerator components
- Strength: particle motion coupled to EM fields (and space-charge modeling where applicable)
- Typical application(s): predicting beam behavior and field interaction without leaving the CST environment
Multiphysics coupling (EM losses → temperature → stress → EM shift)
CST excels in multiphysics, where you can propagate losses into thermal, and thermal deformation/stress can feed back into EM performance (classic resonance detuning and electronics heating loops).
- Best for: electronics heating, RF loss hot-spots, detuning from deformation
- Strength: closes the loop between EM performance and “real-world” operating conditions
- Typical application(s): designs that pass EM targets only if they manage heat and deformation
System Assembly & Modeling (SAM) + Hybrid Solver Task (how you combine)
SAM is CST’s environment for building system-level EM workflows and managing complex flows; the Hybrid Solver Task is the mechanism CST utilizes to link the Time Domain, Frequency Domain, Integral Equation, and Asymptotic solvers, transferring fields between them and enabling bidirectional coupling when needed.
- Use SAM when: you’re modeling a system, not a single component
- Use Hybrid when: one part needs full-wave detail and another needs large-domain efficiency
- Typical application(s): antenna-on-platform, cable + enclosure, or any multi-scale EM problem
How much does CST Studio Suite cost? And what is included?
Throughout the year, Dassault Systèmes, offers a number of promotional pricing packages – available promotions can contain discounts up to 68% off! Fidelis looks to apply the best available promotions in an effort to quote our customers at the lowest price points. Please contact us to discuss your individual needs in detail, but here is an overview of the starting prices for different packages (as of January 2026):
Reusable Tokens:
- A Quarterly Lease package for LF applications starts at roughly $6,600
- A Quarterly Lease package for HF applications starts at roughly $9,100
- A Yearly Lease package for LF applications starts at roughly $14,500
- A Yearly Lease package for HF applications starts at roughly $22,000
- A Purchase package for LF applications starts at roughly $45,000, with Annual Maintenance, Updates, Support beginning Year 2 at roughly $8,500
- A Purchase package for HF applications starts at roughly $62,500, with Annual Maintenance, Updates, Support beginning Year 2 at roughly $13,000
Consumable Credits:
- A Quarterly Lease package starts at roughly $3,500
- A Yearly Lease package starts at roughly $8,800
One of our previous posts titled “Introducing The Dassault Systemes Unified Licensing Model – What Are SRUs, SUNs, SRU-OCs and SUN-OCs” provides a useful resource to learn how the CST token- and credit-based models work.
Our customers also receive the following:
- Access to CST Studio Suite training modules, if needed
- Technical support from our dedicated engineering experts (our team also offers paid services for those customers that want Fidelis to handle more challenging simulation initiatives)
- An onboarding roadmap customized to your specific simulation workflows to ensure a smooth experience
Already familiar with CST and know what type of software package you need? Complete our Quick Quote request and speed up the process.
So, How Do I Purchase CST Studio Suite With Fidelis?
We typically recommend beginning with a discovery call. During this discussion we aim to learn about what you are looking to accomplish with the software. Our team provides feedback and offers insights into how CST Studio Suite can help you achieve both your specific engineering and overall business goals.
We can then use this information to customize an appropriate CST solution. We provide formal quotes/proposals and coordinate follow-up calls with you to review, when applicable.
Where appropriate, we can provide a demonstration of the software, showcasing the capabilities that align with your needs. For these demos, we can often use one of your existing models to illustrate how analysis strategy can be implemented on your own project.
Once you are confident in the benefits of the proposed CST package and ready to move forward with a purchase, we process your PO and help coordinate installation. For Fidelis, customer satisfaction is top priority – we work hard to ensure a smooth, valuable experience throughout your buying process.
Final Thoughts
Fidelis looks to develop long-lasting, reciprocal relationships with our customers. We offer the highest level of knowledge and support of our products while maintaining honest, affordable pricing. Hopefully, this post has given you useful insights and information when it comes to making the right choice for your organization’s simulation software needs.
To learn more about CST Studio Suite and all the other products and services we offer, get in touch!
