Comparison · November 2026
An OptimumKinematics alternative that tells you what to move
OptimumKinematics, from OptimumG, is a long-standing choice for student teams. If your team uses it and is happy, keep it. This page is for teams weighing the cost, or who want a tool that goes from "this target fails" to "move this point".
Student prices compared
Job
OptimumKinematics
Workbench
Kinematics: camber, toe, roll center and bump steer through travel, in 3D
$295 a year
Included
Forces: the load in every link, to size tubes and rod ends
+$50 a year
Included
Optimization: which point to move, and how far, to hit a target
+$295 a year
Included
Total for a student team
$640 every year
$49 once, up to 8 people
OptimumKinematics student prices from students.optimumg.com in November 2026, each a yearly subscription. $49 is the founding price for the first 5 teams, until December 21; then $199. If a price has changed, tell us at projects@sunfish-labs.com.
What the Workbench does
- Set targets for each corner. When one fails, it searches single and paired hardpoint moves, re-solves each, and lists what else every move breaks.
- Front and rear together: roll gradient, lateral load transfer split, ride frequencies and the anti-roll bar rates for your balance target.
- Loads for bump, cornering, braking and potholes, with buckling and yield safety factors for each leg and the rod-end bolts.
- An FSAE rules checklist and a design justification written for design event.
- Hardpoints in from SolidWorks, and out to STEP, IGES, Excel and part loads for FEA.
- Runs in a browser on any laptop. Your designs are saved in your browser, not on our servers.
Try it on an example car
The free demo runs the whole Workbench on an example FSAE car, with no account. Open a failing target and click "What moves this?" to see the difference for yourself.
Weighing more than two tools? Nine FSAE suspension tools compared.
Questions
How much does OptimumKinematics cost for a student team?
OptimumG's student page lists OptimumKinematics at $295 a year, the Forces module at $50 a year and the Optimization module at $295 a year, so $640 a year for all three at listed prices (checked November 2026). OptimumG also lists bundle prices for buying several products.
How much does the Vehicle Dynamics Workbench cost?
Team is $199 for up to 8 people, one payment with 12 months of updates; nothing renews automatically. The first 5 founding teams pay $49, until December 21. Personal is $29 for one person. Every plan has a 14-day refund.
Can we use both?
Yes. Some teams will want to find the fix and write the justification in the Workbench, then confirm the final geometry in the tool they already trust. The Workbench exports every sweep to Excel and the geometry to STEP and IGES.
How do we know the Workbench's numbers are right?
Three corners were run through LABSUS, a separate open-source 3D suspension solver: camber, toe, caster, KPI, scrub and trail match within 0.0001° over ±25 mm of travel. Every release also has to match 182 hand calculations. The user guide lists every check.
Does it run on a Mac or a Chromebook?
Yes. It runs in the browser on any laptop, with nothing to install. It is built for a laptop screen, not a phone.