REDUCE

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hostedWindows

What REDUCE is

REDUCE is a portable computer algebra system for scalar, vector, and matrix mathematics. It performs exact arithmetic, polynomial and rational-function operations, differentiation, integration, factorization, equation solving, simplification, and graph plotting through gnuplot. Numerical work can use arbitrary precision. More advanced capabilities cover matrix and non-commutative algebra, ordinary differential equations, special functions, quantifier elimination, and Dirac matrix calculations. A user-level programming language supports custom work, while non-interactive batch processing handles large computations. CSL supplies a graphical interface by default and can also run from the command line; PSL provides a command-line interface. Alternative interfaces include Run-REDUCE, GNU TeXmacs, and GNU Emacs. Distributions contain specialized packages, with Dimsym, GRG 3.2, and REDTEN available separately. REDUCE runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted setups. Founded in 1963, it is free under a modified BSD license, with complete source code available.

Who it suits

It suits mathematics, science, and engineering users from pre-university level onward. It is especially suited to concrete calculations, such as matrices with specified elements, rather than highly abstract problems.

What it does well

Free under a modified BSD license
Exact and arbitrary-precision calculations
Supports batch processing and programming
Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Includes advanced algebra and differential equations

What to know first

No automatic update facility
Better suited to concrete than abstract problems
Main support is a low-volume mailing list

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
REDUCE	Free of charge · modified BSD license	Free

As reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

REDUCE offers broad symbolic mathematics, programming, batch processing, and multiple interfaces at no charge. Its concrete-problem focus and manual reinstall updates are important considerations.

Facts from REDUCE's own pages

Advanced mathematics: Advanced features include matrix and non-commutative algebra, ordinary differential equations, special functions, quantifier elimination and Dirac matrix calculations. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Core operations: It supports exact arithmetic, polynomial and rational function algebra, differentiation, integration, factorization, equation solving, simplification and graph plotting. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Founded: 1963 · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 28 Sept 2026
Integrations: The project describes interfaces to gnuplot for graphics and lists Run-REDUCE, GNU TeXmacs and GNU Emacs as alternative user interfaces. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes REDUCE as intended for mathematics, science and engineering users from pre-university level onward. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Interfaces: CSL provides a graphical interface by default, while PSL provides a command-line interface; CSL can also run in command-line mode. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
License and source: REDUCE is released free of charge under a modified BSD license, and its complete source code is available. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Packages: REDUCE distributions include specialized packages, while separately downloadable external packages include Dimsym, GRG 3.2 and REDTEN. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Platforms: The project distributes pre-packaged versions primarily for Windows, Apple macOS and Debian- or Red Hat-based GNU/Linux, with Linux packages limited to 64-bit processors. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Programming and batch use: REDUCE includes a user-level programming language and supports non-interactive batch processing for large computations. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: REDUCE is a portable general-purpose computer algebra system for scalar, vector and matrix algebra, with arbitrary-precision numerical approximation and graphics through gnuplot. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Security and compliance: The pages reviewed describe the modified BSD license but do not state security certifications or compliance claims. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The project identifies its low-volume reduce-algebra-developers mailing list as its main support mechanism for questions, bug reports and feature requests. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Updates: The project does not provide an automatic update facility; users update by installing REDUCE again. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026
Usage limitation: The support page says REDUCE is better at concrete problems, such as matrices with specified elements, than abstract problems such as vector spaces of arbitrary dimension. · reduce-algebra.sourceforge.io, 11 Oct 2026

Where REDUCE stands on Freedom251

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