Design fireworks to music, preview your show in realistic 3D and prepare it for your firing system. FWsim Pro is available as a monthly or annual subscription.
Try FWsim Pro Compare prices and features
FWsim Pro is used by fireworks professionals in 40 countries, and it is made by a small company in beautiful Austria. We are just two people! We are passionate about fireworks and want to make the best software for fireworks professionals. We offer responsive email support, and we listen to your feedback.
American pyromusical designer Shaun Hauter, known for competition shows with up to 12,240 cues, had a free year of Finale 3D when he was choosing his software. He tried FWsim and Finale 3D side by side:
“I won a subscription to Finale 3D in a raffle, and I also found FWsim. I played with both for about a week, and I just did not like Finale 3D: the user interface, how everything worked. With FWsim, I was like a fish in water. I felt comfortable. It was easy. It was intuitive.”
— Shaun Hauter, Pyromusical Designer, USA Read the full story →
Royal Fireworks (Netherlands) uses FWsim to plan their displays for the Philippine International Pyromusical Competition.
“For us, the combination of designing with accurately simulated effects is an absolute must. It also helps to share the design iterations with the team as accurately as possible and maybe come up with even better ideas together. FWsim has remained our preferred tool for well over a decade now.”
— Jozef Royal, Royal Fireworks, Netherlands Read the full story →
You don't need a new computer for realistic visuals: FWsim needs just 4 GB of RAM and a graphics card from 2012 or newer, and it runs on most laptops.
Our monthly FWsim Pro subscription can be cancelled at any time, and you can subscribe again whenever you need it. No reason to pay for a whole 12-month period if you only have a few projects a year.
FWsim Pro is available for $79 per month or $710 per year, excluding applicable taxes. Finale 3D offers annual subscriptions, paid upfront.
An active subscription is required to use the software. Compare all editions below.
FWsim offers Basic, Hobbyist and Pro. Finale 3D (also known as Finale Fireworks or Finale3D) offers Lite, Hobbyist and Pro.
Below, we compare their entry-level, mid-range and professional editions side by side.
Prices are in USD, checked 25 September 2026. Euro prices, tax details and sources.
These are each company's lowest-priced editions. FWsim Basic is a one-time purchase for creating simulations and videos. Finale 3D Lite is an annual subscription that includes firing-system export.
| FWsim Basic | Finale 3D Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price and payment | $49.99One-time purchase | $149 / yearAnnual subscription |
| Export a simulation video | Up to 4K, with an FWsim watermark | No video export |
| Design at a real 3D location | Google Earth 3D locations included | Requires Finale 3D Pro |
| Export to a firing system | Not included | Included |
To export firing files from FWsim, choose FWsim Hobbyist or FWsim Pro. Those editions also add manufacturer effect catalogs and Undo/Redo to FWsim Basic's tools.
Each company calls its mid-range edition “Hobbyist.” Here is what you get with each:
| FWsim Hobbyist | Finale 3D Hobbyist | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual subscription | $260 / yearPaid annually | $349 / yearPaid annually |
| Monthly subscription | $29 / monthCancel any time | Not offered |
| Export to a firing system | Included | Included |
| Export a simulation video | Up to 4K, with an FWsim watermark | Up to 720p |
| Design at a real 3D location | Google Earth 3D locations included | Requires Finale 3D Pro |
| DMX and SMPTE timecode | Requires FWsim Pro | Included |
FWsim Hobbyist costs $89 less per year than Finale 3D Hobbyist, and it is also available monthly.
FWsim Pro and Finale 3D Pro add tools for preparing the physical show, including rack layouts and customizable paperwork.
| FWsim Pro | Finale 3D Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual subscription | $710 / yearPaid annually | $1,049 / yearPaid annually |
| Monthly subscription | $79 / monthCancel any time | Not offered |
| Export to a firing system | Included | Included |
| Export a simulation video | Up to 4K, without the FWsim watermark | Up to 4K |
| Design at a real 3D location | Google Earth 3D locations included | Google Maps 3D locations included |
| Rack-layout tools | Included | Included |
| Customizable reports and labels | Included | Included |
FWsim Pro costs $339 less per year than Finale 3D Pro. It is also available monthly, if you prefer a shorter commitment.
Firing with a Cobra system? Read how FWsim compares to Cobra Show Creator.
Annual prices are the full amount for one year, paid upfront.
FWsim euro subscription prices: FWsim Hobbyist €29/month or €260/year; FWsim Pro €69/month or €620/year. These prices exclude VAT.
Taxes: FWsim prices exclude applicable taxes. Your checkout total depends on your location and tax status.
FWsim prices and features from our pricing page. Finale 3D prices and features as listed on finale3d.com, checked 25 September 2026.
“This year's Yuanxiao (Filled round balls made of glutinous rice-flour for Lantern Festival) in China, the team I led carried out 25 fireworks displays, all of which were arranged and designed using FWsim. The design effect was highly recognized by the organizers. The exported ignition control CSV file and FIREPIONEER system achieved completely correct access, the exported label report system was accurate, and the fireworks display fully realized the designer's creative design.”
— Mr. Li Du, Liuyang, China“For me, the major difference [between FWsim and other 3D scripting software] lies in the quality of the effects we can directly model through the effect editor. The 3D rendering engine is very efficient, allowing me to offer very high-quality renders to potential clients. Lukas is also very responsive and provides regular updates regarding our requests for interface modifications or the addition of new features.”
— Vincent Bauer, Creative Director, Diffuse Show, France
Use the FWsim trial to build a sequence with your own music and effects. Preview it, adjust the timing and see how FWsim fits your workflow. Sign up below for your free 14-day trial of FWsim Pro. No credit card needed.
Fireworks are your hobby? Have a look at FWsim for hobbyists. All editions and prices are on the pricing page.