PARI/GP

PARI/GP is introduced on its home page as a cross-platform, open-source computer algebra system designed for fast computations in number theory. It covers factorisation, algebraic number theory, elliptic curves, modular forms and L-functions, and also handles matrices, polynomials, power series and transcendental functions.

The package has four named parts: the PARI C library, the gp interactive shell, the GP scripting language and gp2c, a compiler from GP to C that understands a subset of the language. The licence is stated as GPLv2+. Development began in the early 1980s at the University of Bordeaux, and the copyright notice credits the PARI group for 2003 to 2025. The pages we read give no price and do not state a country.

• Number theory focus. The home page says the system is designed for fast computations in number theory. Factorisation, algebraic number theory, elliptic curves, modular forms and L-functions are all named, which marks a narrower target than general-purpose algebra systems.
• The PARI C library. Programmers can call the computations from their own C code through the library. The pages we read do not describe its interface in detail, so integration effort has to be judged from the documentation.
• The gp shell and GP language. gp is the interactive shell and GP the scripting language used inside it. Together they give a command-line route for experiments and short programs without compiling anything.
• gp2c compiler. gp2c translates a subset of GP into C. The download page lists version 0.0.15, dated 1 October 2026, and the home page says only a subset of GP is understood.
• General algebra functions. Matrices, polynomials, power series and transcendental functions are listed beside the number theory material. A user whose main interest is number theory can therefore stay in one system for the surrounding linear algebra.
• Browser and Android access. The home page offers Try GP in your browser and an Android app called PariDroid. The download page lists PariDroid 2.17.3.2.5 from 9 February 2026.
• Related tools. Xeus-GP 0.2.0, dated 16 March 2026, is listed with GP2C and PariDroid as related tools. The pages we read do not describe what Xeus-GP does.

• A researcher in algebraic number theory. Running factorisations and elliptic curve computations in the gp shell, then calling the C library from a larger program. The release listed on the download page is dated 28 September 2026.
• A lecturer teaching modular forms. Letting students try GP in the browser before they install anything. Installers for Windows and macOS are on the download page for those who continue.
• A software developer embedding arithmetic. Linking the PARI C library into an application that needs fast number theoretic routines. The GPLv2+ licence applies, so redistribution terms should be read before shipping.

The download page lists stable version 2.19.0, dated 28 September 2026, and a daily development snapshot built from the master branch. A 5.3 MB source tarball is offered, along with Windows installers for 32-bit and 64-bit systems, macOS DMG images for Apple silicon and Intel, and an Android APK.

For Linux the page lists source only and names no package managers, so a Linux user compiles the tarball. The quickest trial is the browser version linked from the home page, which needs no installation. After that, the gp shell is the entry point, and the pages we read do not include a tutorial, so the documentation linked from the site is the next stop.

PARI/GP is aimed at fast number theory: factorisation, algebraic number theory, elliptic curves, modular forms and L-functions, alongside matrices, polynomials and power series.

It ships as the PARI C library, the gp shell, the GP language and the gp2c compiler. The scope is narrow by design, so it will not replace a general engineering environment, and Linux users get source only.

In our numerical computing software ranking PARI/GP stands at #7 of 13: it follows Maxima and comes before Octave Online. Established names take the places after the first three, in ranked order, and we give no numeric score.

The vendor states no country of establishment, so PARI/GP is left out of the regional count for this list.

Stable version 2.19.0 is dated 28 September 2026, with a daily development snapshot built from the master branch.

The 5.3 MB source tarball sits beside Windows installers, macOS images for Apple silicon and Intel, and an Android APK.

The project credits CNRS, Inria and University of Bordeaux clusters for funding and names no foundation or legal entity that hosts it.

Browser use is possible through the Try GP page, and PariDroid covers phones.

Pricing as recorded: Free software under GPLv2+; no paid tier or price is listed.

PARI is described on the home page as free software available under the GPL, with GPLv2+ as the licence. Neither the home page nor the funding page lists prices, and the home page lists no paid tier. The funding page describes no paid support, donation or sponsorship scheme. Instead it credits public bodies: CNRS, Inria, the University of Bordeaux clusters CPU (2012 to 2016) and SysNum (2017 to 2019), and the Institut de Mathématiques de Bordeaux from 2007. Funded projects named include OpenDreamKit, FLAIR and COGENT, plus the PlaFRIM computing platform in Bordeaux. The cost to a user is therefore time rather than a licence fee.

Basis: pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr, read for the Best Numerical Computing Software in 2026 guide (reviewed 13 November 2026).

The desktop builds run locally, so computations and files stay on the user's machine. The pages we read describe no account system, cloud storage or data collection for them. The browser version and PariDroid are offered, but the pages do not explain where the browser version runs or what it stores.

No certifications, audits or security contact are named. The funding page names no foundation or legal entity hosting the project; the only legal-style name in the copyright notice is the PARI group, so a buyer asking who is responsible for the software finds no company on these pages.

Integrations the vendor names (10):

• PARI C library
• gp shell
• GP language
• gp2c
• Xeus-GP
• PariDroid
• Windows installers
• macOS DMG images
• Android APK
• Source tarball

The choice below rests on shared catalogue tags, price model, free plan and region, with rank distance as the tie-break.

• GNU Octave (#1 of 13): Not for: mac users who want a one-click installer straight from the project. Scientific programming language with MATLAB-compatible syntax under the GPL licence.
• R Project (#4 of 13): Aimed at: Statisticians and analysts who work mainly with models, tests and time series.
• SageMath (#5 of 13): Python-based system bundling NumPy, SciPy, Maxima and R under the GPL.
• Maxima (#6 of 13): Not for: teams wanting a vendor-run service with named support terms. Open source symbolic and numerical algebra system under the GPL.
• Mathics (#9 of 13): A good match for: Python users wanting Mathematica-style syntax in open source code they can embed.

Read from the vendor’s own pages on 12 November 2026.

• pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr: Description, components, licence, history, browser and Android access
• pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr/download.html: Version 2.19.0, installers, related tools and their dates
• pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr/funding.html: Funding bodies, funded projects, absence of paid support or a hosting entity
• pari.math.u-bordeaux.fr/copyleft.html: Website source under the GNU General Public License, PARI group as copyright holder

We rank on what separates products after the demo: time to useful, the real price, the exit and who the product is for. PARI/GP ends up at #7 among 13. The editorial process sets out how facts are gathered and how commercial links are handled.