MiniCPS vs GRFICS: 2026 Comparison
MiniCPS is a free cyber range training tool. GRFICS is a free cyber range training tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best cyber range training fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Security teams building or testing industrial control system defenses need MiniCPS because it lets you simulate actual PLC behavior and network traffic together, something most cyber ranges bolt on as an afterthought. The framework is free and open source with active development (179 GitHub stars), which matters when you're iterating on ICS-specific attack scenarios that commercial tools won't let you customize. Skip this if your organization needs a polished UI and instructor dashboards; MiniCPS rewards teams comfortable with command-line setup and building their own training workflows around the simulation engine.
Security teams training ICS defenders on a budget should use GRFICS because it's free and lets operators practice real attack chains in a visual 3D environment instead of reading documentation or staring at command lines. The framework runs on Unity and requires no licensing, making it practical for manufacturing facilities and utilities that can't justify expensive simulators for tabletop exercises. Skip this if your team needs NIST Govern function support or compliance reporting; GRFICS is pure hands-on practice, not an audit tool.
