ANALYTICS
The Manhattan-plot package for GWAS results, finished and dormant since 2017.
Alternatives · analytics tools
fossilsim alternatives
The best fossilsim alternatives in analytics tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Aug 15, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to fossilsim? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in analytics tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, fossilsim shipped 0 meaningful updates in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 0.0 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About fossilsim
A fossil-record simulator that quietly grew a trait-evolution engine.
FossilSim is a mature R package for simulating fossil records on phylogenetic trees, and its release cadence reflects that: long gaps punctuated by a single capability addition. The last four releases span three years, with the most recent being a compatibility sync to its companion Shiny front-end rather than new functionality. The core simulation surface has been stable since 2022.
Velocity 0.0 · Last update 1h ago
Top 12 alternatives to fossilsim
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
ANALYTICS
The R package for CODATA constants rebuilt its symbol table on NIST's naming so future updates stop being hand work.
ANALYTICS
The R client for AusTraits spends its releases chasing the dataset it reads.
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A ggplot2 layer for seasonal adjustment output, filling in one plot type at a time.
ANALYTICS
Reference-based multiple imputation tables, shipping only what CRAN checks demand.
ANALYTICS
An MMRM tabulation package that has published nothing since its 2024 CRAN releases.
ANALYTICS
A single-purpose ggplot2 inset tool, refining the same three arguments.
ANALYTICS
An R symbolic-maths binding whose changelog is really the C++ core's release notes.
ANALYTICS
gtfstools stopped guarding its own object model and started accepting everyone else's.
ANALYTICS
The glue package that makes R carry units and uncertainty through the same calculation.
ANALYTICS
A fish diet package whose release history is really a record of surviving rfishbase.
ANALYTICS
Steady, unglamorous upkeep on a niche phylogenetic adaptation index.
fossilsim vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fossilsim (baseline) | 0.0 | 0 | phylogeneticssimulationtrait-evolution | Trait simulation arrives: Mk, BM and OU models |
| qqman | 0.0 | 0 | gwasgenomicsmanhattan-plot | — |
| constants | 0.0 | 0 | physical-constantscodataunits | constants 1.0.0 |
| austraits | 0.0 | 0 | plant-traitsopen-dataecology | — |
| ggdemetra | 0.0 | 0 | seasonal-adjustmentggplot2time-series | — |
| tern.rbmi | 0.0 | 0 | pharmaversemultiple-imputationcran-maintenance | — |
| tern.mmrm | 0.0 | 0 | pharmaversemmrmtabulation | — |
| ggmagnify | 0.0 | 0 | ggplot2data-visualizationinset-plots | — |
| symengine | 0.0 | 0 | symbolic-computationcascpp-core | — |
| gtfstools | 0.0 | 0 | gtfspublic-transportgeospatial | Accepts GTFS objects from gtfsio and tidytransit |
| quantities | 0.0 | 0 | unitsmeasurement-uncertaintyerror-propagation | — |
| dietr | 0.0 | 0 | fish-ecologydiet-analysisfishbase | — |
| windex | 0.0 | 0 | phylogeneticscomparative-methodsevolutionary-biology | — |
The 12 best fossilsim alternatives, in depth
1. qqman · velocity 0.0
The Manhattan-plot package for GWAS results, finished and dormant since 2017.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, qqman focuses on gwas, genomics and manhattan plot.
qqman and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
2. constants · velocity 0.0
The R package for CODATA constants rebuilt its symbol table on NIST's naming so future updates stop being hand work.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “constants 1.0.0”.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, constants focuses on physical constants, codata and units.
constants and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full constants trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs constants →
3. austraits · velocity 0.0
The R client for AusTraits spends its releases chasing the dataset it reads.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, austraits focuses on plant traits, open data and ecology.
austraits and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full austraits trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs austraits →
4. ggdemetra · velocity 0.0
A ggplot2 layer for seasonal adjustment output, filling in one plot type at a time.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, ggdemetra focuses on seasonal adjustment, ggplot2 and time series.
ggdemetra and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full ggdemetra trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs ggdemetra →
5. tern.rbmi · velocity 0.0
Reference-based multiple imputation tables, shipping only what CRAN checks demand.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, tern.rbmi focuses on pharmaverse, multiple imputation and cran maintenance.
tern.rbmi and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full tern.rbmi trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs tern.rbmi →
6. tern.mmrm · velocity 0.0
An MMRM tabulation package that has published nothing since its 2024 CRAN releases.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, tern.mmrm focuses on pharmaverse, mmrm and tabulation.
tern.mmrm and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full tern.mmrm trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs tern.mmrm →
7. ggmagnify · velocity 0.0
A single-purpose ggplot2 inset tool, refining the same three arguments.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, ggmagnify focuses on ggplot2, data visualization and inset plots.
ggmagnify and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full ggmagnify trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs ggmagnify →
8. symengine · velocity 0.0
An R symbolic-maths binding whose changelog is really the C++ core's release notes.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, symengine focuses on symbolic computation, cas and cpp core.
symengine and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full symengine trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs symengine →
9. gtfstools · velocity 0.0
Gtfstools stopped guarding its own object model and started accepting everyone else's.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “Accepts GTFS objects from gtfsio and tidytransit”.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, gtfstools focuses on gtfs, public transport and geospatial.
gtfstools and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full gtfstools trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs gtfstools →
10. quantities · velocity 0.0
The glue package that makes R carry units and uncertainty through the same calculation.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, quantities focuses on units, measurement uncertainty and error propagation.
quantities and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full quantities trajectory → · Compare fossilsim vs quantities →
11. dietr · velocity 0.0
A fish diet package whose release history is really a record of surviving rfishbase.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, dietr focuses on fish ecology, diet analysis and fishbase.
dietr and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
12. windex · velocity 0.0
Steady, unglamorous upkeep on a niche phylogenetic adaptation index.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where fossilsim leans on phylogenetics, simulation and trait evolution, windex focuses on phylogenetics, comparative methods and evolutionary biology.
windex and fossilsim have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to fossilsim?
The top fossilsim alternatives we currently track in analytics tools are qqman, constants, austraits, ggdemetra, tern.rbmi, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of fossilsim alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare fossilsim directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with fossilsim" link to a side-by-side /compare page.