The package has advanced support for bond graph modeling, making it considered versatile while retaining user-friendliness.

A feature of the software is the option to create models with differential equations and package them as block diagram elements or physical components.

After checking and processing, models are directly converted into machine code, resulting in high speed simulations.

According to Borutzky,[6] only "20-sim, MS1 and Symbols can be categorized as a fully integrated (multi-formalism) modeling and simulation environments especially supporting bond graphs".

Although Roddeck acknowledges the market leadership of Simulink, he states that an advantage of 20-sim is the direct input of bond graphs in 20-sim and the availability of built-in tools for FFT-analysis and 3D mechanical modeling.

This allows for example, the construction of electrical circuit simulations using standard symbols to represent components, such as op-amps and capacitors."

Typical use is the development of controllers for embedded software and the creation of "virtual plants" for use in hardware-in-the-loop simulators.

Next to scripting, 20-sim has a tight connection with Matlab, GNU Octave and Simulink allowing the import and export of data on many levels.