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Mining · head to head

Carlson Mining vs Caterpillar MineStar

Carlson Mining logo

Carlson Mining

Mining

Mining and surveying software solution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Caterpillar MineStar logo

Caterpillar MineStar

Mining

Integrated technology for mining fleet management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carlson Mining no pricing published on primary domain; Caterpillar MineStar requires significant capital investment and integration with existing fleet infrastructure
  • They diverge on capability: Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carlson Mining and Caterpillar MineStar actually diverge.

Attributes where Carlson Mining and Caterpillar MineStar differ
AttributeCarlson MiningCaterpillar MineStar
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindowsCloud-based, Remote operation stations
Founded19831925

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Carlson Mining

  • Pit design
  • Grade control
  • Production planning
  • Survey integration
  • Mapping
  • AutoCAD
  • ArcGIS
  • GPS

Only in Caterpillar MineStar

  • Fleet management
  • Real-time tracking
  • Terrain management
  • Equipment health monitoring
  • Autonomous haulage
  • Drill guidance
  • CAT Equipment
  • Third-party OEM

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Carlson Mining

  • Pit designnot Caterpillar MineStar
  • Grade controlnot Caterpillar MineStar
  • Mine planningnot Caterpillar MineStar
  • Surveyingnot Caterpillar MineStar
  • Mappingnot Caterpillar MineStar

Caterpillar MineStar

  • Fleet optimizationnot Carlson Mining
  • Autonomous operationsnot Carlson Mining
  • Equipment monitoringnot Carlson Mining
  • Production trackingnot Carlson Mining

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Carlson Mining

  • No pricing published on primary domain
  • No pricing page accessible via /pricing or /plans
  • Vendor contact required to obtain cost information

Caterpillar MineStar

  • Requires significant capital investment and integration with existing fleet infrastructure
  • Complex implementation requiring specialized training for operators and management personnel
  • Primarily designed for large-scale mining operations; less suitable for smaller mines

Pricing, plan by plan

Carlson Mining

On request
  • Carlson Mining Standard$7000/year
    • Mining design
    • Pit design
    • Grade control
  • Carlson Mining Professional$15000/year
    • Advanced mine planning
    • Production scheduling
    • Equipment management

Caterpillar MineStar

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Caterpillar MineStar review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Carlson Mining if

  • You need pit design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want grade control.
Carlson Mining review

Choose Caterpillar MineStar if

  • You need fleet management.
  • You work on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations.
  • You also want real-time tracking.
Caterpillar MineStar review

Questions people ask

Is Carlson Mining or Caterpillar MineStar better?
Neither clearly leads. Carlson Mining starts at On request and Caterpillar MineStar at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carlson Mining or Caterpillar MineStar?
Carlson Mining starts at On request and Caterpillar MineStar at On request.
Does Carlson Mining or Caterpillar MineStar run on more platforms?
Carlson Mining runs on Windows. Caterpillar MineStar runs on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations.
What is Carlson Mining best used for?
Carlson Mining is most often used for pit design, grade control, mine planning, surveying. Of those, pit design and grade control are not what Caterpillar MineStar is typically brought in for.
What can Carlson Mining do that Caterpillar MineStar cannot?
Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Grade control, Production planning, Survey integration. Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management, Real-time tracking, Terrain management, Equipment health monitoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Carlson Mining: How much does Carlson Software cost?

Carlson Software does not publish pricing. No pricing page is available on carlsonsw.com. Contact the vendor directly for quotes and licensing terms.

Source
Caterpillar MineStar: Does MineStar work with equipment from other manufacturers?

Yes. MineStar Solutions work with all types of assets and integrate with any brand of equipment, sharing data across existing machines, systems and technologies.

Source
Carlson Mining: What is Carlson Software's pricing model?

Carlson Software's pricing model is not published online. The vendor appears to use a custom quote or contact-sales model. Reach out to their sales team to discuss your specific project needs.

Source
Caterpillar MineStar: What are the main components of MineStar?

MineStar comprises five configurable features: Fleet for equipment tracking, Terrain for haul path optimization, Detection for safety monitoring, Health for equipment maintenance, and Command for autonomous operations.

Source
Caterpillar MineStar: Can MineStar be used for underground mining?

Yes. MineStar Solutions are available for both surface and underground mining operations, with dedicated technology offerings for underground safety and productivity.

Source
Caterpillar MineStar: Is MineStar a cloud-based or on-premises solution?

MineStar is a cloud-based, subscription-managed application that reduces costs of deployment, service, and training by allowing customers to select offerings by role, function, or task.

Source
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