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Mining · head to head

Carlson Mining vs Imago

Carlson Mining logo

Carlson Mining

Mining

Mining and surveying software solution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Imago logo

Imago

Mining

Geological database and exploration management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carlson Mining no pricing published on primary domain; Imago no pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Imago covers Geological database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carlson Mining and Imago actually diverge.

Attributes where Carlson Mining and Imago differ
AttributeCarlson MiningImago
Founded19831998

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), 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 Imago

  • Geological database
  • Drill hole management
  • Sample tracking
  • Data validation
  • Reporting tools
  • Leapfrog
  • Vulcan
  • Excel

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Carlson Mining

  • Pit designnot Imago
  • Grade controlnot Imago
  • Mine planningnot Imago
  • Surveyingnot Imago
  • Mappingnot Imago

Imago

  • Digitising and managing drill core photographynot Carlson Mining
  • Linking core imagery to geological logging datanot Carlson Mining
  • Streaming high-resolution core imagery into Leapfrog modelsnot Carlson Mining
  • Sharing geoscientific imagery across a distributed exploration teamnot Carlson Mining
  • Capturing core images in the field with the mobile appnot 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

Imago

  • No pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales
  • Tiers are designed for mining operations (each mine site requires separate subscription)

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

Imago

On request
  • Imago Professional$6500/year
    • Database management
    • Drill hole tracking
    • Sample management

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 Imago if

  • You need geological database.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want drill hole management.
Imago review

Questions people ask

Is Carlson Mining or Imago better?
Neither clearly leads. Carlson Mining starts at On request and Imago at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carlson Mining or Imago?
Carlson Mining starts at On request and Imago at On request.
Does Carlson Mining or Imago run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Imago is typically brought in for.
What can Carlson Mining do that Imago cannot?
Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Grade control, Production planning, Survey integration. Imago covers Geological database, Drill hole management, Sample tracking, Data validation. Both handle Windows support.

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
Imago: What are the Imago subscription tiers?

Imago offers three subscription tiers: Standard (single workspace, unlimited users, 3TB storage), Enterprise (multiple workspaces, unlimited users, 6TB shared storage, SSO and user group management), and Junior (single workspace, unlimited users, 500GB storage, for non-producing companies or academic licensing only). All tiers are contracted on 12-month agreements.

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
Imago: What add-on options are available for Imago?

Imago offers add-on subscriptions including Chip Shot (RC chip tray capture control), Mobile Capture X (smartphone field capture workflows), and Storage (additional capacity in 1TB increments). Each additional mine site requires a separate Imago subscription.

Source
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