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Mining · head to head

Deswik Suite vs FLAC3D

Deswik Suite logo

Deswik Suite

Mining

Integrated mine planning and design software

From
On request
Rated
-
F

FLAC3D

Mining

3D finite difference software for geotechnical engineering

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Deswik Suite deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company; FLAC3D the FLAC3D product page publishes no price and routes buyers to a quote request or an external software store
  • They diverge on capability: Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, FLAC3D covers 3D finite difference modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deswik Suite and FLAC3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Deswik Suite and FLAC3D differ
AttributeDeswik SuiteFLAC3D
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Linux
Founded20071981

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), 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 Deswik Suite

  • 3D mine design
  • Resource scheduling
  • Geological modeling
  • Pit optimization
  • Underground planning
  • Surpac
  • Vulcan
  • Datamine

Only in FLAC3D

  • 3D finite difference modeling
  • Stress-strain analysis
  • Dynamic analysis
  • Coupled flow analysis
  • Mining-specific features
  • GeoStudio
  • AutoCAD
  • Leapfrog

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Deswik Suite

  • Mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operationsnot FLAC3D
  • Reserve reporting and life of mine planningnot FLAC3D
  • Connecting mine plans to production execution and material trackingnot FLAC3D

FLAC3D

  • Three dimensional continuum modelling of soil and rock behaviournot Deswik Suite
  • Analysing underground excavation and mine stability including cavingnot Deswik Suite
  • Coupled thermal, dynamic and creep analysis of geotechnical structuresnot Deswik Suite

Where each one falls short

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

Deswik Suite

  • Deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
  • The suite is sold as separate modules grouped under Design and Reserving, Planning, Operations and Mine to Market, so a full workflow requires buying several products
  • Software downloads and support are gated behind a client portal available to existing customers
  • The product formerly sold as Deswik.CAD is now named Deswik Spatial, so older documentation and job listings refer to a name the vendor no longer uses

FLAC3D

  • The FLAC3D product page publishes no price and routes buyers to a quote request or an external software store
  • Advanced capabilities including Dynamics, Thermal, Creep and IMASS are optional modules sold separately from the base licence
  • Licence portability depends on a physical USB key or a web licence managed centrally, rather than a simple sign in
  • One licence permits only two simultaneous instances on the same computer

Pricing, plan by plan

Deswik Suite

On request
  • Deswik.CAD$5000/year
    • 3D mine design
    • Geological modeling
    • Drill hole analysis
  • Deswik.Sched$8000/year
    • Mine scheduling
    • Resource optimization
    • Gantt charts
  • Enterprise Suite$25000/year
    • Complete platform access
    • All modules included
    • Priority support

FLAC3D

On request
  • FLAC3D Professional$22000/year
    • 3D finite difference analysis
    • Slope stability
    • Mine design

Which should you pick?

Choose Deswik Suite if

  • You need 3d mine design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want resource scheduling.

Choose FLAC3D if

  • You need 3d finite difference modeling.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want stress-strain analysis.

Questions people ask

Is Deswik Suite or FLAC3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Deswik Suite starts at On request and FLAC3D at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deswik Suite or FLAC3D?
Deswik Suite starts at On request and FLAC3D at On request.
Does Deswik Suite or FLAC3D run on more platforms?
Deswik Suite runs on Windows. FLAC3D runs on Windows, Linux.
What is Deswik Suite best used for?
Deswik Suite is most often used for mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations, reserve reporting and life of mine planning, connecting mine plans to production execution and material tracking. Of those, mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations and reserve reporting and life of mine planning are not what FLAC3D is typically brought in for.
What can Deswik Suite do that FLAC3D cannot?
Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Resource scheduling, Geological modeling, Pit optimization. FLAC3D covers 3D finite difference modeling, Stress-strain analysis, Dynamic analysis, Coupled flow analysis. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deswik Suite: Does Deswik publish pricing online?

No, Deswik does not publicly display pricing information, subscription tiers, costs, or licensing details on their website.

Source
FLAC3D: What licensing models does FLAC3D offer?

FLAC3D offers perpetual licenses (one-time purchase) and subscription licenses (recurring payments). Web-based license management allows central organizational control.

Source
Deswik Suite: How do I obtain Deswik pricing?

Contact Deswik directly through their contact page or log into their Client Portal or Apps Portal for enterprise licensing information.

Source
FLAC3D: Can I run multiple instances of FLAC3D with one license?

Yes. FLAC3D licenses allow two instances to run simultaneously on the same computer.

Source
Deswik Suite: Is Deswik pricing customized?

Yes, Deswik is enterprise software targeting large mining operations. Pricing is customized based on organizational needs, deployment scope, and service requirements.

Source
FLAC3D: How do I get a free trial or demo of FLAC3D?

FLAC3D offers a free software demo download. Visitors can request the demo through the product page or contact the company directly.

Source
Deswik Suite: What industries does Deswik serve?

Deswik serves the metals, coal, and rail industries with mining and operations software.

Source
FLAC3D: What is the pricing for FLAC3D?

Specific pricing is not listed on the product page. Users must request a quote through the 'REQUEST A QUOTE' button or purchase through the FastSpring payment processor.

Source
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