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Mining · head to head

Imago vs Minemax Planner

Imago logo

Imago

Mining

Geological database and exploration management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Minemax Planner logo

Minemax Planner

Mining

Strategic mine planning and optimization software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Imago no pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales; Minemax Planner minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com and no product named Planner is listed on the Datamine planning solutions page
  • They diverge on capability: Imago covers Geological database, Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Imago and Minemax Planner actually diverge.

Attributes where Imago and Minemax Planner differ
AttributeImagoMinemax Planner
Founded19981997

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 Imago

  • Geological database
  • Drill hole management
  • Sample tracking
  • Data validation
  • Reporting tools
  • Leapfrog
  • GIS systems

Only in Minemax Planner

  • Schedule optimization
  • NPV maximization
  • Cutoff grade optimization
  • Pushback scheduling
  • Multi-scenario analysis
  • Surpac
  • Whittle
  • Deswik

Both cover

  • Vulcan
  • Excel
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Imago

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

Minemax Planner

  • Mine production scheduling and plan trackingnot Imago
  • Comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plannot Imago

Where each one falls short

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

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)

Minemax Planner

  • minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com and no product named Planner is listed on the Datamine planning solutions page
  • No pricing is published; licences require contacting the Datamine sales team
  • Planning capability is sold in role based bundles rather than as a single named planner licence

Pricing, plan by plan

Imago

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

Minemax Planner

On request
  • Minemax Planner$20000/year
    • Schedule optimization
    • NPV maximization
    • Cutoff grade analysis
  • Minemax Enterprise$40000/year
    • Multi-mine planning
    • Advanced optimization
    • Integration APIs

Which should you pick?

Choose Imago if

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

Choose Minemax Planner if

  • You need schedule optimization.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want npv maximization.
Minemax Planner review

Questions people ask

Is Imago or Minemax Planner better?
Neither clearly leads. Imago starts at On request and Minemax Planner at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Imago or Minemax Planner?
Imago starts at On request and Minemax Planner at On request.
Does Imago or Minemax Planner run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Imago best used for?
Imago is most often used for digitising and managing drill core photography, linking core imagery to geological logging data, streaming high-resolution core imagery into leapfrog models, sharing geoscientific imagery across a distributed exploration team. Of those, digitising and managing drill core photography and linking core imagery to geological logging data are not what Minemax Planner is typically brought in for.
What can Imago do that Minemax Planner cannot?
Imago covers Geological database, Drill hole management, Sample tracking, Data validation. Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, NPV maximization, Cutoff grade optimization, Pushback scheduling. Both handle Vulcan, Excel, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Minemax Planner: What discount do planning bundles offer compared to standalone Minemax licenses?

Minemax planning bundles save up to 33% versus purchasing standalone licenses.

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
Minemax Planner: What are the three Minemax planning subscription tiers?

Strategic Mine Planner, Operations Planner, and Surveyor/Technician bundles.

Source
Minemax Planner: How do I find pricing for Minemax Planner?

Specific pricing is not published on Minemax's website. You must contact the sales team directly via their contact form or book a consultation to discuss tailored solutions.

Source
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