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Mining · head to head

K-MINE vs Minemax Planner

K-MINE logo

K-MINE

Mining

Mine planning and optimization software

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: K-MINE modules are licensed separately as annual subscriptions, from 2,700 USD a year for Infrastructure up to 9,480 USD a year for Open Pit Design; 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: K-MINE covers Mine planning, Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which K-MINE and Minemax Planner actually diverge.

Attributes where K-MINE and Minemax Planner differ
AttributeK-MINEMinemax Planner
Founded20011997

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 K-MINE

  • Mine planning
  • 3D design
  • Production scheduling
  • Economic evaluation
  • Risk analysis
  • Datamine
  • AutoCAD

Only in Minemax Planner

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

Both cover

  • Vulcan
  • Surpac
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

K-MINE

  • Open pit surveying, pit design, scheduling and pit optimisationnot Minemax Planner
  • Underground mine design, stope optimisation and ventilation analysisnot Minemax Planner
  • Geological modelling and grade estimation from drillhole datanot Minemax Planner
  • Drill and blast design and slope stability analysisnot Minemax Planner

Minemax Planner

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

Where each one falls short

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

K-MINE

  • Modules are licensed separately as annual subscriptions, from 2,700 USD a year for Infrastructure up to 9,480 USD a year for Open Pit Design
  • Geology is 9,060 USD a year, Pit Optimizer 8,580 USD, Scheduling 7,380 USD, Stope Optimization 6,960 USD and Surveying 6,600 USD, so a full workflow means stacking several module subscriptions
  • A licence is assigned either to a dedicated server or to a single computer workstation, with one active device at a time
  • Licences are online, with offline access limited to 2 days
  • Training is priced by custom quote and is not included in the published module rates
  • Volume discounts are referenced but no discount rate or qualifying quantity is published

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

K-MINE

On request
  • K-MINE Professional$9000/year
    • Mine planning
    • 3D design
    • Scheduling

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 K-MINE if

  • You need mine planning.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want 3d design.
K-MINE 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 K-MINE or Minemax Planner better?
Neither clearly leads. K-MINE 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, K-MINE or Minemax Planner?
K-MINE starts at On request and Minemax Planner at On request.
Does K-MINE or Minemax Planner run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is K-MINE best used for?
K-MINE is most often used for open pit surveying, pit design, scheduling and pit optimisation, underground mine design, stope optimisation and ventilation analysis, geological modelling and grade estimation from drillhole data, drill and blast design and slope stability analysis. Of those, open pit surveying, pit design, scheduling and pit optimisation and underground mine design, stope optimisation and ventilation analysis are not what Minemax Planner is typically brought in for.
What can K-MINE do that Minemax Planner cannot?
K-MINE covers Mine planning, 3D design, Production scheduling, Economic evaluation. Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, NPV maximization, Cutoff grade optimization, Pushback scheduling. Both handle Vulcan, Surpac, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

K-MINE: How much does K-MINE cost?

K-MINE does not publish pricing publicly. Customers must visit the dedicated pricing page, request a demo, or contact the sales team via phone or scheduling link to obtain quote information.

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
K-MINE: What pricing options does K-MINE offer?

K-MINE offers software licenses, consulting services, training, and support options. Exact pricing is determined through custom quotes based on requirements.

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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