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Mining · head to head

Minemax Planner vs PCBC

Minemax Planner logo

Minemax Planner

Mining

Strategic mine planning and optimization software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PCBC logo

PCBC

Mining

Pit optimisation and scheduling software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; PCBC dassault Systemes GEOVIA PCBC has no published commercial pricing and is sold via direct contact, with a separate Academic License Program as the only named alternative tier
  • They diverge on capability: Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, PCBC covers Pit optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Minemax Planner and PCBC differ
AttributeMinemax PlannerPCBC
Founded19971981

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 Minemax Planner

  • Schedule optimization
  • Cutoff grade optimization
  • Multi-scenario analysis
  • Deswik
  • Excel

Only in PCBC

  • Pit optimization
  • Cutoff grade analysis
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • MineSched

Both cover

  • NPV maximization
  • Pushback scheduling
  • Vulcan
  • Surpac
  • Whittle
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Minemax Planner

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

PCBC

  • Pit optimizationnot Minemax Planner
  • Pushback designnot Minemax Planner
  • Cutoff optimizationnot Minemax Planner
  • Economic analysisnot Minemax Planner

Where each one falls short

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

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

PCBC

  • Dassault Systemes GEOVIA PCBC has no published commercial pricing and is sold via direct contact, with a separate Academic License Program as the only named alternative tier

Pricing, plan by plan

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

PCBC

On request
  • PCBC Standard$12000/year
    • Pit optimization
    • Pushback design
    • Economic analysis

Which should you pick?

Choose Minemax Planner if

  • You need schedule optimization.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want cutoff grade optimization.
Minemax Planner review

Choose PCBC if

  • You need pit optimization.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want cutoff grade analysis.
PCBC review

Questions people ask

Is Minemax Planner or PCBC better?
Neither clearly leads. Minemax Planner starts at On request and PCBC at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Minemax Planner or PCBC?
Minemax Planner starts at On request and PCBC at On request.
Does Minemax Planner or PCBC run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Minemax Planner best used for?
Minemax Planner is most often used for mine production scheduling and plan tracking, comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plan. Of those, mine production scheduling and plan tracking and comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plan are not what PCBC is typically brought in for.
What can Minemax Planner do that PCBC cannot?
Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, Cutoff grade optimization, Multi-scenario analysis, Deswik. PCBC covers Pit optimization, Cutoff grade analysis, Sensitivity analysis, MineSched. Both handle NPV maximization, Pushback scheduling, Vulcan, Surpac.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
PCBC: Where can I find GEOVIA PCBC pricing?

GEOVIA does not publish pricing on the product page. Interested buyers should contact GEOVIA directly via their contact link or visit the full GEOVIA website to request pricing information.

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

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

Source
PCBC: How can I learn more about PCBC before purchasing?

GEOVIA provides a user community resource where real-world users share experiences. You can also contact their sales team directly for product information and trial inquiries.

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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