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Mining · head to head

Carlson Mining vs Minemax

Carlson Mining logo

Carlson Mining

Mining

Mining and surveying software solution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Minemax logo

Minemax

Mining

Integrated mining software for geological and operational excellence

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carlson Mining no pricing published on primary domain; Minemax minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com; Minemax products are now sold within the Datamine planning range
  • They diverge on capability: Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Minemax covers Geological modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Carlson Mining and Minemax differ
AttributeCarlson MiningMinemax
Founded19831995

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 Minemax

  • Geological modeling
  • Mine design
  • Resource estimation
  • Production scheduling
  • Pit optimization
  • Datamine
  • Vulcan
  • Surpac

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Carlson Mining

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

Minemax

  • Strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisationnot Carlson Mining
  • Life of mine planning to maximise net present valuenot Carlson Mining
  • Operational short interval mine schedulingnot 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

Minemax

  • minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com; Minemax products are now sold within the Datamine planning range
  • No pricing is published for any Minemax product; licences are obtained by contacting the Datamine sales team
  • Products are sold as role based Planning Bundles rather than individual licences, with the claimed saving of up to 33 percent measured against standalone licence cost

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

Minemax

On request
  • Minemax Standard$13000/year
    • Geological modeling
    • Mine design
    • Resource estimation
  • Minemax Premium$23000/year
    • Advanced optimization
    • Production scheduling
    • Fleet 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 Minemax if

  • You need geological modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want mine design.
Minemax review

Questions people ask

Is Carlson Mining or Minemax better?
Neither clearly leads. Carlson Mining starts at On request and Minemax at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carlson Mining or Minemax?
Carlson Mining starts at On request and Minemax at On request.
Does Carlson Mining or Minemax 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 Minemax is typically brought in for.
What can Carlson Mining do that Minemax cannot?
Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Grade control, Production planning, Survey integration. Minemax covers Geological modeling, Mine design, Resource estimation, Production scheduling. 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
Minemax: Is MineMax still sold under its original name?

No. MineMax has been consolidated into Datamine Software and is no longer sold as a standalone product. The product is referenced as 'Minemax Tempo' and other Minemax-branded modules within Datamine's planning bundles.

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
Minemax: Does Datamine publish its pricing?

No. Datamine uses a role-based licensing model with demo and contact forms required to get pricing. The site directs prospects to 'Talk to us' rather than displaying public rates.

Source
Minemax: What is the licensing model for Datamine planning software?

Datamine offers role-based planning bundles including Strategic Mine Planner, Operations Planner, and Surveyor/Technician bundles. Each bundle includes a specific set of modules. A la carte individual licenses are also available.

Source
Minemax: Do bundled licenses offer savings?

Yes. Datamine states that bundled licenses can save up to 33 percent compared to purchasing standalone licenses for the same modules.

Source
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