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Mining · head to head

Imago vs Minemax

Imago logo

Imago

Mining

Geological database and exploration management

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: Imago no pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales; 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: Imago covers Geological database, Minemax covers Geological modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Imago and Minemax actually diverge.

Attributes where Imago and Minemax differ
AttributeImagoMinemax
Founded19981995

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
  • Excel
  • GIS systems

Only in Minemax

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

Both cover

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

Minemax

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

  • 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

Imago

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

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

Choose Minemax if

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

Questions people ask

Is Imago or Minemax better?
Neither clearly leads. Imago 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, Imago or Minemax?
Imago starts at On request and Minemax at On request.
Does Imago or Minemax 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 is typically brought in for.
What can Imago do that Minemax cannot?
Imago covers Geological database, Drill hole management, Sample tracking, Data validation. Minemax covers Geological modeling, Mine design, Resource estimation, Production scheduling. Both handle Leapfrog, Vulcan, 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: 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
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: 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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