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Mining · head to head

Minemax vs RS2

Minemax logo

Minemax

Mining

Integrated mining software for geological and operational excellence

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RS2 logo

RS2

Mining

2D finite element stress analysis for mining

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Minemax minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com; Minemax products are now sold within the Datamine planning range; RS2 the RS2 product page shows a USD per year pricing block with no figure filled in, so the annual lease cost is not published
  • They diverge on capability: Minemax covers Geological modeling, RS2 covers 2D finite element analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Minemax and RS2 actually diverge.

Attributes where Minemax and RS2 differ
AttributeMinemaxRS2
Founded19951989

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

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

Only in RS2

  • 2D finite element analysis
  • Stress-strain modeling
  • Slope stability assessment
  • Bolt design
  • Support sizing
  • AutoCAD
  • GeoStudio
  • RocData

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Minemax

  • Strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisationnot RS2
  • Life of mine planning to maximise net present valuenot RS2
  • Operational short interval mine schedulingnot RS2

RS2

  • Two dimensional finite element analysis of slopes, excavations and tunnelsnot Minemax
  • Modelling groundwater seepage and consolidation in geotechnical designsnot Minemax
  • Assessing rock and soil stability for mining and civil engineering projectsnot Minemax

Where each one falls short

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

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

RS2

  • The RS2 product page shows a USD per year pricing block with no figure filled in, so the annual lease cost is not published
  • RS2 is sold only as an annual cloud hosted lease; the page describes no perpetual licence
  • The Personal Lease is one seat tied to one user device; using it across several machines requires the Flexible+ lease
  • Hosting licences on a local server rather than Rocscience's RocPortal requires contacting the vendor

Pricing, plan by plan

Minemax

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

RS2

On request
  • RS2 Standard$11000/year
    • 2D finite element analysis
    • Slope stability
    • Excavation design

Which should you pick?

Choose Minemax if

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

Choose RS2 if

  • You need 2d finite element analysis.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want stress-strain modeling.
RS2 review

Questions people ask

Is Minemax or RS2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Minemax starts at On request and RS2 at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Minemax or RS2?
Minemax starts at On request and RS2 at On request.
Does Minemax or RS2 run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Minemax best used for?
Minemax is most often used for strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisation, life of mine planning to maximise net present value, operational short interval mine scheduling. Of those, strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisation and life of mine planning to maximise net present value are not what RS2 is typically brought in for.
What can Minemax do that RS2 cannot?
Minemax covers Geological modeling, Mine design, Resource estimation, Production scheduling. RS2 covers 2D finite element analysis, Stress-strain modeling, Slope stability assessment, Bolt design. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
RS2: How is RS2 priced?

RS2 uses an annual subscription licensing model with two options: Personal Lease for one seat and one user device, or Flexible+ Lease for multiple seats with unlimited user devices per seat. Specific pricing is not displayed on the website.

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
RS2: Can RS2 be hosted locally?

RS2 uses cloud-hosted licensing managed through RocPortal, though local server hosting is available upon request by contacting the company.

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
RS2: How can I find RS2 pricing details?

The website offers a Plans & Pricing FAQ section for additional details, or you can add licenses to your cart for purchase to see current pricing.

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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