Mining & Resources · head to head
PLAXIS vs Deswik Suite
PLAXIS
Mining & Resources
Finite element software for geotechnical analysis
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Deswik Suite
Mining & Resources
Integrated mine planning and design software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PLAXIS bentley states the cost of PLAXIS 2D, 2D Advanced, 2D Ultimate and the 2D WorkSuite varies per region, and publishes no rate on the product page; Deswik Suite deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
- They diverge on capability: PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PLAXIS and Deswik Suite actually diverge.
| Attribute | PLAXIS | Deswik Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Founded | 1984 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining & Resources).
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 PLAXIS
- 2D & 3D finite element analysis
- Advanced soil modeling
- Slope stability assessment
- Excavation design
- Support design
- AutoCAD
- GeoStudio
- ArcGIS
Only in Deswik Suite
- 3D mine design
- Resource scheduling
- Geological modeling
- Pit optimization
- Underground planning
- Surpac
- Vulcan
- Datamine
Both cover
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PLAXIS
- Finite element analysis of soil and rock deformation and stabilitynot Deswik Suite
- Designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundationsnot Deswik Suite
- Modelling groundwater flow, consolidation and seismic response in geotechnical worksnot Deswik Suite
Deswik Suite
- Mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operationsnot PLAXIS
- Reserve reporting and life of mine planningnot PLAXIS
- Connecting mine plans to production execution and material trackingnot PLAXIS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PLAXIS
- Bentley states the cost of PLAXIS 2D, 2D Advanced, 2D Ultimate and the 2D WorkSuite varies per region, and publishes no rate on the product page
- Consolidation, creep, groundwater flow and heat flow require the Advanced edition rather than the base PLAXIS 2D
- Dynamic, vibration and transient analysis require the Ultimate edition
- A perpetual licence only carries support and licence exchange rights while a paid annual SELECT subscription is maintained
- The Virtuoso subscription route is a 12 month lease, not an ongoing entitlement
Deswik Suite
- Deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
- The suite is sold as separate modules grouped under Design and Reserving, Planning, Operations and Mine to Market, so a full workflow requires buying several products
- Software downloads and support are gated behind a client portal available to existing customers
- The product formerly sold as Deswik.CAD is now named Deswik Spatial, so older documentation and job listings refer to a name the vendor no longer uses
Pricing, plan by plan
PLAXIS
On request- PLAXIS 2D$16000/year
- 2D finite element analysis
- Slope stability
- Mine design
- PLAXIS 3D$28000/year
- 3D finite element analysis
- Complex geometry modeling
- Advanced soil modeling
Deswik Suite
On request- Deswik.CAD$5000/year
- 3D mine design
- Geological modeling
- Drill hole analysis
- Deswik.Sched$8000/year
- Mine scheduling
- Resource optimization
- Gantt charts
- Enterprise Suite$25000/year
- Complete platform access
- All modules included
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose PLAXIS if
- You need 2d & 3d finite element analysis.
- You work on Windows, Linux.
- You also want advanced soil modeling.
Choose Deswik Suite if
- You need 3d mine design.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want resource scheduling.
Questions people ask
- Is PLAXIS or Deswik Suite better?
- Neither clearly leads. PLAXIS starts at On request and Deswik Suite at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PLAXIS or Deswik Suite?
- PLAXIS starts at On request and Deswik Suite at On request.
- Does PLAXIS or Deswik Suite run on more platforms?
- PLAXIS runs on Windows, Linux. Deswik Suite runs on Windows.
- What is PLAXIS best used for?
- PLAXIS is most often used for finite element analysis of soil and rock deformation and stability, designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundations, modelling groundwater flow, consolidation and seismic response in geotechnical works. Of those, finite element analysis of soil and rock deformation and stability and designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundations are not what Deswik Suite is typically brought in for.
- What can PLAXIS do that Deswik Suite cannot?
- PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Advanced soil modeling, Slope stability assessment, Excavation design. Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Resource scheduling, Geological modeling, Pit optimization. Both handle Windows support.