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Mining · head to head

PLAXIS vs Promine

PLAXIS logo

PLAXIS

Mining

Finite element software for geotechnical analysis

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Promine logo

Promine

Mining

Complete mining software suite built on AutoCAD

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Promine requires AutoCAD or BricsCAD license for use, adding to total cost of ownership
  • They diverge on capability: PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Promine covers AutoCAD integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PLAXIS and Promine actually diverge.

Attributes where PLAXIS and Promine differ
AttributePLAXISPromine
PlatformsWindows, LinuxWindows
Founded19841993

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 PLAXIS

  • 2D & 3D finite element analysis
  • Advanced soil modeling
  • Slope stability assessment
  • Excavation design
  • Support design
  • GeoStudio
  • ArcGIS
  • Linux support

Only in Promine

  • AutoCAD integration
  • Drill hole management
  • Block modeling
  • Underground planning
  • Ventilation design
  • Surpac
  • Excel
  • Database systems

Both cover

  • AutoCAD
  • Leapfrog
  • 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 Promine
  • Designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundationsnot Promine
  • Modelling groundwater flow, consolidation and seismic response in geotechnical worksnot Promine

Promine

  • Mine designnot PLAXIS
  • Geological modelingnot PLAXIS
  • Underground planningnot PLAXIS
  • Ventilation analysisnot 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

Promine

  • Requires AutoCAD or BricsCAD license for use, adding to total cost of ownership
  • Limited standalone capability compared to all-in-one mining software

Pricing, plan by plan

PLAXIS

On request
  • Virtuoso Subscription$undefined/12-month
    • Software access
    • Training included
    • Auto-renewal
  • Perpetual License with SELECT$undefined/mo
    • One-time purchase
    • Annual maintenance subscription
    • 24/7 technical support
  • Enterprise Plans$undefined/mo
    • Custom arrangements
    • Global pricing
    • Comprehensive software portfolio

Promine

On request
  • Promine Standard$3500/year
    • Drill hole management
    • Block modeling
    • Geological modeling
  • Promine Professional$6000/year
    • All Standard features
    • Underground planning
    • Ventilation analysis
  • Enterprise$15000/year
    • All modules included
    • Unlimited users
    • 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.
PLAXIS review

Choose Promine if

  • You need autocad integration.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want drill hole management.
Promine review

Questions people ask

Is PLAXIS or Promine better?
Neither clearly leads. PLAXIS starts at On request and Promine at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PLAXIS or Promine?
PLAXIS starts at On request and Promine at On request.
Does PLAXIS or Promine run on more platforms?
PLAXIS runs on Windows, Linux. Promine 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 Promine is typically brought in for.
What can PLAXIS do that Promine cannot?
PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Advanced soil modeling, Slope stability assessment, Excavation design. Promine covers AutoCAD integration, Drill hole management, Block modeling, Underground planning. Both handle AutoCAD, Leapfrog, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PLAXIS: What are PLAXIS software tiers?

PLAXIS offers four main tiers: PLAXIS 3D (basic deformation and safety analysis), PLAXIS 3D Advanced (creep/flow-deformation coupling and consolidation), PLAXIS 3D Ultimate (dynamic vibration analysis and time-dependent groundwater flow), and 3D WorkSuite (combines PLAXIS 3D Ultimate with GeoStudio 3D Advanced).

Source
Promine: What CAD platforms does Promine support?

Promine is available as a plugin for AutoCAD and BricsCAD. It is supported on AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil3D, and BricsCAD versions 2014 through the newest released versions.

Source
PLAXIS: What licensing models does PLAXIS offer?

PLAXIS offers three licensing approaches: 12-month Virtuoso Subscription (recommended for small to medium businesses), Perpetual License with SELECT (one-time purchase plus annual maintenance), and Enterprise Plans (custom arrangements for larger organizations). Regional pricing varies.

Source
Promine: What file formats can Promine import?

Promine is compatible with files in .dxf, .dm, .txt and .csv formats, allowing integration with drawings from other mining software.

Source
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