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Mining · head to head

PLAXIS vs RS2

PLAXIS logo

PLAXIS

Mining

Finite element software for geotechnical analysis

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: 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; 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: PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, 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 PLAXIS and RS2 actually diverge.

Attributes where PLAXIS and RS2 differ
AttributePLAXISRS2
PlatformsWindows, LinuxWindows
Founded19841989

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
  • Excavation design
  • Support design
  • ArcGIS
  • Leapfrog
  • Linux support

Only in RS2

  • 2D finite element analysis
  • Stress-strain modeling
  • Bolt design
  • Support sizing
  • RocData
  • Dips

Both cover

  • Slope stability assessment
  • AutoCAD
  • GeoStudio
  • 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 RS2
  • Designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundationsnot RS2
  • Modelling groundwater flow, consolidation and seismic response in geotechnical worksnot RS2

RS2

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

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

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

RS2

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

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 RS2 if

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

Questions people ask

Is PLAXIS or RS2 better?
Neither clearly leads. PLAXIS 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, PLAXIS or RS2?
PLAXIS starts at On request and RS2 at On request.
Does PLAXIS or RS2 run on more platforms?
PLAXIS runs on Windows, Linux. RS2 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 RS2 is typically brought in for.
What can PLAXIS do that RS2 cannot?
PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Advanced soil modeling, Excavation design, Support design. RS2 covers 2D finite element analysis, Stress-strain modeling, Bolt design, Support sizing. Both handle Slope stability assessment, AutoCAD, GeoStudio, 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
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
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
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
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
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