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Mining · head to head

PLAXIS vs Seequent Central

PLAXIS logo

PLAXIS

Mining

Finite element software for geotechnical analysis

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Seequent Central logo

Seequent Central

Mining

Collaborative platform for subsurface data management

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; Seequent Central cloud hosted on Microsoft Azure and requires an internet connection, with no offline or self-hosted option
  • They diverge on capability: PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Seequent Central covers Version control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PLAXIS and Seequent Central actually diverge.

Attributes where PLAXIS and Seequent Central differ
AttributePLAXISSeequent Central
PlatformsWindows, LinuxCloud, Windows
Founded19842004

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
  • AutoCAD
  • GeoStudio
  • ArcGIS

Only in Seequent Central

  • Version control
  • Model publishing
  • Data management
  • Audit trails
  • Secure sharing
  • Leapfrog Geo
  • Leapfrog Works
  • Oasis montaj

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 Seequent Central
  • Designing excavations, tunnels, embankments and foundationsnot Seequent Central
  • Modelling groundwater flow, consolidation and seismic response in geotechnical worksnot Seequent Central

Seequent Central

  • Centralised version control and audit trails for geological modelsnot PLAXIS
  • Shared 3D visualisation of Leapfrog and Oasis montaj models across distributed teamsnot PLAXIS
  • Project branching for scenario modellingnot PLAXIS
  • Mining exploration and geothermal project coordinationnot PLAXIS
  • Civil engineering and environmental projects needing a single model of recordnot 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

Seequent Central

  • Cloud hosted on Microsoft Azure and requires an internet connection, with no offline or self-hosted option
  • Hosting instances start at a minimum 500GB of storage, with more sold as an add-on
  • Billing splits into three separate lines: cloud hosting per organisation, user subscriptions per person and Leapfrog Connector licences per modeller
  • Publishing models from Leapfrog into Central requires a separate Leapfrog Connector licence
  • Value depends on already owning other Seequent tools such as Leapfrog, GeoStudio, PLAXIS or Oasis montaj

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

Seequent Central

On request
  • Central Team$5000/year
    • Version control
    • 5 users included
    • 100GB storage
  • Central Professional$12000/year
    • All Team features
    • 25 users included
    • 500GB storage
  • Central EnterpriseFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited storage
    • SSO integration

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 Seequent Central if

  • You need version control.
  • You work on Cloud, Windows.
  • You also want model publishing.
Seequent Central review

Questions people ask

Is PLAXIS or Seequent Central better?
Neither clearly leads. PLAXIS starts at On request and Seequent Central at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PLAXIS or Seequent Central?
PLAXIS starts at On request and Seequent Central at On request.
Does PLAXIS or Seequent Central run on more platforms?
PLAXIS runs on Windows, Linux. Seequent Central runs on Cloud, 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 Seequent Central is typically brought in for.
What can PLAXIS do that Seequent Central cannot?
PLAXIS covers 2D & 3D finite element analysis, Advanced soil modeling, Slope stability assessment, Excavation design. Seequent Central covers Version control, Model publishing, Data management, Audit trails. Both handle 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
Seequent Central: How much does Seequent Central cost?

Pricing is not published on the Seequent website. For information about Central pricing and purchase, customers must contact Seequent's sales team directly.

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
Seequent Central: What is the subscription model for Seequent Central?

Seequent Central uses a tiered subscription approach requiring one cloud hosting instance per organization (minimum 500GB storage on Microsoft Azure), one user subscription per person accessing Central, and one Leapfrog Connector per user modeling in Leapfrog.

Source
Seequent Central: Are there add-on options for Seequent Central?

Yes, an Advanced Bundle add-on is available for active Central subscribers, which includes web portal, data collection, and data entry tools.

Source
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