PLAXISvs
Caterpillar MineStar
Caterpillar MineStar: Integrated technology for mining fleet management
PLAXIS
Finite element software for geotechnical analysis
As of 30 August 2026, PLAXIS's pricing is not published; the vendor quotes on request. PLAXIS is widely used finite element software for geotechnical and mining applications. Softwr lists it under Mining. PLAXIS is made by Bentley Systems, launched in 1984, available on Windows, Linux.
Overview
What PLAXIS does
PLAXIS is widely used finite element software for geotechnical and mining applications. It provides powerful analysis capabilities for soil and rock mechanics, particularly valuable for mine slope design, underground excavation, and complex geotechnical scenarios in mining.
What people use it 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
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of PLAXIS
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- PLAXISvsDeswik Suite
Deswik Suite: Integrated mine planning and design software
- PLAXISvsLeapfrog Geo
Leapfrog Geo: 3D geological modeling and visualization software
- PLAXISvsDassault Systemes GEOVIA
Dassault Systemes GEOVIA: Comprehensive mining and geoscience platform
Pricing
What PLAXIS costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Virtuoso Subscription
On request
- Software access
- Training included
- Auto-renewal
- No long-term contract
Perpetual License with SELECT
On request
- One-time purchase
- Annual maintenance subscription
- 24/7 technical support
- Learning resources
- Yearly software exchange option
- License pooling across multiple computers
Enterprise Plans
On request
- Custom arrangements
- Global pricing
- Comprehensive software portfolio
- Implementation services
- Training
- Technical support
Capabilities
Features
2D & 3D finite element analysis
Advanced soil modeling
Slope stability assessment
Excavation design
Support design
AutoCAD
Integration with AutoCAD
GeoStudio
Integration with GeoStudio
ArcGIS
Integration with ArcGIS
Leapfrog
Integration with Leapfrog
Windows support
Available on windows
Linux support
Available on linux
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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).
SourceWhat 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.
SourceBehind it
Who makes PLAXIS
- Company
- Bentley Systems
- Based in
- Exton, Pennsylvania
Keep looking
Where to go from PLAXIS
- PLAXIS alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- PLAXIS pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- PLAXIS badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Mining softwareThe full category
- Best Mining softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Mining software for
Compare PLAXIS with
- Caterpillar MineStar
- Deswik Suite
- Dassault Systemes GEOVIA
- GeoStudio
- FLAC3D
- Datamine
- IHS Markit Petra
- Carlson Mining
- Maptek I-Site
- Snowden Supervisor
- Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Wenco
- Whittle
- RS2
- UDEC
- RS2
- 3DEC
- UDEC
Other Mining software
Fleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance
Pricing on request12 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for PLAXIS, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on PLAXIS
PLAXIS alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
PLAXIS pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare PLAXIS
Put it head to head with anything we hold
PLAXIS badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
Best Mining software alternatives
Drilling programme management for mineral exploration teams and drilling contractors
Per month by shift or plod volumeFleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance
quote
Integrated technology for mining fleet management