PLAXIS geotechnical finite element software
Deformation, stability, groundwater and earthquake analysis of soil, rock and the structures built in them, in 2D and 3D, from deep excavations and tunnels to offshore wind monopiles. Buy it from an authorized Bentley channel partner.
- 3editions each of PLAXIS 2D and 3D, plus 2 WorkSuites with GeoStudio
- 30+built-in and user-defined soil and rock models
- 8typical applications, from excavations to offshore foundations
- PISAbased monopile design for offshore wind, with Monopile Designer
PLAXIS, Advanced, Ultimate or a WorkSuite
PLAXIS 2D and PLAXIS 3D come in the same three editions, and each includes everything in the one before it. The WorkSuites add GeoStudio to PLAXIS Ultimate.
Swipe the table sideways to compare every edition.
| Capability | PLAXIS 2D or 3D | PLAXIS Advanced | PLAXIS Ultimate | Geotechnical Analysis WorkSuite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staged constructionStress and displacement, phase by phase | ||||
| Safety analysisStrength reduction | ||||
| Initial stressesK0 procedure, gravity loading, field stress | ||||
| Pore pressuresPhreatic levels, and pressures from the previous phase | ||||
| Standard soil and rock modelsMohr-Coulomb, Hardening Soil (with small-strain stiffness), Modified Cam-Clay, NGI-ADP, Hoek-Brown, Jointed Rock | ||||
| Structures and dataPlates, anchors and piles; CAD, borehole and CPT import; Leapfrog; Python; ProjectWise | ||||
| Consolidation and creepFlow-deformation coupling with consolidation | – | |||
| Steady-state groundwater flow | – | |||
| Soft soil modelsSoft Soil, Soft Soil Creep, Sekiguchi-Ohta, Concrete | – | |||
| UDCAM-SWith the cyclic accumulation tool, for cyclic loading | – | |||
| User-defined model libraryNorSand, SHANSEP, CASM, Creep-SCLAY1S and more | – | |||
| Multicore solver | – | |||
| DynamicsEarthquake and traffic vibration | – | – | ||
| Fully coupled flow-deformationTime-dependent water level and flow variations | – | – | ||
| Transient heat flowThermal effects on hydraulic and mechanical behaviour | – | – | ||
| Liquefaction and unsaturated soilUBC3D-PLM, Barcelona Basic Model | – | – | ||
| GeoStudio in the same subscriptionGeoStudio 2D Ultimate, or GeoStudio 3D Advanced | – | – | – | |
| Choose it for | Deformation and safety analysis with the standard soil and rock models | Adds consolidation, creep, groundwater flow, advanced and user-defined models, and the multicore solver | Adds dynamics, fully coupled flow-deformation, transient heat flow and liquefaction | PLAXIS Ultimate plus GeoStudio, for limit equilibrium and seepage as well |
Edition contents as published by Bentley and Seequent. In PLAXIS 2D, Advanced also adds steady-state heat flow. Not sure which you need? Tell us the ground problem and we will recommend one.
The PLAXIS family
PLAXIS is made by Seequent, the subsurface software company within Bentley Systems. Ask us about any of these.
PLAXIS 2D
2DFinite element analysis of soil and rock in plane strain or axisymmetry.
- Excavations, embankments, foundations and tunnels
- Groundwater and heat flow from Advanced
- Earthquake and vibration analysis in Ultimate
- 2D to 3D converter in every edition
PLAXIS 3D
3DFor geometry, loads or interaction that a single section cannot represent.
- Models from CAD files and boreholes
- Tunnel designer
- Piles, anchors and reinforcement
- Python API and a calculation manager for queued runs
- Super-element coupling with structural software
PLAXIS Monopile Designer
Offshore windMonopile foundation design based on the PISA joint industry project.
- Rule-based design with predefined soil reaction curves
- Numerical design with curves from PLAXIS 3D
- Layered soil profiles
- Automatic PLAXIS 3D model to verify the design
- Python scripting
Geotechnical Analysis 2D WorkSuite
BundlePLAXIS 2D Ultimate and GeoStudio 2D Ultimate in one subscription.
- Everything in PLAXIS 2D Ultimate
- SLOPE/W limit equilibrium slope stability
- SEEP/W groundwater seepage
- SIGMA/W stress and QUAKE/W earthquake analysis
Geotechnical Analysis 3D WorkSuite
BundlePLAXIS 3D Ultimate and GeoStudio 3D Advanced in one subscription.
- Everything in PLAXIS 3D Ultimate
- 3D limit equilibrium slope stability
- 3D groundwater flow and contaminant transport
- Pore pressures from flow used in slope stability
PLAXIS 3D Output Viewer
FreeA free application for reviewing calculated PLAXIS 3D results.
- Review results without a commercial licence
- Useful for clients, checkers and reviewers
PLAXIS is finite element deformation and soil-structure interaction. GeoStudio is limit equilibrium slope stability and seepage. A WorkSuite gives you both.
About GeoStudioWhen a section is enough, and when it is not
Every PLAXIS 2D edition includes the 2D to 3D converter, so a 2D model can move into PLAXIS 3D when the project needs it.
Stay in PLAXIS 2D
When a plane strain or axisymmetric section represents the problem.
- Long embankments, dams and levees
- Retaining walls and excavations of constant section
- Tunnel cross-sections
- Axisymmetric problems: single piles, circular footings and shafts
- Fast parametric studies
Move to PLAXIS 3D
When geometry, loading or interaction is genuinely three-dimensional.
- Pile groups and piled rafts
- Excavation corners and irregular pits
- Tunnel faces, junctions and shafts
- Monopiles and other laterally loaded offshore foundations
- Ground that varies across the site, from Leapfrog models
- Loads and structures that change along their length
From borehole data to results you can report
Modelling
Build the ground and the structure quickly
Material models
30+ built-in and user-defined soil and rock models
Structural elements
Soil-structure interaction in the same model
Calculations
From construction stages to earthquakes
Results
See how the ground and structure behave
Automation and data
Fewer manual steps, faster runs
Where engineers use PLAXIS
Eight typical jobs, and the edition we would suggest starting with for each.
Deep excavations and retaining walls
Wall deflection, strut and anchor forces, and ground movement around the excavation, phase by phase.
- Start with
- PLAXIS 2D
- Step up to
- 3D for corners and irregular pits
Foundations and piles
Settlement and capacity of shallow and piled foundations, and how they interact with the soil.
- Start with
- PLAXIS 2D
- Step up to
- 3D for pile groups and piled rafts
Tunnels and shafts
Ground response to tunnelling, lining forces and settlement at the surface.
- Start with
- PLAXIS 2D
- Step up to
- 3D for tunnel faces and junctions
Embankments on soft ground
Consolidation, creep and stability of embankments built in stages on soft soil.
- Start with
- 2D Advanced
- Step up to
- Ultimate for fully coupled flow
Earthquakes and liquefaction
Dynamic response of soil and structures to earthquakes and vibration, and the risk of liquefaction.
- Start with
- 2D Ultimate
- Step up to
- 3D Ultimate for 3D sites
Offshore foundations
Monopiles and other offshore foundations under cyclic loading, with the UDCAM-S cyclic accumulation tool.
- Start with
- 3D Advanced
- Step up to
- Monopile Designer for monopiles
Ports and marine structures
Quay walls, sheet pile walls and breakwaters on soft seabed, during construction and in service.
- Start with
- PLAXIS 2D
- Step up to
- 2D Advanced for consolidation
Mining and rock engineering
Underground excavations, caverns and fractured rock, with discontinuity and reinforcement elements.
- Start with
- PLAXIS 2D
- Step up to
- 3D for complex geometry
Starting editions are our general suggestion. We confirm the right one once we understand your project.
Monopile design for offshore wind
Monopile Designer brings the results of the PISA joint industry project into everyday design, to reduce the steel in each monopile. Use it on its own, or with PLAXIS 3D to derive the soil reaction curves numerically.
What it does
- Built on the PISA joint industry project
- Validated against PISA field tests at Dunkirk (sand) and Cowden (clay)
- Rule-based design with predefined soil reaction curves
- Numerical design with soil reaction curves derived in PLAXIS 3D
- 1D analysis in layered soil
- Automatic PLAXIS 3D model to verify the final monopile
- Everything scriptable in Python
Bentley states that Monopile Designer can reduce embedded pile length by up to 35%.
From your ground problem to a licensed team
- 1
Tell us the ground problem
The structure, the soil, and whether a 2D section will do.
- 2
We recommend the plan
2D or 3D, the edition, or a WorkSuite with GeoStudio, and nothing you don't need.
- 3
Quote or buy online
We send a quote, or you order through our store and we call to confirm.
- 4
Licence delivered
Your PLAXIS licence is delivered and your team can start.
- 5
Learn and get going
Manuals, tutorials and Bentley training with your Keys, and us when you need help.
Licensing
- SubscriptionEach PLAXIS plan is a 12-month subscription with one licence and 2 Bentley Keys, credits for training or expert services.
- Named or sharedA named licence is for one dedicated user. Shared licences let several users work in turn, one per seat at a time.
- Larger teamsEnterprise and other licensing options are available for organisations.
- Students and educatorsFree access to Bentley software for academic use, through Bentley Education.
Learning
PLAXIS comes with tutorial, reference and material model manuals. Seequent's help pages cover common questions, and your Bentley Keys can be spent on tailored training.
An engineering partner, not just a reseller
We supply Bentley's geotechnical, structural and offshore software across India and the Middle East, and we are engineers ourselves.
- AuthorizedBentley channel partner supplying PLAXIS in India and the Middle East
- Right planwe help you choose between 2D and 3D, three editions and two WorkSuites
- Both toolswe supply GeoStudio too, and the WorkSuites that combine the two
- Engineerswe work on offshore wind foundations and floating solar anchoring ourselves
What engineers ask us about PLAXIS
What is PLAXIS used for?
Finite element analysis of deformation and stability in soil and rock, including soil-structure interaction, groundwater and heat flow, and earthquakes. Typical work includes excavations, foundations, embankments, tunnels, mining and offshore foundations.
What is the difference between PLAXIS, Advanced and Ultimate?
PLAXIS 2D and 3D cover staged construction, safety analysis and the standard soil and rock models. Advanced adds consolidation, creep, steady-state groundwater flow, soft soil and user-defined models, and the multicore solver. Ultimate adds dynamics, fully coupled flow-deformation, transient heat flow and liquefaction.
Should we buy PLAXIS 2D or PLAXIS 3D?
PLAXIS 2D is enough when a plane strain or axisymmetric section represents the problem, such as long embankments, walls and tunnel sections. Choose PLAXIS 3D for pile groups, excavation corners, tunnel faces, monopiles and ground that varies across the site.
What is in a Geotechnical Analysis WorkSuite?
The 2D WorkSuite combines PLAXIS 2D Ultimate with GeoStudio 2D Ultimate. The 3D WorkSuite combines PLAXIS 3D Ultimate with GeoStudio 3D Advanced.
Which soil models does PLAXIS include?
Every edition has Linear Elastic, Mohr-Coulomb, Hardening Soil with and without small-strain stiffness, Modified Cam-Clay, NGI-ADP, Hoek-Brown and Jointed Rock. Advanced adds Soft Soil, Soft Soil Creep, Sekiguchi-Ohta, UDCAM-S, Concrete and a library of user-defined models. Ultimate adds UBC3D-PLM and the Barcelona Basic Model.
Can PLAXIS analyse earthquakes and liquefaction?
Yes, in PLAXIS Ultimate. It adds dynamic analysis for earthquake and traffic vibration, and the UBC3D-PLM model for liquefaction.
Can PLAXIS model consolidation and groundwater flow?
Yes. Advanced adds consolidation, creep and steady-state groundwater flow. Ultimate adds time-dependent water level and flow variations with fully coupled flow-deformation.
Can PLAXIS be used for offshore foundations?
Yes. The UDCAM-S model and cyclic accumulation tool, from PLAXIS Advanced, address cyclic loading, PLAXIS 3D handles three-dimensional foundations, and PLAXIS Monopile Designer is built for offshore wind monopiles.
What is PLAXIS Monopile Designer?
Software for offshore wind monopile design, based on the PISA joint industry project. It can be used on its own for rule-based design, or with PLAXIS 3D to derive soil reaction curves numerically and verify the final design.
How is PLAXIS licensed?
Each plan is a 12-month subscription with one licence and 2 Bentley Keys. Licences can be named or shared, enterprise options are available, and students and educators can get free academic access.
Can we still buy PLAXIS LE?
No. Seequent stopped new sales of PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer on 1 June 2025, and full support ended in June 2026. Seequent recommends GeoStudio for limit equilibrium analysis, and we can help you move.
Should we choose PLAXIS or GeoStudio?
PLAXIS is for finite element deformation, staged construction and soil-structure interaction. GeoStudio is for limit equilibrium slope stability and seepage. We supply both, separately or together in a WorkSuite. Tell us the ground problem and we will recommend one.
Need PLAXIS for your geotechnical team?
Tell us the ground problem and how many engineers need it. We will recommend 2D or 3D and the edition, and send a quote.