From June 2023, Seequent will begin retiring PLAXIS LE from the market and replacing it with GeoStudio.

GeoStudio is a very well-known solution that has been established in the geotechnical analysis market for over 30 years.

GeoStudio has several unique features which make it a stronger, more reliable long-term solution for geotechnical analysis. Seequent acquired GeoStudio in 2019 and it connects easily with Seequent’s geological modelling software, Leapfrog.

It can also integrate with a wide range of cloud-connected and cloud-based applications. This makes GeoStudio an excellent option for the increasing number of users who are building more connected workflows and embarking on their digital twin journeys.

Try GeoStudio

View pdf

Which products are impacted by the PLAXIS LE and

PLAXIS Designer retirement announcement?

PLAXIS 2D LE
PLAXIS 3D LE
PLAXIS Designer
PLAXIS 2D WorkSuite
PLAXIS 3D WorkSuite

Why is Seequent retiring PLAXIS LE?

In June of 2023, Seequent made the arduous decision to terminate support for its PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer products, and instead recommends utilising GeoStudio and Leapfrog solutions.

GeoStudio offers superior functionality and interoperability with Seequent products such as Leapfrog and other cloud-based applications. This makes GeoStudio an excellent option for the increasing number of users who are building more connected workflows and embarking on their digital twin journeys. GeoStudio has a significantly larger user base than PLAXIS LE, having been a mainstay in the geotechnical analysis domain for
over three decades.

This strategic shift will simplify Seequent’s software offerings and improve the user experience. The company intends to reduce disruption to users as much as possible and assist in making the transition to GeoStudio products.

Are there functionality differences between PLAXIS LE and GeoStudio?

GeoStudio 2D is a full-feature product that is compatible with PLAXIS 2D LE.

Currently, there are still some differences in functionality between GeoStudio 3D (SLOPE 3D) and PLAXIS 3D LE’s slope stability features. The GeoStudio product team is proactively working to close this feature gap and remove barriers to adoption for PLAXIS LE accounts.

Key capabilities that will be added to SLOPE3D with the upcoming GeoStudio releases include external loads, reinforcement, anisotropic surfaces, probabilistic and sensitivity analysis, and slip surface optimization.

Analysis types and additional functionalities

	GEOSTUDIO	PLAXIS LE
1D/2D Analysis
Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis	X	X
Finite Element Seepage flow analysis	X	X
Finite Element Seismic analysis	X	only 1D
Finite Element Consolidation analysis	X	only 1D
Finite Element Tension/Deformation analysis	X
3D Analysis
Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis	X	X
Finite Element Seepage flow analysis	X	X
Finite Element Energy\| Solute\| Gas\| or Pore-air flow analysis	X
Finite Element Freeze-thaw flow analysis	X
Additional functionalities
Import Background meshes	X	X
Import Material Volume Meshes (MVMs)	X	X
Import Cross-Sections	X	X
Import Solids/Bodies	X
Connection with Seequent Central	X
Multiple analyses parallel processing	X
Add-in API	X
Pseudo-3D technique for Saturated Large-strain Consolidation		X
Material Parameter Determination with SoilVision Soils		X

For complex PLAXIS 3D LE to GeoStudio 3D migrations, we will provide optional migration assistance via ‘Implementation Packs’ or E365 Blueprints.

How long will PLAXIS LE be supported?

We will continue to provide PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer support for existing users through June 2026. The table below summarises what this means for PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer sales and support:

	GENERAL AVAILABILITY	EXPIRING SUPPORT	DISCONTINUED SUPPORT
	06/2023 – 05/2025	06/2025-05/2026	06/2026
Sales
Available on E365/EPS contracts	Yes	Yes
New SELECT perpetual licenses (including first-year annual Maintenance)	Yes
SELECT Support & Maintenance annual contracts	Yes	Yes (end date must not exceed 01 June 2026)
Virtuoso annual subscriptions	Yes
Support for Annual Subscription
Online, email, and telephone support available	Yes	Yes
Online learning and self-serve support materials available	Yes	Yes	Yes (until 01 June 2027)
Product Updates
Critical Bug Fixes	Yes	Yes
Security Updates	Yes	Yes
Feature Enhancements	Not planned	Not planned

What happens between June 2023 and June 2025 (General Availability)?

There is no change for PLAXIS LE, PLAXIS Designer, and PLAXIS WorkSuite users. These products will continue to receive the same level of support. Additional desktop licenses can be purchased, and maintenance/subscription agreements will be renewed. We recommend discussing this with your account manager or a member of the GeoStudio team before making any further investment into PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer.

What happens in June 2025 (Start of Expiring Support Phase)?

PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer will enter the Expiring Support phase. New purchases of these products will not be possible after June 1, 2025. Desktop products will continue to be supported, but no further enhancements will be added.

A maintained version of PLAXIS LE, which includes Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement Features, will be available for perpetual users as a node-locked license on the Bentley download page as of April 2025.

Users can contact Support via phone, email, or our website for installation and licensing support or remote desktop assistance. Release patches with critical bugs and security fixes may also be delivered.

What happens in June 2026 (Start of discontinued support phase)?

PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer will enter the Self-Serve Support phase in June 2026. Only online support resources, installation, and licensing support will be available.

Accounts with perpetual licenses and no active SELECT can continue using PLAXIS LE in its node-locked form, but any product support will be discontinued until June 2027. E365 contracts and Bentley Education will cease availability of the products in June 2026.

What is the migration path option for PLAXIS LE, PLAXIS Designer and PLAXIS WorkSuite Users?

PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer will enter the Self-Serve Support phase in June 2026. Only online support resources, installation, and licensing support will be available.

PRODUCT		WHAT TYPES OF ANALYSES ARE HANDLED BY THE PRODUCT?		PROPOSED MIGRATION PRODUCT(S)	MIGRATION PATH
					GENERAL AVAILABILITY PHASE (JUNE 2023 TO JUNE 2025)			EXPIRING SUPPORT PHASE (JUNE 2025 TO JUNE 2026)
					PERPETUAL LICENSES WITH SELECTB) CONTRACT	VIRTUOSO SUBSCRIPTION	E365	PERPETUAL LICENSES WITH SELECTB) CONTRACT	VIRTUOSO SUBSCRIPTION	E365
PLAXIS 2D LE		2D Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis		GeoStudio 2D	Buy a subscription license of the proposed product with incentives and/or continue renewing the SELECT subscription of PLAXIS LE / PLAXIS Designer products	Buy a subscription license of the proposed product with incentives and get a free PLAXIS LE/ Designer companion subscriptionc)	Continue using PLAXIS LE / PLAXIS Designer and start adopting the proposed migration products.	Buy a subscription license of the proposed product.	Buy a subscription license of the proposed product with the option to receive incentivesd) and get a free PLAXIS LE/ Designer companion subscriptionc)	Continue using PLAXIS LE / PLAXIS Designer and start adopting the proposed migration productse)
			+ Finite Element Seepage analysis	GeoStudio 2D Advanced
			+ Finite Element Seismic analysis	GeoStudio 2D Ultimate
PLAXIS 3D LE	+ includes	2D/3D Limit Equilibrium Slope Stability Analysis		GeoStudio 2D and GeoStudio 3Df)
	PLAXIS 2D LE		+ Finite Element Seepage analysis	GeoStudio 2D Advanced and 3D Advancedf)
	PLAXIS Designera)	3D Conceptual models oriented towards PLAXIS LE only		(+Leapfrog)
PLAXIS Designera)		3D Conceptual models oriented towards PLAXIS LE only		Leapfrog		Buy a subscription license of the proposed product with incentives and get a free PLAXIS Designer companion subscriptionc)			Buy a subscription license of the proposed product with the option to receive incentivesd) and get a free PLAXIS Designer companion subscriptionc)
PLAXIS 2D WorkSuite	+ includes	2D Finite Element Analysis + analyses see PLAXIS 2D LE		PLAXIS 2D Ultimate + GeoStudio 2D	Continue paying SELECT or Pay for PLAXIS 2D Ultimate SELECT Subscription only and/ or receive incentive for GeoStudio 2D subscription license	Buy subscription license or Migrate to other PLAXIS 2D tier and/or receive incentive for GeoStudio 2D subscription license	Continue using PLAXIS LE / PLAXIS Designer and start adopting to the proposed migration products	Replace with PLAXIS 2D Ultimate with option to receive incentive for GeoStudio 2D subscription license	Buy PLAXIS 2D Ultimate with option to receive incentive for GeoStudio 2D subscription license	Continue using PLAXIS LE / PLAXIS Designer and start adopting to the proposed migration productse)
	PLAXIS 2D Ultimate
	PLAXIS 2D LE
PLAXIS 3D WorkSuite	+ includes	3D Finite Element Analysis + analyses see PLAXIS 3D LE		PLAXIS 3D Ultimate + GeoStudio 2D + GeoStudio 3Df)	Continue paying SELECT or Pay for PLAXIS 3D Ultimate SELECT Subscription only and/or purchase GeoStudio 3D subscription license	Buy subscription license or Migrate to other PLAXIS 3D tier and/or purchase GeoStudio 3D subscription license		Replace with PLAXIS 3D Ultimate and purchase GeoStudio 3D subscription license	Buy PLAXIS 3D Ultimate and GeoStudio 3D subscription license
	PLAXIS 3D Ultimate

a) GeoStudio has a different model-building schema that does not require PLAXIS Designer. We recommend users try out the embedded features in GeoStudio or/and use Leapfrog for more complex geologies.
b) Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement features will be available in a maintained version of the software by April 2025 for node-locked licenses.
c) Companion licenses will only be issued one time per Account per GeoStudio license migrated, consequently on the Expiring Support this option is only possible if accounts haven’t made use of the offer during the General Availability Phase.
d) Incentives may be applicable in case accounts haven’t used the offer during the General Availability Phase.
e) E365 users will have access to the PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer products until June 2026.
f) GeoStudio 3D products are stand-alone products and do not include GeoStudio 2D products.

We are PLAXIS WorkSuite SELECT users – What changes for us?

The primary product of the PLAXIS WorkSuite is PLAXIS Ultimate (2D or 3D), followed by PLAXIS LE (2D or 3D) and PLAXIS Designer (3D). SELECT users who wish to make the switch can only select the PLAXIS Ultimate tier starting in June 2025. If you’re willing to replace PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer functionalities, a GeoStudio offer will be available with incentives for the first year of subscription.Expiring Support this option is only possible if accounts haven’t made use of the offer during the General Availability Phase.

We are part of an E365 contract – What changes for us?

E365 users will have access to the PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer products until June 2026. The support phases presented equally apply to the E365 program. Please note: the GeoStudio and Leapfrog products are already available under E365. Consequently, users of such programs can use all solutions until June 2026.

SLOPE3D (GeoStudio 3D) blueprint training is available with our regional specialists. It provides sessions for mentoring the model transfer from PLAXIS LE to GeoStudio. Please contact your Bentley Customer Success Manager for further assistance.

Will we have access to a companion license during the transition?

Existing PLAXIS LE users will receive a free one-year subscription as a companion to their paid GeoStudio annual subscription.

Companion licenses expire after 12 months, and all licenses of this offer expire in June 2026. This correlates with the complete product end of support period. Licenses can only be given once per GeoStudio license acquired.

Please contact your account manager or a sales specialist at Bentley for further assistance.

What can PLAXIS LE and PLAXIS Designer perpetual users expect once support for SELECT ends?

Once maintenance and renewal for SELECT begin to wind down in June 2025, the product will enter the supported version and subsequently the discontinued support, following the respective conditions of the Bentley Lifecycle Policy and SELECT agreement terms.

For perpetual licenses with no active SELECT Subscription, you will be able to login to the software on a supported operating system (as appropriate to the version of the software in use) in perpetuity (i.e., you can access the software even after it is discontinued and no longer supported). This is referred to as “Node-Locked License,” which means the software can only be licensed on a single machine, with no pooling available.

We will give all users advance notice before removing any download files from Bentley.com or connect.Bentley.com. To avoid any future disruption, download a copy of the install file and save it in a safe location.

For Reference: communities.bentley.com/communities/other_communities/licensing_cloud_and_web_services/w/ wiki/61157/machine-registration-for-non-select-accounts

Note: Your SELECT contract covers the account and not a sole product, which is reflected in the “cover one, cover all” policy clause. We suggest you contact your Bentley Sales Representative to receive more details on additional alternatives for active SELECT contracts.

Find more information here: bentley.com/support/bentley-lifecycle-policy/

Are we eligible for a financial incentive if migrating to GeoStudio?

Accounts willing to migrate from PLAXIS LE to GeoStudio are eligible for incentives on the GeoStudio pre-paid subscription for the first year. Please contact a sales representative to obtain more information.

How much does GeoStudio cost?

To learn more about prices and product migration options, please contact your Seequent/Bentley account, success manager, or GeoStudio sales team member.

GeoStudio annual subscriptions are also available in the Bentley E-commerce Store. Find out more here: en.virtuosity.com/

How can I find out more about GeoStudio?

Visit the GeoStudio Community and GeoStudio website for additional information. You can also reach out to your Bentley or Seequent sales representative at any time for demos, quotes, or additional guidance.

PLAXIS LE and GEOSTUDIO product support FAQS