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Date

21/12/2025

GEOREKA vs Leapfrog Geo: An Honest Comparison for Modern Geological Modelling (2025)

If you’re evaluating geological modelling software, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Leapfrog Geo. As the industry standard, it’s often the default choice for mining companies and geological consultancies worldwide. But is it always the best choice for your specific needs?

At GEOREKA, we believe in empowering geologists with innovative, affordable tools that don’t compromise on capability. This comparison aims to help you make an informed decision by honestly evaluating both platforms across the metrics that matter most to working geologists.

Feature GEOREKA Leapfrog Geo
Starting Price $6,500/year $15,000-25,000/year*
License Type Floating (shareable) Named or Floating*
Learning Curve 1-2 weeks 2-4 weeks
Free Trial 14 days 14 days
Academic License Heavily discounted Available
Machine Learning Alternative to RBFs Limited/External
Tetrahedral ‘blocks’ (Industry exclusive)
Cloud Collaboration Via Central (additional cost)
*Leapfrog pricing varies by configuration and region

The Price Difference: What It Really Means

Let’s address the elephant in the room first. GEOREKA costs approximately 70% less than Leapfrog Geo’s typical configuration. For a small mining company or consultancy with 3 geologists, this translates to:

  • Leapfrog Geo: ~$45,000-75,000/year
  • GEOREKA: $6,500/year (floating license shared by all users)
  • Annual Savings: $38,500-68,500

But price alone doesn’t tell the full story. Let’s dive into what you get for your investment.

Technical Approach: Fundamentally Different Philosophies

How GEOREKA helps to think in Volumes

GEOREKA treats geological domains as 3D volumes from the very beginning. When you define a geological unit, you’re not drawing boundaries between domains – you’re defining the volume itself using implicit functions like RBF (Radial Basis Functions). This approach is:

  • More intuitive for geological thinking
  • Less prone to boundary errors (no holes in your models)
  • Faster for complex geological relationships

How Leapfrog Geo Uses Boundaries

Leapfrog Geo, like most traditional software, focuses on creating boundaries between geological units. While this approach is well-established and proven, it can require more manual intervention when dealing with complex geological relationships.

Unique GEOREKA Advantages

1. Tetrahedral Mesh Output – Industry Exclusive

GEOREKA is currently the only geological modelling software in the mining industry that can output tetrahedral grids. Why does this matter?

  • Direct integration with geotechnical analysis software
  • Perfect boundary adherence – no partial blocks or sub-blocking needed
  • Ideal for flow modelling and geophysical simulations
  • More accurate volume calculations for complex ore bodies

2. Visual Workflow Integration

While others hide most of the underlying workflows, GEOREKA was built from the ground up to integrate visual workflows naturally into your daily tasks:

  • Automation helps build first workflows
  • Visual report of complete workflows
  • Workflows adapted to your modelling style
  • No need for external tools or plugins

3. True Floating Licenses Included

Every GEOREKA license is floating by default, meaning:

  • Share between team members without additional cost
  • Work from office or field without license transfers
  • No idle licenses when geologists are on site
  • Perfect for consultants working with multiple clients

Where Leapfrog Geo Excels

We respect Leapfrog’s position in the industry, and for these scenarios it might be the better choice:

1. Ecosystem Integration

Leapfrog has been around longer and offers:

  • Extensive third-party integrations
  • Direct connections to more mine planning software
  • Wider consultant familiarity
  • More extensive tutorial library

2. Industry Standard Status

  • Required by some major mining companies
  • More consultants trained on the platform
  • Extensive community support
  • Regular user conferences and training events

3. Specialized Extensions

Leapfrog offers specialized modules for:

  • Geothermal modelling
  • Hydrogeology
  • Specific commodity types

Real-World Performance Comparison

Based on feedback from users who have experience with both platforms:

Model Creation Speed

Simple stratiform deposit:

  • GEOREKA: <1 hour
  • Leapfrog: 3-4 hours

Complex faulted terrain:

  • GEOREKA: 12-16 hours
  • Leapfrog: 6-8 hours

Simple resource estimation workflow:

  • GEOREKA: half day
  • Leapfrog: Full day

Times based on experienced users with prepared data

Who Should Choose GEOREKA?

Small to medium mining operations looking to maximize ROI

Geological consultancies needing flexible, shareable licenses

Academic institutions teaching modern modelling techniques

Teams interested in machine learning applications

Projects requiring tetrahedral outputs for downstream analysis

Companies prioritizing innovation over industry convention

Who Might Prefer Leapfrog?

Major mining companies with established Leapfrog workflows

Operations requiring specific Leapfrog-only integrations

Teams with extensive Leapfrog training investments

Projects with regulatory requirements specifying Leapfrog

What Our Users Say

“I use GEOREKA for all my wireframe modelling. It is faster and I think the results are more geologically representative than can be achieved by explicit modelling.”

– Greg Mosher, Independent Consultant

“GEOREKA is intuitive and user-friendly, which has made it easy for our team, including new members, to get up to speed quickly. The software’s exceptional visualization capabilities and flexible workflow have significantly enhanced our decision-making processes.”

– Ramin Rafiei, Novamera Inc.

Making the Switch:
Easier Than You Think

If you’re currently using Leapfrog, switching to GEOREKA is straightforward:

  1. Import your data – GEOREKA reads all standard formats
  2. Free training included – Our team ensures you’re productive quickly
  3. Parallel run period – Keep Leapfrog while you transition
  4. Ongoing support – Direct access to our development team

Try Before You Decide

We’re confident that once you experience GEOREKA’s innovative approach, you’ll see why a growing number of geologists are making the switch. But don’t take our word for it:

Start Your Free 14-Day Trial

No credit card required. Full features included. Free training session.

The Bottom Line

Leapfrog Geo is a capable platform that has served the industry well. But if you’re looking for:

  • Significant cost savings without compromising capability
  • Innovative features like tetrahedral outputs and native ML
  • A more intuitive volume-based modelling approach
  • Flexible licensing that adapts to your team’s needs

…then GEOREKA deserves serious consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can GEOREKA import my existing Leapfrog projects? A: While direct project import isn’t available, GEOREKA can import all your source data (drillholes, surfaces, points) and our team can assist in model reconstruction.

Q: How does support compare? A: GEOREKA provides direct access to our development team, often resolving issues within hours. Leapfrog offers tiered support with varying response times.

Q: Is GEOREKA accepted by major mining companies? A: Increasingly yes. While some majors still specify Leapfrog, many now accept any professional geological modelling software that meets their technical requirements.

Q: What about training? A: We include free onboarding training and have growing library of tutorials. Leapfrog offers more extensive (paid) training programs.