With so many drilling software options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Where do you start? How do you find the right tool, or the right combination of tools, for your operation? (Hint: Geological databases and Power BI can’t do it all 😉).

We’ve curated a list of top drilling software solutions to help you cut through the noise and move your drilling operations into the digital age.

What is drilling software?

At its core, drilling software is designed to capture shift data (also known as plods), streamline the review process, and instantly calculate shift charges.

This data then flows into end-of-period reconciliation where it’s used for invoicing (for drilling contractors) or invoice reconciliation (for mining and exploration teams).

But the value of drilling software goes beyond just data capture. The right system transforms shift data into real-time insights, helping you optimise drilling performance, improve penetration rates, and reduce costly downtime.

That’s the theory. In practice, not all drilling software delivers on these promises.

What are the different types of drilling software?

Drilling software isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. In mining and exploration, different types of software cater to different needs, each with its own advantages and limitations. Here’s what you’ll encounter:

Custom-Built Solutions: Built in-house by consultants or IT teams to address specific company requirements. While these solutions can be highly tailored, they often lack the ongoing support, updates, and scalability of commercial software.

Legacy Software: Older systems that may no longer align with modern industry standards or technology advancements. These can be difficult to maintain and integrate with newer tools. (Think: ePlod)

Specialised Solutions: Focused on specific aspects of drilling, such as plod management or data analytics. While they can be highly customisable, they often require additional development or enterprise-level investment. (Example: Colleagues Matrixx.)

Integrated Platforms: Designed to cover multiple stages of the drilling workflow, from planning and execution to invoicing. These platforms bring everything into one system, reducing data silos and improving efficiency. (Example: CorePlan and Krux.)

Cloud-Based vs. On-Premises: Choosing the Right Deployment

How drilling software is deployed is just as important as its features. Here’s the key difference:

Cloud-Based Software: Hosted online and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Typically more scalable, flexible, and requires less IT maintenance.‍
On-Premises Software: Installed on your own servers, offering more control over data but requiring dedicated IT resources for maintenance and support.

Understanding these differences is the first step in choosing the right drilling software for your operation. Next, let’s explore the top solutions available today.

Top 6 cloud-based drilling software used by professionals

When the topic of drilling management comes up, people might immediately think of 1) spreadsheets 2) using geological databases or scripts to run calcs and connecting to Power BI, or 3) the industry leader, IMDEX, but that’s just the tip of a vast drilling software web.

Here are the top drilling software solutions used by professionals (we also included their most similar alternatives 👇).

IMDEX Hub IQ (ReflexHub)
CorePlan
Colleagues Matrixx
BlackFox Exploration
Krux Analytics
Lantern

1. IMDEX Hub IQ / Reflex Hub

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What it is: IMDEX is a leading global mining technology company. It covers a vast number of solutions, from instrumentation to consumables to software.

IMDEX Hub IQ is a cloud-based drilling data management solution that's part of the broader IMDEX suite of mining technologies.

Key features & what it’s good at:

Real-Time Insights: Make data-driven decisions with live access to drilling data.
Seamless Integrations: Connect with industry software for streamlined data sharing and analysis.
Transparency Across Projects: Monitor activity and ensure quality decisions across multiple drilling operations.
Rigorous Data Validation: Ensure accurate, actionable information through built-in quality control.
Simplified Workflow: Eliminate manual errors and inefficiencies with a secure, automated chain of custody.

Price: No public pricing. Please reach out directly to the team on their website here for a custom quote

Important to Note: IMDEX is offering customers an upgrade to Krux Analytics due to its recent investment in the Canadian software company. More information about Krux Analytics is below.

2. CorePlan

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CorePlan is a cloud-based Mining SaaS platform designed to digitise and streamline every aspect of drilling operations for mining companies and drilling contractors.

More than just drilling software, CorePlan is an Integrated Drilling Management Platform, covering the entire drilling workflow from planning and budgeting to real-time data capture, cost reconciliation, and integration with geological databases.

What CorePlan does best:

End-to-End Workflow Management: Manage your entire drilling program in one platform - from designing and budgeting drill holes to tracking real-time progress, reconciling costs, and generating comprehensive reports.
Automated Data Capture & Validation: Ditch manual plod entry. Capture drilling data digitally, apply automated calculations, and ensure accuracy with built-in validation rules.
Real-Time Cost Tracking & Reconciliation: Stay on top of drilling costs with instant visibility into actuals vs. budgets. Simplify invoice reconciliation and ensure accurate billing.
Powerful Reporting & Analytics: Generate real-time, customisable reports on drilling performance, costs, consumables, and more. Use interactive dashboards to identify trends and uncover optimisation opportunities.
Seamless Collaboration & Data Sharing: Connect drilling contractors and mining teams with a dedicated contractor portal, flexible data import options, and integration with leading geological databases and mining software.

Pricing: CorePlan offers usage-based pricing with flexible plans tailored to your needs. View pricing options for Mining & Exploration and for Drilling Contractors.

CorePlan vs. Krux: What’s the Difference?

Not sure how CorePlan stacks up against Krux? Find out here.

3. Colleagues Matrixx

What it is: Matrixx Xchange is a world-first mining industry collaboration platform that simplifies how mining companies receive, track, and report on drilling data.

Key features & what it’s good at:

Centralised Data Hub: Consolidate drilling data from all your contractors and sites into a single, secure platform, making it easier to access, analyse, and report on drilling information.
Real-Time Data Access: Track drilling progress, costs, and real-time performance metrics. This enables quicker identification of potential issues and faster decision-making.
Seamless Integration Capabilities: Connect Matrixx to your existing enterprise systems to create a unified data flow and avoid data silos.
Robust Safety Management: Improve workplace safety by digitally tracking incidents, managing safety requirements, and automating training records.
Industry-specific solutions: Can be tailored for various aspects of mining operations, including drilling data analytics and operating report software.

Price: No public pricing.Please reach out directly to the team on their website here for a custom quote

4. BlackFox Exploration

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What it is: BlackFox Exploration is a cloud-based drilling management system designed to provide drilling contractors with comprehensive tools for data capture, analysis, reporting, and client communication.

Key features & what it’s good at:

Real-Time Progress Tracking: Monitor drilling progress, crew hours, and consumable usage in real-time, enabling faster identification of potential issues and more proactive decision-making.
Customisable Reporting: Generate various reports on drilling performance, costs, and other key metrics, tailored to your specific needs and client requirements.
Project Planning and Budgeting: Plan drilling programs, estimate costs, and manage budgets effectively to improve project profitability.
Mobile-Enabled Approvals: Streamline plod approvals and other workflows with mobile access for supervisors and clients.
Customer Portal: Enhance client communication and transparency by providing a dedicated portal for clients to access real-time data, reports, and project updates.

Price: No public pricing.Please reach out directly to the team on their website here for a custom quote

5. Krux Analytics

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What it is: Krux Analytics is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution specifically designed for the mining and drilling industry. It offers a comprehensive capability for drilling data management, analytics, and real-time decision-making.

Key features & what it’s good at:

Unified Data Management: Capture drilling data from multiple sources, including plods, instrumentation, and other systems, creating a single source of truth for analysis and reporting.
Real-Time Cost Tracking & Reconciliation: Digitise plod data to speed up cost calculations and reconciliation, providing up-to-the-minute insights into drilling expenditures.
Customisable Dashboards: Visualise drilling performance, costs, and other key metrics through interactive dashboards that can be tailored to specific needs.
KruxDAQ: Utilise real-time instrumentation data from drilling rigs to predict optimal drilling parameters and make more informed decisions about drilling depth, direction, and costs.

Price: No Public Pricing. Get directly in touch with the Krux team here

6. Lantern

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Lantern is a cloud-based drilling management software tailored for the diamond drilling industry. It streamlines workflows, enhances data accuracy, and fosters seamless communication between drilling contractors and their mining clients.

What Lantern does best:

Real-Time Shift Monitoring: Track metres drilled and crew hours in real time, providing comprehensive visibility into project progress and potential delays.
Timesheet Management: Simplify timesheet approvals and expedite invoicing by eliminating manual data entry. Timesheets c
Digital Plod Capture: Reduce errors and facilitate easy sharing of plod data with clients through a fully digital system.
Client Communication: Enhance transparency and collaboration with mining clients via a shared platform, minimising misunderstandings and streamlining project updates.
Cloud-Based Accessibility: Access Lantern from any device with an internet connection. The mobile app allows data entry and access to essential documents offline, syncing seamlessly upon reconnection.

Pricing: Lantern offers transparent pricing based on the number of active rigs, allows both small and large drilling companies to scale efficiently while managing multiple projects. Visit the Lantern website for detailed pricing information.

Beyond Drilling Software

Drilling software is a great starting point, but it’s not enough for the complex demands of modern drilling programs, whether you’re a mining or exploration team or a drilling contractor.

To optimise drilling and improve site operations, your teams need instant access to the right information, not endless spreadsheet wrangling.

That’s where an Integrated Drilling Management Platform like CorePlan comes in.

By connecting your operations teams with real-time data, CorePlan gives you the complete picture, so you can make faster, smarter decisions and keep your drilling program on track.

Download the checklist here

CorePlan vs Krux: What's the difference?

Explore powerful features that outperform Krux.

Click here

Top 6+ drilling software to digitise your drilling in 2025

Download the checklist here

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