Two numerical schemes are developed for solutions of the bidimensional Maxwell–Bloch equations in nonlinear optical crystals. The Maxwell–Bloch model was recently extended [C. Besse, B. Bidégaray, A. Bourgeade, P. Degond, O. Saut, A Maxwell–Bloch model with discrete symmetries for wave propagation in nonlinear crystals: an application to KDP, M2AN Math. Model. Numer. Anal. 38 (2) (2004) 321–344] to treat anisotropic materials like nonlinear crystals. This semi-classical model seems to be adequate to describe the wave–matter interaction of ultrashort pulses in nonlinear crystals [A. Bourgeade, O. Saut, Comparison between the Maxwell–Bloch and two nonlinear maxwell models for ultrashort pulses propagation in nonlinear crystals, submitted (2004)] as it is closer to the physics than most macroscopic models. A bidimensional finite-difference-time-domain scheme, adapted from Yee [IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. AP-14 (1966) 302–307], was already developed in [O. Saut, Bidimensional study of the Maxwell–Bloch model in a nonlinear crystal, submitted (2004)]. This scheme yields very expensive computations. In this paper, we present two numerical schemes much more efficient with their relative advantages and drawbacks.