Brandwave

How popular isAutoCAD?

In September 2026, people searched for AutoCAD by name about 1.5 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 52.6% of all global civil engineering software searches, placing AutoCAD first out of 14 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, AutoCAD appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the 14.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

AutoCAD is the most searched of 14 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. AutoCADShare of searches 52.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. QGISShare of searches 15.8%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 14th
  3. RevitShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Esri ArcGISShare of searches 11.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  5. Civil 3DShare of searches 1.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+9 more

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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AutoCAD appeared in all five answers. AutoCAD is the most recommended of the 14.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. AutoCAD1st
  2. Civil 3D2nd
  3. Revit3rd
  4. STAAD4th
  5. ETABS5th
  6. SAP20006th
  7. HEC-RAS7th
  8. OpenRoads8th
  9. Esri ArcGIS9th
  10. EPANET10th
  11. +4 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • AutoCAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Revit5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Civil 3D5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • STAAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Esri ArcGIS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ETABS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • HEC-RAS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SAP20004 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Primavera P63 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • EPANET3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about civil engineering software

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which civil engineering software compete with AutoCAD?

AutoCAD against civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, QGIS, Revit, Esri ArcGIS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAutoCADQGISRevitEsri ArcGISCivil 3DPrimavera P6ETABSHEC-RASSTAADEPANETSAP2000InfraWorksOpenRoads12d Model
Oct 202552.8%15.9%13%11.1%1.7%1.4%0.95%0.78%0.52%0.64%0.78%0.29%0.07%0.03%
Nov 202553%15.9%13%11%1.7%1.4%0.96%0.78%0.52%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.07%0.02%
Dec 202554.1%16.3%10.9%11.3%1.8%1.5%1.2%0.8%0.54%0.54%0.66%0.24%0.08%0.02%
Jan 202650.3%18.6%12.4%10.9%2%1.7%1.1%0.75%0.61%0.61%0.61%0.27%0.08%0.02%
Feb 202650.4%18.6%12.4%10.8%2%1.7%1.1%0.75%0.61%0.61%0.61%0.33%0.08%0.02%
Mar 202652.8%15.9%13%11.1%1.7%1.4%0.95%0.78%0.64%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Apr 202649%18.1%12.1%12.6%2%1.6%1.1%0.89%0.73%0.73%0.73%0.27%0.1%0.03%
May 202650%18.5%12.3%10.7%2%1.7%1.1%0.91%0.91%0.74%0.74%0.27%0.08%0.03%
Jun 202652.7%15.9%13%9.2%2.1%2.1%1.2%0.96%0.96%0.78%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Jul 202648.1%17.7%14.5%10.3%1.9%2.4%1.3%0.87%1.1%0.71%0.71%0.32%0.09%0.04%
Aug 202652.8%15.9%13%9.2%2.1%2.1%1.2%0.78%1.2%0.64%0.64%0.29%0.08%0.03%
Sep 202652.6%15.8%12.9%11.1%1.7%1.7%0.95%0.78%0.78%0.64%0.64%0.23%0.08%0.03%

  1. 1.AutoCAD

    52.6%

    Held 1st. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  2. 2.QGIS

    15.8%

    Held 2nd. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  3. 3.Revit

    12.9%

    Held 3rd. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  4. 4.Esri ArcGIS

    11.1%

    Held 4th. 316K estimated branded searches, +48.2% vs prior month. Share +1.9 points.

  5. 5.Civil 3D

    1.7%

    Held 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  6. 6.Primavera P6

    1.7%

    Held 6th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  7. 7.ETABS

    0.95%

    Held 7th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  8. 8.HEC-RAS

    0.78%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.STAAD

    0.78%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  10. 10.EPANET

    0.64%

    Held 10th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.SAP2000

    0.64%

    Held 11th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  12. 12.InfraWorks

    0.23%

    Held 12th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  13. 13.OpenRoads

    0.08%

    Held 13th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, +26.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  14. 14.12d Model

    0.03%

    Held 14th. 880 estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between AutoCAD and its closest rivals

Every comparison with AutoCAD

28 comparisons

How has branded search demand for AutoCAD changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for AutoCAD worldwide held steady at 1.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide peaked at 54.1% in December 2025 and was lowest at 48.1% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide, from 9.2% to 11.1%.

  2. In September 2026, HEC-RAS rose from 9th to 8th among civil engineering software worldwide.

  3. In September 2026, STAAD fell from 8th to 9th among civil engineering software worldwide.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for OpenRoads worldwide rose 26.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 2.4K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for 12d Model worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 720 to 880 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Primavera P6 worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 49.5K in September 2026.

How are AutoCAD’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • autocad

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is owned by Autodesk. Brandwave also tracks Autodesk Forma, BuildingConnected, Fusion 360, Revit and Tinkercad, owned by the same company, worldwide.

Do you work for AutoCAD? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Where does AutoCAD compete?

AutoCAD is ranked in four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
CAD and 3D design software2nd of 1110.9%Show ranking
CAD software2nd of 1012.3%Show ranking
Architectural design software1st of 737.1%Show ranking
Civil engineering software1st of 1452.6%Shown above
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Is AutoCAD your brand?

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