How popular isEsri ArcGIS?
In September 2026, people searched for Esri ArcGIS by name about 316,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 11.1% of all global civil engineering software searches, placing Esri ArcGIS fourth out of 14 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, Esri ArcGIS appeared in four of the five answers and was the ninth most recommended of the 14.
Esri ArcGIS is the fourth most searched of 14 competitors and the ninth most recommended in AI answers.
AutoCADShare of searches 52.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
QGISShare of searches 15.8%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 14th
RevitShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Esri ArcGISShare of searches 11.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
Civil 3DShare of searches 1.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Esri ArcGIS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Esri ArcGIS is the ninth most recommended of the 14.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
See every answer about civil engineering software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which civil engineering software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best civil engineering software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best civil engineering software for road design?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“civil engineering software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“civil design software”
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 Esri ArcGIS?
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
| Month | AutoCAD | QGIS | Revit | Esri ArcGIS | Civil 3D | Primavera P6 | ETABS | HEC-RAS | STAAD | EPANET | SAP2000 | InfraWorks | OpenRoads | 12d Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 52.8% | 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 2025 | 53% | 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 2025 | 54.1% | 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 2026 | 50.3% | 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 2026 | 50.4% | 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 2026 | 52.8% | 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 2026 | 49% | 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 2026 | 50% | 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 2026 | 52.7% | 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 2026 | 48.1% | 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 2026 | 52.8% | 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 2026 | 52.6% | 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% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 52.6% | 1.5M | +23% | -0.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 15.8% | 450K | +22.3% | -0.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 12.9% | 368K | +22.3% | -0.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 11.1% | 316K | +48.2% | +1.9 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 1.7% | 49.5K | 0% | -0.4 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.7% | 49.5K | 0% | -0.4 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.95% | 27.1K | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 8, moved from 9th to 8th | 0.78% | 22.2K | +22.7% | 0 pointsmoved from 9th to 8th | |
| 9, moved from 8th to 9th | 0.78% | 22.2K | -18.1% | -0.4 pointsmoved from 8th to 9th | |
| 10, held 10th | 0.64% | 18.1K | +22.3% | 0 points | |
| 11, held 11th | 0.64% | 18.1K | +22.3% | 0 points | |
| 12, held 12th | 0.23% | 6.6K | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 13, held 13th | 0.08% | 2.4K | +26.3% | 0 points | |
| 14, held 14th | 0.03% | 880 | +22.2% | 0 points |
1.
AutoCAD52.6%
Held 1st. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
2.
QGIS15.8%
Held 2nd. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
3.
Revit12.9%
Held 3rd. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
11.1%
Held 4th. 316K estimated branded searches, +48.2% vs prior month. Share +1.9 points.
5.
Civil 3D1.7%
Held 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
1.7%
Held 6th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
7.
ETABS0.95%
Held 7th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
8.
HEC-RAS0.78%
Moved from 9th to 8th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
9.
STAAD0.78%
Moved from 8th to 9th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
10.
EPANET0.64%
Held 10th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
11.
SAP20000.64%
Held 11th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
12.
InfraWorks0.23%
Held 12th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
13.
OpenRoads0.08%
Held 13th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, +26.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
14.
12d Model0.03%
Held 14th. 880 estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Esri ArcGIS and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Esri ArcGIS
41 comparisons
- AutoCAD vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Revit
- Esri ArcGIS vs Trimble
- Esri ArcGIS vs Google Earth Engine
- Esri ArcGIS vs Mapbox
- Esri ArcGIS vs Foursquare
- Esri ArcGIS vs Google Maps Platform
- Autodesk Civil 3D vs Esri ArcGIS
- Civil 3D vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Primavera P6
- CARTO vs Esri ArcGIS
- Carlson vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Land id
- Esri ArcGIS vs Topcon
- CKAN vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs OpenGov
- Esri ArcGIS vs ETABS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Regrid
- Esri ArcGIS vs HEC-RAS
- Esri ArcGIS vs STAAD
- EPANET vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Leica Geosystems
- Esri ArcGIS vs SAP2000
- Esri ArcGIS vs HERE Technologies
- Esri ArcGIS vs Granicus
- AcreValue vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs InfraWorks
- Esri ArcGIS vs Felt
- Esri ArcGIS vs GRASS GIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Socrata
- Esri ArcGIS vs OpenRoads
- Esri ArcGIS vs Landfolio
- Esri ArcGIS vs Maptitude
- Esri ArcGIS vs SafeGraph
- Esri ArcGIS vs Pandell LandWorks
- 12d Model vs Esri ArcGIS
- Esri ArcGIS vs Silvacom
- Esri ArcGIS vs Remsoft
- Esri ArcGIS vs MicroSurvey FieldGenius
- Esri ArcGIS vs Forest Metrix
How has branded search demand for Esri ArcGIS changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Esri ArcGIS worldwide held steady at 316K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Esri ArcGIS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide peaked at 12.6% in April 2026 and was lowest at 9.2% in June 2026.
How did search popularity change for civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes

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

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

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

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

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

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 Esri ArcGIS’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Esri ArcGIS’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- arcgis
- esri arcgis
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Where does Esri ArcGIS compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering software | 4th of 14 | 11.1% | Shown above |
| Geospatial analytics platforms | 2nd of 7 | 27.4% | Show ranking |
| GIS software | 2nd of 7 | 29.2% | Show ranking |
| Mapping and location platforms | 2nd of 7 | 30.9% | Show ranking |
| Surveying software | 1st of 7 | 51.3% | Show ranking |
| Land management platforms | 1st of 7 | 57% | Show ranking |
| Forestry software | 1st of 5 | 65.5% | Show ranking |
| Open data platforms | 1st of 5 | 82.1% | Show ranking |

Is Esri ArcGIS your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.