Brandwave

How popular isFLOW-3D?

In September 2026, people searched for FLOW-3D by name about 2,900 times worldwide, a 19.4% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 2.2% of all global CFD software searches, placing FLOW-3D fifth out of six brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CFD software, FLOW-3D appeared in four of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

FLOW-3D is the fifth most searched of 6 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. COMSOLShare of searches 30.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. OpenFOAMShare of searches 30.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. SimScaleShare of searches 20.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. Ansys FluentShare of searches 13.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. FLOW-3DShare of searches 2.2%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top CFD software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FLOW-3D was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. FLOW-3D is the sixth most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. STAR-CCM+1st
  2. Ansys Fluent2nd
  3. COMSOL3rd
  4. OpenFOAM4th
  5. SimScale5th
  6. FLOW-3D6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • COMSOL5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenFOAM5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SimScale5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ansys Fluent5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • STAR-CCM+5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • FLOW-3D4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about CFD 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 CFD software compete with FLOW-3D?

FLOW-3D against CFD software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for COMSOL, OpenFOAM, SimScale, Ansys Fluent, FLOW-3D. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCOMSOLOpenFOAMSimScaleAnsys FluentFLOW-3DSTAR-CCM+
Oct 202531.7%31.7%17.4%14.2%2.8%2.3%
Nov 202531.8%31.8%17.4%14.2%2.8%1.9%
Dec 202531.4%31.4%21.1%11.5%2.8%1.8%
Jan 202632.7%32.7%17.9%11.9%2.9%1.9%
Feb 202630.3%30.3%20.3%13.6%3.3%2.2%
Mar 202630.6%30.6%20.5%13.7%2.7%1.8%
Apr 202631.4%31.4%21%11.5%2.8%1.9%
May 202629.1%29.1%23.9%13%3.2%1.7%
Jun 202629.1%29.1%23.9%13%3.2%1.7%
Jul 202627.8%27.8%27.8%12.4%2.4%1.6%
Aug 202630.1%30.1%24.7%11%2.6%1.5%
Sep 202630.8%30.8%20.6%13.8%2.2%1.8%

  1. 1.COMSOL

    30.8%

    Held 1st. 40.5K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  2. 2.OpenFOAM

    30.8%

    Held 2nd. 40.5K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  3. 3.SimScale

    20.6%

    Held 3rd. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -4.1 points.

  4. 4.Ansys Fluent

    13.8%

    Held 4th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +49.6% vs prior month. Share +2.8 points.

  5. 5.FLOW-3D

    2.2%

    Held 5th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  6. 6.STAR-CCM+

    1.8%

    Held 6th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

Compare popularity between FLOW-3D and its closest rivals

Every comparison with FLOW-3D

5 comparisons

How has branded search demand for FLOW-3D changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for FLOW-3D worldwide fell from 3.6K to 2.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FLOW-3D’s share of searches among CFD software worldwide decreased from 2.8% to 2.2%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FLOW-3D’s share of searches among CFD software worldwide peaked at 3.3% in February 2026 and was lowest at 2.2% in September 2026.

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

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Ansys Fluent gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 11% to 13.8%.

  2. In September 2026, COMSOL gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 30.1% to 30.8%.

  3. In September 2026, OpenFOAM gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 30.1% to 30.8%.

  4. In September 2026, SimScale lost share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 24.7% to 20.6%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for FLOW-3D worldwide fell 19.4% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.9K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for STAR-CCM+ worldwide fell 17.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 2.4K in September 2026.

How are FLOW-3D’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FLOW-3D’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.

  • flow 3d

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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