Brandwave

How popular isFreeCAD?

In September 2026, people searched for FreeCAD by name about 450,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 11.1% of all global architectural design software searches, placing FreeCAD third out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about architectural design software, FreeCAD appeared in four of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

FreeCAD is the third most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. AutoCADShare of searches 37.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. SketchUpShare of searches 37.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. FreeCADShare of searches 11.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. RevitShare of searches 9.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  5. ArchiCADShare of searches 3.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top architectural design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FreeCAD was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. FreeCAD is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Revit1st
  2. SketchUp2nd
  3. ArchiCAD3rd
  4. Chief Architect4th
  5. AutoCAD5th
  6. FreeCAD6th
  7. Vectorworks–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • SketchUp5 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
  • AutoCAD4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • FreeCAD4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ArchiCAD4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Chief Architect4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vectorworks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about architectural design software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

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

Which architectural design software compete with FreeCAD?

FreeCAD against architectural design software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, SketchUp, FreeCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAutoCADSketchUpFreeCADRevitArchiCADVectorworksChief Architect
Oct 202534%41.5%10.2%8.3%3.7%1.7%0.55%
Nov 202534.2%41.8%10.3%8.4%3.1%1.7%0.55%
Dec 202533.8%41.5%12.5%6.8%3%1.7%0.66%
Jan 202630.2%45.3%11.1%7.5%3.3%1.8%0.72%
Feb 202630.2%45.4%11.2%7.5%3.3%1.8%0.6%
Mar 202634.2%41.8%10.3%8.4%3.1%1.7%0.55%
Apr 202630.2%45.4%11.2%7.5%3.3%1.8%0.6%
May 202631%46.5%9.4%7.7%3.4%1.5%0.51%
Jun 202634.1%41.9%10.3%8.4%3.1%1.7%0.56%
Jul 202632.6%39.8%12%9.8%3.6%1.6%0.65%
Aug 202636.9%36.9%11.1%9.1%3.3%1.8%0.74%
Sep 202637.1%37.1%11.1%9.1%3.3%1.8%0.49%

  1. 1.AutoCAD

    37.1%

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

  2. 2.SketchUp

    37.1%

    Held 2nd. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  3. 3.FreeCAD

    11.1%

    Held 3rd. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Revit

    9.1%

    Held 4th. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.ArchiCAD

    3.3%

    Held 5th. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Vectorworks

    1.8%

    Held 6th. 74K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Chief Architect

    0.49%

    Held 7th. 19.7K estimated branded searches, -19.9% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

Compare popularity between FreeCAD and its closest rivals

Every comparison with FreeCAD

16 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for FreeCAD worldwide held steady at 450K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among architectural design software worldwide increased from 10.2% to 11.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among architectural design software worldwide peaked at 12.5% in December 2025 and was lowest at 9.4% in May 2026.

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

3 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Chief Architect worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 24.1K to 19.7K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for ArchiCAD worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for SketchUp worldwide fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 1.8M to 1.5M in September 2026.

How are FreeCAD’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FreeCAD’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.

  • freecad

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does FreeCAD compete?

FreeCAD is ranked in three 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 software6th of 113.3%Show ranking
CAD software5th of 103.7%Show ranking
Architectural design software3rd of 711.1%Shown above
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Is FreeCAD your brand?

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