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 3.3% of all global CAD and 3D design software searches, placing FreeCAD sixth out of 11 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CAD and 3D design software, FreeCAD appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

FreeCAD is the sixth most searched of 11 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. TinkercadShare of searches 54.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  2. AutoCADShare of searches 10.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  3. SketchUpShare of searches 10.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. OnshapeShare of searches 8.8%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. FreeCADShare of searches 3.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+6 more

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Top CAD and 3D design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FreeCAD was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. FreeCAD is the fifth most recommended of the 11.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Fusion 3601st
  2. Onshape2nd
  3. SolidWorks3rd
  4. Blender4th
  5. FreeCAD5th
  6. SketchUp6th
  7. Tinkercad7th
  8. Rhino8th
  9. AutoCAD9th
  10. Shapr3D10th
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Fusion 3605 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Onshape4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SolidWorks4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Blender4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Tinkercad3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AutoCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SketchUp3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • FreeCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Shapr3D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Rhino2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about CAD and 3D design software

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which CAD and 3D design software compete with FreeCAD?

FreeCAD against CAD and 3D design software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Tinkercad, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Onshape, SolidWorks, FreeCAD, Fusion 360, Revit. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTinkercadAutoCADSketchUpOnshapeSolidWorksFreeCADFusion 360RevitBlenderShapr3DRhino
Oct 202557.4%9.4%11.5%7.7%3.5%2.8%3.5%2.3%1%0.46%0.46%
Nov 202553.3%10.7%13%7.1%3.9%3.2%3.9%2.6%1.2%0.64%0.43%
Dec 202552.4%10.4%12.8%7%3.9%3.9%4.7%2.1%1.4%0.78%0.52%
Jan 202648.9%9.8%14.6%8%4.4%3.6%5.4%2.4%1.6%0.72%0.59%
Feb 202654.6%8.9%13.4%7.3%4%3.3%4%2.2%1.2%0.66%0.44%
Mar 202652.4%10.5%12.8%8.5%3.9%3.2%3.9%2.6%1.2%0.63%0.52%
Apr 202655%9%13.5%7.4%3.3%3.3%4%2.2%1.2%0.67%0.44%
May 202655.8%9.1%13.6%7.5%3.4%2.7%3.4%2.2%1.2%0.67%0.45%
Jun 202653.9%10.7%13.2%5.9%4%3.2%4%2.7%1.2%0.65%0.53%
Jul 202646.9%11.5%14%6.3%5.2%4.2%5.2%3.4%1.9%0.85%0.69%
Aug 202650.1%12.2%12.2%6.7%4.5%3.7%4.5%3%1.7%0.74%0.61%
Sep 202654.1%10.9%10.9%8.8%4%3.3%3.3%2.7%1.2%0.54%0.44%

  1. 1.Tinkercad

    54.1%

    Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, +49.6% vs prior month. Share +4 points.

  2. 2.AutoCAD

    10.9%

    Held 2nd. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.

  3. 3.SketchUp

    10.9%

    Held 3rd. 1.5M estimated branded searches, +23% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.

  4. 4.Onshape

    8.8%

    Held 4th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, +81.3% vs prior month. Share +2.1 points.

  5. 5.SolidWorks

    4%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 550K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  6. 6.FreeCAD

    3.3%

    Moved from 7th to 6th. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  7. 7.Fusion 360

    3.3%

    Moved from 5th to 7th. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  8. 8.Revit

    2.7%

    Held 8th. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  9. 9.Blender

    1.2%

    Held 9th. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  10. 10.Shapr3D

    0.54%

    Held 10th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  11. 11.Rhino

    0.44%

    Held 11th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 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 CAD and 3D design software worldwide peaked at 4.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in May 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD rose from 7th to 6th among CAD and 3D design software worldwide.

How did search popularity change for CAD and 3D design software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Tinkercad gained share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 50.1% to 54.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Onshape gained share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 6.7% to 8.8%.

  3. In September 2026, AutoCAD lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 12.2% to 10.9%.

  4. In September 2026, SketchUp lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 12.2% to 10.9%.

  5. In September 2026, Fusion 360 lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 4.5% to 3.3%.

  6. In September 2026, SolidWorks lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 4.5% to 4%.

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

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

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%Shown above
CAD software5th of 103.7%Show ranking
Architectural design software3rd of 711.1%Show ranking
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