How popular isHEC-RAS?
In September 2026, people searched for HEC-RAS by name about 22,200 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 0.78% of all global civil engineering software searches, placing HEC-RAS eighth out of 14 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, HEC-RAS appeared in four of the five answers and was the seventh most recommended of the 14.
HEC-RAS is the eighth most searched of 14 competitors and the seventh 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
HEC-RASShare of searches 0.78%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
Follow HEC-RAS and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HEC-RAS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. HEC-RAS is the seventh 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 HEC-RAS?
Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, QGIS, Revit, Esri ArcGIS, HEC-RAS. 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 HEC-RAS and its closest rivals
Every comparison with HEC-RAS
13 comparisons
How has branded search demand for HEC-RAS changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for HEC-RAS worldwide held steady at 22.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HEC-RAS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.78%.
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 HEC-RAS’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HEC-RAS’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.
- hec ras
Who owns HEC-RAS?
HEC-RAS is owned by US Army Corps of Engineers. Brandwave does not track any other brands owned by US Army Corps of Engineers.
Do you work for HEC-RAS? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Is HEC-RAS 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.