How popular isQGIS?
In September 2026, people searched for QGIS by name about 450,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 39.1% of all global geospatial analytics platform searches, placing QGIS first out of seven platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about geospatial analytics platforms, QGIS appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the seven.
QGIS is the most searched of 7 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.
QGISShare of searches 39.1%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Esri ArcGISShare of searches 27.4%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Google Earth EngineShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
MapboxShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
FoursquareShare of searches 6.4%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top geospatial analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, QGIS appeared in all four answers. QGIS is the third most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Esri ArcGIS1st
CARTO2nd- QGIS3rd
- Google Earth Engine4th
- Mapbox5th
- Foursquare–
SafeGraph–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- QGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Esri ArcGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Mapbox4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- CARTO4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Google Earth Engine3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Foursquare0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- SafeGraph0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about geospatial analytics platforms
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which geospatial analytics platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best geospatial analytics platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best geospatial analytics platform for location analysis?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“geospatial analytics platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“location analytics software”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 21, 2026.
Which geospatial analytics platforms compete with QGIS?
Share of searches by month for QGIS, Esri ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine, Mapbox, Foursquare, CARTO. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | QGIS | Esri ArcGIS | Google Earth Engine | Mapbox | Foursquare | CARTO | SafeGraph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.8% | 26.5% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.9% | 26.2% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| Dec 2025 | 38.4% | 26.7% | 11.5% | 14.1% | 6.3% | 2.8% | 0.17% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.6% | 23.8% | 12.2% | 14.9% | 5.5% | 3% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.3% | 24% | 10.1% | 15.2% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 0.17% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.2% | 26.1% | 11.1% | 13.6% | 9.1% | 2.7% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.4% | 26% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| May 2026 | 40.2% | 23.3% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 6.6% | 3% | 0.14% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.1% | 22.7% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.4% | 22.8% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 0.14% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.1% | 22.6% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 0.11% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.1% | 27.4% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 39.1% | 450K | +22.3% | 0 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 27.4% | 316K | +48.2% | +4.8 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.7% | 135K | 0% | -2.6 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 11.7% | 135K | 0% | -2.6 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 6.4% | 74K | +49.5% | +1.2 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 3.5% | 40.5K | 0% | -0.8 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.09% | 1K | 0% | 0 points |
1.
QGIS39.1%
Held 1st. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
27.4%
Held 2nd. 316K estimated branded searches, +48.2% vs prior month. Share +4.8 points.
11.7%
Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.
4.
Mapbox11.7%
Held 4th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.
6.4%
Held 5th. 74K estimated branded searches, +49.5% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.
6.
CARTO3.5%
Held 6th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
0.09%
Held 7th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between QGIS and its closest rivals
Every comparison with QGIS
23 comparisons
- AutoCAD vs QGIS
- QGIS vs Revit
- Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS
- Google Earth Engine vs QGIS
- Mapbox vs QGIS
- Foursquare vs QGIS
- Google Maps Platform vs QGIS
- Civil 3D vs QGIS
- Primavera P6 vs QGIS
- CARTO vs QGIS
- ETABS vs QGIS
- HEC-RAS vs QGIS
- QGIS vs STAAD
- EPANET vs QGIS
- QGIS vs SAP2000
- HERE Technologies vs QGIS
- InfraWorks vs QGIS
- Felt vs QGIS
- GRASS GIS vs QGIS
- OpenRoads vs QGIS
- Maptitude vs QGIS
- QGIS vs SafeGraph
- 12d Model vs QGIS
How has branded search demand for QGIS changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for QGIS worldwide held steady at 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide increased from 37.8% to 39.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide peaked at 41.3% in February 2026 and was lowest at 37.2% in March 2026.
How did search popularity change for geospatial analytics platforms worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 22.6% to 27.4%.
In September 2026, Foursquare gained share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 5.3% to 6.4%.
In September 2026, Google Earth Engine lost share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 14.3% to 11.7%.
In September 2026, Mapbox lost share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 14.3% to 11.7%.
In September 2026, CARTO lost share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 4.3% to 3.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SafeGraph worldwide fell 58.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 1K in September 2026.
How are QGIS’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using QGIS’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.
- qgis
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Where does QGIS compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering software | 2nd of 14 | 15.8% | Show ranking |
| Geospatial analytics platforms | 1st of 7 | 39.1% | Shown above |
| GIS software | 1st of 7 | 41.6% | Show ranking |
| Mapping and location platforms | 1st of 7 | 44.1% | Show ranking |
Is QGIS 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.