AutoCAD vs FreeCAD:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AutoCAD had more branded searches than FreeCAD among CAD software worldwide. AutoCAD had about 1.5 million branded searches, while FreeCAD had 450,000. AutoCAD made up 12.3% of all CAD software searches we track, and FreeCAD accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CAD software, FreeCAD appeared in all five answers and AutoCAD in four. FreeCAD was mentioned before AutoCAD in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
AutoCAD, about 3 searches for every 1 for FreeCAD
Who does AI mention more?
FreeCAD, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
FreeCAD, named ahead of AutoCAD in 3 of 5 answers
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Top CAD software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FreeCAD appeared in all five answers. AutoCAD was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. FreeCAD was listed before AutoCAD in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Fusion 3601st
- AutoCAD2nd
SolidWorks3rd- FreeCAD4th
Tinkercad5th
Shapr3D6th- Inventor7th
Onshape8th
OpenSCAD9th
Creo–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- SolidWorks5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- FreeCAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Fusion 3605 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
- Onshape4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Tinkercad2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Inventor2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- OpenSCAD2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Shapr3D2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Creo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about CAD software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CAD software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CAD software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CAD software for engineering drawings?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cad software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“3d cad software”
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.
Is AutoCAD or FreeCAD more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AutoCAD and FreeCAD by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten CAD software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, FreeCAD. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tinkercad | AutoCAD | Onshape | SolidWorks | FreeCAD | Fusion 360 | Creo | Inventor | OpenSCAD | Shapr3D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 4% | 3.2% | 4% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.53% | 0.53% |
| Nov 2025 | 62.4% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.62% | 0.75% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.7% | 12.1% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 57.9% | 11.5% | 9.5% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 6.4% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.86% |
| Feb 2026 | 63.7% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.94% | 0.77% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.1% | 12.2% | 10% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.74% |
| Apr 2026 | 64.1% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.78% |
| May 2026 | 65.2% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 63% | 12.6% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.93% | 0.76% |
| Jul 2026 | 56% | 13.7% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5% | 6.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1% |
| Aug 2026 | 58% | 14.2% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 2.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.86% |
| Sep 2026 | 61.2% | 12.3% | 10% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.61% |
How has the AutoCAD and FreeCAD comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AutoCAD was ahead of FreeCAD in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among CAD software worldwide moved from 10.8% to 12.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among CAD software worldwide moved from 3.2% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for CAD software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, AutoCAD lost share of searches among CAD software worldwide, from 14.2% to 12.3%.
In September 2026, FreeCAD lost share of searches among CAD software worldwide, from 4.3% to 3.7%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s and FreeCAD’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among CAD software
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