Brandwave

Ansys Fluent vs OpenFOAM:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, OpenFOAM had more branded searches than Ansys Fluent among CFD software worldwide. OpenFOAM had about 40,500 branded searches, while Ansys Fluent had 18,100. OpenFOAM made up 30.8% of all CFD software searches we track, and Ansys Fluent accounted for 13.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CFD software, both Ansys Fluent and OpenFOAM appeared in all five answers. Ansys Fluent was mentioned before OpenFOAM in three out of five answers.

Among CFD software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

OpenFOAM, about 2 searches for every 1 for Ansys Fluent

OpenFOAM 40.5K searchesAnsys Fluent 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Ansys Fluent in 5 of 5OpenFOAM in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Ansys Fluent, named ahead of OpenFOAM in 3 of 5 answers

Ansys Fluent first in 3OpenFOAM first in 2

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Top CFD software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Ansys Fluent and OpenFOAM showed up in all five answers. Ansys Fluent was listed before OpenFOAM in three of them.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. STAR-CCM+1st
  2. Ansys Fluent2nd
  3. COMSOL3rd
  4. OpenFOAM4th
  5. SimScale5th
  6. FLOW-3D6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • COMSOL5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenFOAM5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SimScale5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ansys Fluent5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • STAR-CCM+5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • FLOW-3D4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about CFD software

5 answers

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

Is Ansys Fluent or OpenFOAM more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ansys Fluent and OpenFOAM by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six CFD software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Ansys Fluent and OpenFOAM among CFD software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for OpenFOAM, Ansys Fluent. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCOMSOLOpenFOAMSimScaleAnsys FluentFLOW-3DSTAR-CCM+
Oct 202531.7%31.7%17.4%14.2%2.8%2.3%
Nov 202531.8%31.8%17.4%14.2%2.8%1.9%
Dec 202531.4%31.4%21.1%11.5%2.8%1.8%
Jan 202632.7%32.7%17.9%11.9%2.9%1.9%
Feb 202630.3%30.3%20.3%13.6%3.3%2.2%
Mar 202630.6%30.6%20.5%13.7%2.7%1.8%
Apr 202631.4%31.4%21%11.5%2.8%1.9%
May 202629.1%29.1%23.9%13%3.2%1.7%
Jun 202629.1%29.1%23.9%13%3.2%1.7%
Jul 202627.8%27.8%27.8%12.4%2.4%1.6%
Aug 202630.1%30.1%24.7%11%2.6%1.5%
Sep 202630.8%30.8%20.6%13.8%2.2%1.8%

How has the Ansys Fluent and OpenFOAM comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • OpenFOAM was ahead of Ansys Fluent in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ansys Fluent’s share of searches among CFD software worldwide moved from 14.2% to 13.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenFOAM’s share of searches among CFD software worldwide moved from 31.7% to 30.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Ansys Fluent gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 11% to 13.8%.

  2. In September 2026, OpenFOAM gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 30.1% to 30.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ansys Fluent’s and OpenFOAM’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.

Ansys Fluent

1 branded search term

  • ansys fluent

OpenFOAM

1 branded search term

  • openfoam

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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