FLOW-3D vs OpenFOAM:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, OpenFOAM had more branded searches than FLOW-3D among CFD software worldwide. OpenFOAM had about 40,500 branded searches, while FLOW-3D had 2,900. OpenFOAM made up 30.8% of all CFD software searches we track, and FLOW-3D accounted for 2.2%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
Follow FLOW-3D vs OpenFOAM 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
Is FLOW-3D or OpenFOAM more popular in search?
Compare the software used for fluid dynamics simulation. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of searches by month for OpenFOAM, FLOW-3D. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | COMSOL | OpenFOAM | SimScale | Ansys Fluent | FLOW-3D | STAR-CCM+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.7% | 31.7% | 17.4% | 14.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 31.8% | 31.8% | 17.4% | 14.2% | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 21.1% | 11.5% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.7% | 32.7% | 17.9% | 11.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 30.3% | 30.3% | 20.3% | 13.6% | 3.3% | 2.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 30.6% | 30.6% | 20.5% | 13.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.4% | 31.4% | 21% | 11.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 29.1% | 29.1% | 23.9% | 13% | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.1% | 29.1% | 23.9% | 13% | 3.2% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.8% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 12.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.1% | 30.1% | 24.7% | 11% | 2.6% | 1.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 30.8% | 30.8% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
How has the FLOW-3D and OpenFOAM comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- OpenFOAM was ahead of FLOW-3D in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FLOW-3D’s share of searches among CFD software worldwide moved from 2.8% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.6K to 2.9K.
- 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
In September 2026, OpenFOAM gained share of searches among CFD software worldwide, from 30.1% to 30.8%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for FLOW-3D worldwide fell 19.4% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.9K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FLOW-3D’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.
Other head-to-heads among CFD software
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.