Brandwave

AutoCAD vs QGIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, AutoCAD had more branded searches than QGIS among civil engineering software worldwide. AutoCAD had about 1.5 million branded searches, while QGIS had 450,000. AutoCAD made up 52.6% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and QGIS accounted for 15.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, AutoCAD appeared in all five answers and QGIS in two. AutoCAD was mentioned before QGIS in every answer.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

AutoCAD, about 3 searches for every 1 for QGIS

AutoCAD 1.5M searchesQGIS 450K searches

Who does AI mention more?

AutoCAD, mentioned in every answer we collected

AutoCAD in 5 of 5QGIS in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

AutoCAD, named ahead of QGIS in every answer

AutoCAD first in 5QGIS never first

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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AutoCAD appeared in all five answers. QGIS was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. AutoCAD was listed before QGIS in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. AutoCAD1st
  2. Civil 3D2nd
  3. Revit3rd
  4. STAAD4th
  5. ETABS5th
  6. SAP20006th
  7. HEC-RAS7th
  8. OpenRoads8th
  9. Esri ArcGIS9th
  10. +4 more
  11. QGIS14th

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
  • QGIS2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about civil engineering 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 AutoCAD or QGIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for AutoCAD and QGIS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 civil engineering software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

AutoCAD and QGIS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, QGIS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAutoCADQGISRevitEsri ArcGISCivil 3DPrimavera P6ETABSHEC-RASSTAADEPANETSAP2000InfraWorksOpenRoads12d Model
Oct 202552.8%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 202553%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 202554.1%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 202650.3%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 202650.4%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 202652.8%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 202649%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 202650%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 202652.7%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 202648.1%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 202652.8%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 202652.6%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%

How has the AutoCAD and QGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • AutoCAD was ahead of QGIS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 52.8% to 52.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 15.9% to 15.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.

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

0 changes

Neither AutoCAD nor QGIS moved beyond provider rounding among civil engineering software in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s and QGIS’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.

AutoCAD

1 branded search term

  • autocad

QGIS

1 branded search term

  • qgis

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

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