Brandwave

Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, QGIS had more branded searches than Esri ArcGIS among civil engineering software worldwide. QGIS had about 450,000 branded searches, while Esri ArcGIS had 316,000. QGIS made up 15.8% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and Esri ArcGIS accounted for 11.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, Esri ArcGIS appeared in four of the five answers and QGIS in two. Esri ArcGIS was mentioned before QGIS in every answer that named either.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

QGIS, about 42% more searches than Esri ArcGIS

QGIS 450K searchesEsri ArcGIS 316K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Esri ArcGIS, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, QGIS in 2

Esri ArcGIS in 4 of 5QGIS in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Esri ArcGIS, named ahead of QGIS in 4 of 4 answers

Esri ArcGIS first in 4QGIS 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, Esri ArcGIS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. 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. Esri ArcGIS was listed before QGIS in every answer that named either.

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 Esri ArcGIS or QGIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Esri ArcGIS 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.

Esri ArcGIS and QGIS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for QGIS, Esri ArcGIS. 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 Esri ArcGIS and QGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide, from 9.2% to 11.1%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Esri ArcGIS’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.

Esri ArcGIS

2 branded search terms

  • arcgis
  • esri arcgis

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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