SimScale vs SolidWorks:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, SimScale had more branded searches than SolidWorks among finite element analysis software worldwide. SimScale had about 27,100 branded searches, while SolidWorks had 5,400. SimScale made up 6.5% of all finite element analysis software searches we track, and SolidWorks accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about finite element analysis software, SimScale and SolidWorks each appeared in four of the five answers. SolidWorks was mentioned before SimScale in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
SimScale, about 5 searches for every 1 for SolidWorks
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
SolidWorks, named ahead of SimScale in 3 of 4 answers
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Top finite element analysis software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, SimScale and SolidWorks were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. SolidWorks was listed before SimScale in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Ansys5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Abaqus5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
COMSOL4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- SimScale4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- SolidWorks4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- CalculiX3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Nastran3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Altair2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about finite element analysis software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which finite element analysis software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best finite element analysis software tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best finite element analysis software for structural simulation?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“finite element analysis software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“engineering simulation software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is SimScale or SolidWorks more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for SimScale and SolidWorks by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight finite element analysis software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for SimScale, SolidWorks. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Altair | Ansys | COMSOL | Abaqus | SimScale | CalculiX | Nastran | SolidWorks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 41.5% | 34% | 8.4% | 6.8% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 45% | 30.2% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 5% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 48.9% | 26.8% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.1% | 30.3% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.1% | 33.7% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 5.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.5% | 29.9% | 9% | 6% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.8% | 32.6% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| May 2026 | 43.1% | 28.8% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.7% | 29.1% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.3% | 28.9% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 8.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.1% | 29.4% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.6% | 32.4% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
How has the SimScale and SolidWorks comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- SimScale was ahead of SolidWorks in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SimScale’s share of searches among finite element analysis software worldwide moved from 4.6% to 6.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SolidWorks’ share of searches among finite element analysis software worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
How did search popularity change for finite element analysis software worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Abaqus overtook SimScale to rank 4th among finite element analysis software worldwide, with 6.5% of the searches.
In September 2026, SimScale lost share of searches among finite element analysis software worldwide, from 7.2% to 6.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SolidWorks worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 5.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SimScale’s and SolidWorks’ 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.
SimScale
1 branded search term
- simscale
SolidWorks
1 branded search term
- solidworks simulation
Other head-to-heads among finite element analysis software
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