Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, QGIS had more branded searches than Esri ArcGIS among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide. QGIS had about 450,000 branded searches, while Esri ArcGIS had 316,000. QGIS made up 39.1% of all geospatial analytics platform searches we track, and Esri ArcGIS accounted for 27.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about geospatial analytics platforms, both Esri ArcGIS and QGIS appeared in all four answers. Esri ArcGIS was mentioned before QGIS in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
QGIS, about 42% more searches than Esri ArcGIS
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Esri ArcGIS, named ahead of QGIS in every answer
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Top geospatial analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Esri ArcGIS and QGIS showed up in all four answers. Esri ArcGIS was listed before QGIS in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Esri ArcGIS1st
CARTO2nd- QGIS3rd
Google Earth Engine4th
Mapbox5th
Foursquare–
SafeGraph–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- QGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Esri ArcGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Mapbox4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- CARTO4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Google Earth Engine3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Foursquare0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- SafeGraph0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about geospatial analytics platforms
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which geospatial analytics platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best geospatial analytics platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best geospatial analytics platform for location analysis?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“geospatial analytics platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“location analytics software”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 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 seven geospatial analytics platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for QGIS, Esri ArcGIS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | QGIS | Esri ArcGIS | Google Earth Engine | Mapbox | Foursquare | CARTO | SafeGraph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.8% | 26.5% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.9% | 26.2% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| Dec 2025 | 38.4% | 26.7% | 11.5% | 14.1% | 6.3% | 2.8% | 0.17% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.6% | 23.8% | 12.2% | 14.9% | 5.5% | 3% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.3% | 24% | 10.1% | 15.2% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 0.17% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.2% | 26.1% | 11.1% | 13.6% | 9.1% | 2.7% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.4% | 26% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| May 2026 | 40.2% | 23.3% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 6.6% | 3% | 0.14% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.1% | 22.7% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.4% | 22.8% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 0.14% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.1% | 22.6% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 0.11% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.1% | 27.4% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
How has the Esri ArcGIS and QGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- QGIS was ahead of Esri ArcGIS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Esri ArcGIS’s share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide moved from 26.5% to 27.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 316K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide moved from 37.8% to 39.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for geospatial analytics platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 22.6% to 27.4%.
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
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