Brandwave

Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, QGIS had more branded searches than Esri ArcGIS among GIS software worldwide. QGIS had about 450,000 branded searches, while Esri ArcGIS had 316,000. QGIS made up 41.6% of all GIS software searches we track, and Esri ArcGIS accounted for 29.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about GIS software, both Esri ArcGIS and QGIS appeared in all five answers. QGIS was mentioned before Esri ArcGIS in three out of five answers.

Among GIS 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?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Esri ArcGIS in 5 of 5QGIS in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

QGIS, named ahead of Esri ArcGIS in 3 of 5 answers

QGIS first in 3Esri ArcGIS first in 2

Follow Esri ArcGIS vs QGIS 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

Track your brand against a rival →

Top GIS software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Esri ArcGIS and QGIS showed up in all five answers. QGIS was listed before Esri ArcGIS in three of them.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. QGIS1st
  2. Esri ArcGIS2nd
  3. GRASS GIS3rd
  4. Google Earth Engine4th
  5. CARTO5th
  6. Mapbox6th
  7. Maptitude–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • QGIS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Esri ArcGIS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GRASS GIS4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Earth Engine3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mapbox1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CARTO1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Maptitude0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about GIS software

5 answers

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 GIS software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Esri ArcGIS and QGIS among GIS 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
MonthQGISEsri ArcGISGoogle Earth EngineMapboxCARTOGRASS GISMaptitude
Oct 202539.5%27.8%14.5%14.5%2.9%0.47%0.32%
Nov 202539.7%27.5%14.6%14.6%2.9%0.48%0.26%
Dec 202540.8%28.4%12.2%15%3%0.4%0.27%
Jan 202642.7%25%12.8%15.6%3.1%0.42%0.28%
Feb 202644.1%25.6%10.8%16.2%2.7%0.43%0.24%
Mar 202640.7%28.5%12.2%14.9%3%0.4%0.26%
Apr 202639.7%27.7%14.6%14.6%2.9%0.32%0.21%
May 202642.9%24.9%12.9%15.7%3.2%0.34%0.15%
Jun 202641.7%24.1%15.3%15.3%3.1%0.41%0.18%
Jul 202641.4%24%15.2%15.2%3.7%0.4%0.15%
Aug 202641.1%23.8%15.1%15.1%4.5%0.32%0.15%
Sep 202641.6%29.2%12.5%12.5%3.7%0.27%0.12%

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 GIS software worldwide moved from 27.8% to 29.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 316K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among GIS software worldwide moved from 39.5% to 41.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among GIS software worldwide, from 23.8% to 29.2%.

  2. In September 2026, QGIS gained share of searches among GIS software worldwide, from 41.1% to 41.6%.

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 GIS software

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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.

Start free