Mapping and location platforms:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, QGIS was the most searched mapping and location platform worldwide, accounting for 44.1% of all searches among the seven platforms we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Mapbox and Google Maps Platform showed up in every answer. Google Maps Platform was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five responses.
QGISShare of searches 44.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
Esri ArcGISShare of searches 30.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
MapboxShare of searches 13.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Google Maps PlatformShare of searches 6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
CARTOShare of searches 4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
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Top mapping and location platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mapbox and Google Maps Platform appeared every time. Google Maps Platform was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five answers. Mapbox was second, and Esri ArcGIS was third.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Google Maps Platform1st
- Mapbox2nd
- Esri ArcGIS3rd
HERE Technologies4th
Felt5th- CARTO6th
- QGIS7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Mapbox5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Google Maps Platform5 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
- HERE Technologies3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- QGIS2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- CARTO2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Felt2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about mapping and location platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which location mapping platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best location mapping platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best location mapping platform for a map app?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“location map software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“location mapping platforms”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which mapping and location platforms do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each mapping and location platform by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven mapping and location platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for QGIS, Esri ArcGIS, Mapbox, Google Maps Platform, CARTO. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | QGIS | Esri ArcGIS | Mapbox | Google Maps Platform | CARTO | HERE Technologies | Felt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.6% | 28.5% | 14.9% | 11.5% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.26% |
| Nov 2025 | 41.6% | 28.7% | 15.3% | 9.7% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.22% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.4% | 28.8% | 15.2% | 10% | 3% | 1.4% | 0.27% |
| Jan 2026 | 43.5% | 25.5% | 15.9% | 10.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 0.23% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.2% | 26.2% | 16.6% | 7.6% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.29% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.3% | 29.7% | 15.5% | 7.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.34% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.5% | 29.6% | 15.6% | 7.4% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.34% |
| May 2026 | 44.9% | 26% | 16.5% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.36% |
| Jun 2026 | 44% | 25.5% | 16.1% | 9% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 0.43% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.3% | 25.1% | 15.9% | 9.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 0.34% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.6% | 25.3% | 16% | 8.5% | 4.8% | 1.4% | 0.34% |
| Sep 2026 | 44.1% | 30.9% | 13.2% | 6% | 4% | 1.4% | 0.35% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 44.1% | 450K | +22.3% | +0.4 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 30.9% | 316K | +48.2% | +5.7 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 13.2% | 135K | 0% | -2.8 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 6% | 61.6K | -14.1% | -2.5 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 4% | 40.5K | 0% | -0.8 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.4% | 14.8K | +22.3% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.35% | 3.6K | +24.1% | 0 points |
1.
QGIS44.1%
Held 1st. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
30.9%
Held 2nd. 316K estimated branded searches, +48.2% vs prior month. Share +5.7 points.
3.
Mapbox13.2%
Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.8 points.
Held 4th. 61.6K estimated branded searches, -14.1% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.
5.
CARTO4%
Held 5th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
1.4%
Held 6th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
7.
Felt0.35%
Held 7th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, +24.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among mapping and location platforms worldwide?
7 brands
In September 2026, QGIS was the most searched among mapping and location platforms worldwide, with an estimated 450K branded searches, 44.1% of all searches for the seven we track. Esri ArcGIS is in 2nd place, 13.1 percentage points behind at 30.9%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QGIS | 40.6% → 44.1% | 45.2%Feb 2026 | 40.6%Oct 2025 | 1st |
| Esri ArcGIS | 28.5% → 30.9% | 30.9%Sep 2026 | 25.1%Jul 2026 | 2nd |
| Mapbox | 14.9% → 13.2% | 16.6%Feb 2026 | 13.2%Sep 2026 | 3rd |
| Google Maps Platform | 11.5% → 6% | 11.5%Oct 2025 | 6%Sep 2026 | 4th |
| CARTO | 3% → 4% | 4.8%Aug 2026 | 2.7%Feb 2026 | 5th |
| HERE Technologies | 1.3% → 1.4% | 1.8%Jun 2026 | 1.3%Oct 2025 | 6th |
| Felt | 0.26% → 0.35% | 0.43%Jun 2026 | 0.22%Nov 2025 | 7th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide increased from 40.6% to 44.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Esri ArcGIS’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide increased from 28.5% to 30.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mapbox’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide decreased from 14.9% to 13.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Maps Platform’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide decreased from 11.5% to 6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CARTO’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide increased from 3% to 4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide peaked at 45.2% in February 2026 and was lowest at 40.6% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Esri ArcGIS’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide peaked at 30.9% in September 2026 and was lowest at 25.1% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mapbox’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide peaked at 16.6% in February 2026 and was lowest at 13.2% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CARTO’s share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide peaked at 4.8% in August 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HERE Technologies and Felt held steady: their share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for mapping and location platforms worldwide in September 2026?
5 changes
In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide, from 25.3% to 30.9%.
In September 2026, Mapbox lost share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide, from 16% to 13.2%.
In September 2026, Google Maps Platform lost share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide, from 8.5% to 6%.
In September 2026, CARTO lost share of searches among mapping and location platforms worldwide, from 4.8% to 4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Felt worldwide rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- QGIS vs Esri ArcGIS: compare popularity
- QGIS vs Mapbox: compare popularity
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- QGIS vs CARTO: compare popularity
- Esri ArcGIS vs Mapbox: compare popularity
- Esri ArcGIS vs Google Maps Platform: compare popularity
- Esri ArcGIS vs CARTO: compare popularity
- Mapbox vs Google Maps Platform: compare popularity
- Mapbox vs CARTO: compare popularity
- Google Maps Platform vs CARTO: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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