Brandwave

Fusion 360 vs KiCad:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Fusion 360 had more branded searches than KiCad among PCB design software worldwide. Fusion 360 had about 450,000 branded searches, while KiCad had 246,000. Fusion 360 made up 45.3% of all PCB design software searches we track, and KiCad accounted for 24.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PCB design software, both Fusion 360 and KiCad appeared in all five answers. KiCad was mentioned before Fusion 360 in every answer.

Among PCB design software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Fusion 360, about 83% more searches than KiCad

Fusion 360 450K searchesKiCad 246K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Fusion 360 in 5 of 5KiCad in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

KiCad, named ahead of Fusion 360 in every answer

KiCad first in 5Fusion 360 never first

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Top PCB design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Fusion 360 and KiCad showed up in all five answers. KiCad was listed before Fusion 360 in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. KiCad1st
  2. EasyEDA2nd
  3. Altium3rd
  4. Fusion 3604th
  5. OrCAD5th
  6. CircuitMaker6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Fusion 3605 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • KiCad5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • EasyEDA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Altium5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OrCAD3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CircuitMaker2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about PCB design software

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Fusion 360 or KiCad more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Fusion 360 and KiCad by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six PCB design software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Fusion 360 and KiCad among PCB design software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Fusion 360, KiCad. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFusion 360KiCadEasyEDAAltiumOrCADCircuitMaker
Oct 202554.6%16.4%20%6%2.2%0.8%
Nov 202554.9%16.5%20%6%1.8%0.81%
Dec 202557.8%17.4%17.4%5.2%1.6%0.69%
Jan 202661.8%15.2%15.2%5.6%1.7%0.61%
Feb 202655.2%16.6%20.2%6.1%1.5%0.54%
Mar 202650.7%18.5%22.7%5.6%2%0.5%
Apr 202650.9%18.6%22.8%5.6%1.7%0.5%
May 202646.6%20.8%25.5%5.1%1.5%0.46%
Jun 202650.3%18.4%22.5%6.8%1.7%0.4%
Jul 202653.1%19.5%19.5%5.8%1.7%0.34%
Aug 202650.3%22.5%18.4%6.8%1.7%0.4%
Sep 202645.3%24.8%20.2%7.4%1.8%0.44%

How has the Fusion 360 and KiCad comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Fusion 360 was ahead of KiCad in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fusion 360’s share of searches among PCB design software worldwide moved from 54.6% to 45.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KiCad’s share of searches among PCB design software worldwide moved from 16.4% to 24.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 246K.

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

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, KiCad gained share of searches among PCB design software worldwide, from 22.5% to 24.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Fusion 360 lost share of searches among PCB design software worldwide, from 50.3% to 45.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fusion 360’s and KiCad’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.

Fusion 360

1 branded search term

  • fusion360

KiCad

1 branded search term

  • kicad

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among PCB design software

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