AutoCAD vs Chief Architect:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AutoCAD had more branded searches than Chief Architect among architectural design software worldwide. AutoCAD had about 1.5 million branded searches, while Chief Architect had 19,700. AutoCAD made up 37.1% of all architectural design software searches we track, and Chief Architect accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about architectural design software, AutoCAD and Chief Architect each appeared in four of the five answers. AutoCAD and Chief Architect were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
AutoCAD, about 76 searches for every 1 for Chief Architect
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top architectural design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AutoCAD and Chief Architect were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. AutoCAD and Chief Architect were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Revit1st
SketchUp2nd
ArchiCAD3rd
Chief Architect4th- AutoCAD5th
FreeCAD6th
Vectorworks–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- SketchUp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Revit5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- AutoCAD4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- FreeCAD4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- ArchiCAD4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Chief Architect4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Vectorworks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about architectural design software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which architectural design software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best architectural design software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best architectural design software for building plans?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“architectural design software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bim software”
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 20, 2026.
Is AutoCAD or Chief Architect more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AutoCAD and Chief Architect by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven architectural design software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, Chief Architect. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | AutoCAD | SketchUp | FreeCAD | Revit | ArchiCAD | Vectorworks | Chief Architect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34% | 41.5% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.55% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.2% | 41.8% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.55% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.8% | 41.5% | 12.5% | 6.8% | 3% | 1.7% | 0.66% |
| Jan 2026 | 30.2% | 45.3% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.72% |
| Feb 2026 | 30.2% | 45.4% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 34.2% | 41.8% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.55% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.2% | 45.4% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.6% |
| May 2026 | 31% | 46.5% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 0.51% |
| Jun 2026 | 34.1% | 41.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.56% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.6% | 39.8% | 12% | 9.8% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 0.65% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.9% | 36.9% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.74% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.1% | 37.1% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.49% |
How has the AutoCAD and Chief Architect comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AutoCAD was ahead of Chief Architect in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among architectural design software worldwide moved from 34% to 37.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chief Architect’s share of searches among architectural design software worldwide moved from 0.55% to 0.49%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 24.1K to 19.7K.
How did search popularity change for architectural design software worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for Chief Architect worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 24.1K to 19.7K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s and Chief Architect’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.
AutoCAD
1 branded search term
- autocad
Chief Architect
2 branded search terms
- chief architect
- chief architect software
Other head-to-heads among architectural design software
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