AutoCAD vs FreeCAD:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AutoCAD had more branded searches than FreeCAD among CAD and 3D design software worldwide. AutoCAD had about 1.5 million branded searches, while FreeCAD had 450,000. AutoCAD made up 10.9% of all CAD and 3D design software searches we track, and FreeCAD accounted for 3.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CAD and 3D design software, AutoCAD and FreeCAD each appeared in three of the five answers. AutoCAD and FreeCAD were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
AutoCAD, about 3 searches for every 1 for FreeCAD
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top CAD and 3D design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AutoCAD and FreeCAD were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. AutoCAD and FreeCAD 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.
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
Onshape4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
SolidWorks4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Blender4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tinkercad3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- AutoCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
SketchUp3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
FreeCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Shapr3D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Rhino2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about CAD and 3D design software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CAD or 3D design tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CAD and 3D design tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CAD or 3D design tool for product design?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best cad software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“3d design software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is AutoCAD or FreeCAD more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AutoCAD and FreeCAD by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 CAD and 3D design software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, FreeCAD. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tinkercad | AutoCAD | SketchUp | Onshape | SolidWorks | FreeCAD | Fusion 360 | Revit | Blender | Shapr3D | Rhino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 57.4% | 9.4% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.46% | 0.46% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.3% | 10.7% | 13% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.64% | 0.43% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.4% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.78% | 0.52% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.9% | 9.8% | 14.6% | 8% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.72% | 0.59% |
| Feb 2026 | 54.6% | 8.9% | 13.4% | 7.3% | 4% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 0.44% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.4% | 10.5% | 12.8% | 8.5% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.63% | 0.52% |
| Apr 2026 | 55% | 9% | 13.5% | 7.4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.67% | 0.44% |
| May 2026 | 55.8% | 9.1% | 13.6% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.67% | 0.45% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.9% | 10.7% | 13.2% | 5.9% | 4% | 3.2% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.65% | 0.53% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 14% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 0.85% | 0.69% |
| Aug 2026 | 50.1% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 3% | 1.7% | 0.74% | 0.61% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.1% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 8.8% | 4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.54% | 0.44% |
How has the AutoCAD and FreeCAD comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AutoCAD was ahead of FreeCAD in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide moved from 9.4% to 10.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide moved from 2.8% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for CAD and 3D design software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, AutoCAD lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 12.2% to 10.9%.
In September 2026, FreeCAD rose from 7th to 6th among CAD and 3D design software worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s and FreeCAD’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.
Other head-to-heads among CAD and 3D design software
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