AutoCAD vs HEC-RAS:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AutoCAD had more branded searches than HEC-RAS among civil engineering software worldwide. AutoCAD had about 1.5 million branded searches, while HEC-RAS had 22,200. AutoCAD made up 52.6% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and HEC-RAS accounted for 0.78%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, AutoCAD appeared in all five answers and HEC-RAS in four. AutoCAD was mentioned before HEC-RAS in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
AutoCAD, about 68 searches for every 1 for HEC-RAS
Who does AI mention more?
AutoCAD, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
AutoCAD, named ahead of HEC-RAS in every answer
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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AutoCAD appeared in all five answers. HEC-RAS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. AutoCAD was listed before HEC-RAS in every answer.
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.
- AutoCAD5 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
- Civil 3D5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
STAAD5 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
ETABS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
HEC-RAS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- SAP20004 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Primavera P63 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
EPANET3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about civil engineering software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which civil engineering software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best civil engineering software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best civil engineering software for road design?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“civil engineering software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“civil design software”
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 HEC-RAS more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AutoCAD and HEC-RAS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 civil engineering software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AutoCAD, HEC-RAS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | AutoCAD | QGIS | Revit | Esri ArcGIS | Civil 3D | Primavera P6 | ETABS | HEC-RAS | STAAD | EPANET | SAP2000 | InfraWorks | OpenRoads | 12d Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 52.8% | 15.9% | 13% | 11.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 0.78% | 0.52% | 0.64% | 0.78% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Nov 2025 | 53% | 15.9% | 13% | 11% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.78% | 0.52% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.1% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 11.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.66% | 0.24% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.3% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 10.9% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.75% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.27% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.4% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 10.8% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.75% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.33% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.8% | 15.9% | 13% | 11.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 0.78% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Apr 2026 | 49% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 12.6% | 2% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.89% | 0.73% | 0.73% | 0.73% | 0.27% | 0.1% | 0.03% |
| May 2026 | 50% | 18.5% | 12.3% | 10.7% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.91% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.27% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.7% | 15.9% | 13% | 9.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.96% | 0.78% | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Jul 2026 | 48.1% | 17.7% | 14.5% | 10.3% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 0.87% | 1.1% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.32% | 0.09% | 0.04% |
| Aug 2026 | 52.8% | 15.9% | 13% | 9.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 0.78% | 1.2% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.6% | 15.8% | 12.9% | 11.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.95% | 0.78% | 0.78% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 0.23% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
How has the AutoCAD and HEC-RAS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AutoCAD was ahead of HEC-RAS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AutoCAD’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 52.8% to 52.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HEC-RAS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.78%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 22.2K.
How did search popularity change for civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, HEC-RAS rose from 9th to 8th among civil engineering software worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AutoCAD’s and HEC-RAS’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 civil engineering software
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