Brandwave

Blender vs Pencil2D:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Pencil2D had more branded searches than Blender among animation software worldwide. Pencil2D had about 22,200 branded searches, while Blender had 18,100. Pencil2D made up 1.6% of all animation software searches we track, and Blender accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Blender appeared in all five answers and Pencil2D in three. Blender was mentioned before Pencil2D in four out of five answers.

Among animation software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Pencil2D, about 23% more searches than Blender

Pencil2D 22.2K searchesBlender 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Blender, mentioned in every answer we collected

Blender in 5 of 5Pencil2D in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Blender, named ahead of Pencil2D in 4 of 5 answers

Blender first in 4Pencil2D first in 1

Follow Blender vs Pencil2D and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top animation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Blender appeared in all five answers. Pencil2D was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Blender was listed before Pencil2D in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Blender1st
  2. Toon Boom2nd
  3. Adobe Animate3rd
  4. Adobe After Effects4th
  5. Krita5th
  6. Moho6th
  7. Autodesk Maya7th
  8. OpenToonz8th
  9. Pencil2D9th
  10. Synfig Studio10th
  11. +4 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Blender5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Animate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenToonz4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Toon Boom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Moho4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Krita3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe After Effects3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Pencil2D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Autodesk Maya2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Procreate Dreams2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about animation software

5 answers

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 Blender or Pencil2D more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Blender and Pencil2D by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 animation software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Blender and Pencil2D among animation software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Pencil2D, Blender. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKritaAnimakerAdobe After EffectsAdobe AnimateVyondOpenToonzAutodesk MayaToon BoomPencil2DProcreate DreamsBlenderSynfig StudioTVPaintMoho
Oct 202534%18.6%10.2%10.2%8.3%4.6%3.7%2.5%2.5%1.4%1.4%1.1%1.1%0.33%
Nov 202535.3%19.3%8.7%10.6%7.1%3.9%3.9%2.6%2.6%1.4%1.4%1.4%1.4%0.52%
Dec 202538%17%9.3%9.3%7.6%4.2%3.4%2.3%2.3%2.3%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.37%
Jan 202638.4%14%9.4%9.4%7.7%5.2%4.2%2.8%2.3%1.9%1.5%1.3%1.5%0.38%
Feb 202628.3%12.6%8.5%23.1%6.9%4.6%3.1%3.8%3.1%1.4%1.1%1.4%1.4%0.62%
Mar 202637.6%13.7%9.2%9.2%9.2%4.1%4.1%2.8%3.4%1.9%1.5%1.5%1.2%0.45%
Apr 202639.4%14.4%9.7%9.7%7.9%3.5%4.3%2.4%2.9%1.6%1.3%1.3%1.3%0.39%
May 202637.7%13.8%9.2%9.2%9.2%5.1%4.1%2.8%2.3%1.9%1.5%1.2%1.5%0.45%
Jun 202637.7%11.3%9.2%9.2%11.3%6.2%4.1%2.8%1.9%1.9%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.45%
Jul 202638.9%9.5%9.5%9.5%11.7%5.2%4.3%2.3%2.3%1.9%1.6%1.3%1.3%0.7%
Aug 202643.3%8.7%8.7%8.7%8.7%7.1%3.9%2.6%2.1%1.7%1.4%1.4%1.2%0.52%
Sep 202648.3%9.7%7.9%7.9%7.9%5.3%3.5%2.4%1.6%1.6%1.3%1.1%1.1%0.58%

How has the Blender and Pencil2D comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Pencil2D was ahead of Blender in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Blender’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pencil2D’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 2.5% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 22.2K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Pencil2D lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 2.1% to 1.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Blender worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Blender’s and Pencil2D’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.

Blender

1 branded search term

  • blender animation

Pencil2D

1 branded search term

  • pencil2d

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among animation software

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free