Brandwave

Civil 3D vs Esri ArcGIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS had more branded searches than Civil 3D among civil engineering software worldwide. Esri ArcGIS had about 316,000 branded searches, while Civil 3D had 49,500. Esri ArcGIS made up 11.1% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and Civil 3D accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, Civil 3D appeared in all five answers and Esri ArcGIS in four. Civil 3D was mentioned before Esri ArcGIS in every answer.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Esri ArcGIS, about 6 searches for every 1 for Civil 3D

Esri ArcGIS 316K searchesCivil 3D 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Civil 3D, mentioned in every answer we collected

Civil 3D in 5 of 5Esri ArcGIS in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Civil 3D, named ahead of Esri ArcGIS in every answer

Civil 3D first in 5Esri ArcGIS never first

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Top civil engineering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Civil 3D appeared in all five answers. Esri ArcGIS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Civil 3D was listed before Esri ArcGIS in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. AutoCAD1st
  2. Civil 3D2nd
  3. Revit3rd
  4. STAAD4th
  5. ETABS5th
  6. SAP20006th
  7. HEC-RAS7th
  8. OpenRoads8th
  9. Esri ArcGIS9th
  10. EPANET10th
  11. +4 more

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

+4 more

See every answer about civil engineering software

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Civil 3D or Esri ArcGIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Civil 3D and Esri ArcGIS 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.

Civil 3D and Esri ArcGIS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Esri ArcGIS, Civil 3D. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAutoCADQGISRevitEsri ArcGISCivil 3DPrimavera P6ETABSHEC-RASSTAADEPANETSAP2000InfraWorksOpenRoads12d Model
Oct 202552.8%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 202553%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 202554.1%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 202650.3%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 202650.4%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 202652.8%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 202649%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 202650%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 202652.7%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 202648.1%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 202652.8%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 202652.6%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 Civil 3D and Esri ArcGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide, from 9.2% to 11.1%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Civil 3D’s and Esri ArcGIS’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.

Civil 3D

1 branded search term

  • civil 3d

Esri ArcGIS

2 branded search terms

  • arcgis
  • esri arcgis

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

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