Brandwave

Civil 3D vs ETABS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Civil 3D had more branded searches than ETABS among civil engineering software worldwide. Civil 3D had about 49,500 branded searches, while ETABS had 27,100. Civil 3D made up 1.7% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and ETABS accounted for 0.95%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, Civil 3D appeared in all five answers and ETABS in four. Civil 3D was mentioned before ETABS in every answer.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Civil 3D, about 83% more searches than ETABS

Civil 3D 49.5K searchesETABS 27.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Civil 3D, mentioned in every answer we collected

Civil 3D in 5 of 5ETABS in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Civil 3D, named ahead of ETABS in every answer

Civil 3D first in 5ETABS 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. ETABS 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 ETABS 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 ETABS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Civil 3D and ETABS 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 ETABS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Civil 3D, ETABS. 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 ETABS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Civil 3D was ahead of ETABS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Civil 3D’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 49.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ETABS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.95%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.

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

0 changes

Neither Civil 3D nor ETABS moved beyond provider rounding among civil engineering software in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

ETABS

1 branded search term

  • etabs

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

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