Civil 3D vs STAAD:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Civil 3D had more branded searches than STAAD among civil engineering software worldwide. Civil 3D had about 49,500 branded searches, while STAAD had 22,200. Civil 3D made up 1.7% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and STAAD accounted for 0.78%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, both Civil 3D and STAAD appeared in all five answers. Civil 3D was mentioned before STAAD in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Civil 3D, about 2 searches for every 1 for STAAD
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Civil 3D, named ahead of STAAD 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, both Civil 3D and STAAD showed up in all five answers. Civil 3D was listed before STAAD 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 Civil 3D or STAAD more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Civil 3D and STAAD 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 Civil 3D, STAAD. 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 Civil 3D and STAAD comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Civil 3D was ahead of STAAD 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, STAAD’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide moved from 0.52% to 0.78%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 22.2K.
How did search popularity change for civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, STAAD fell from 8th to 9th among civil engineering software worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Civil 3D’s and STAAD’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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