Brandwave

Creo vs FreeCAD:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, FreeCAD had more branded searches than Creo among CAD software worldwide. FreeCAD had about 450,000 branded searches, while Creo had 246,000. FreeCAD made up 3.7% of all CAD software searches we track, and Creo accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CAD software, FreeCAD appeared in all five answers and Creo in none.

Among CAD software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

FreeCAD, about 83% more searches than Creo

FreeCAD 450K searchesCreo 246K searches

Who does AI mention more?

FreeCAD, mentioned in every answer we collected

FreeCAD in 5 of 5Creo in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

FreeCAD, the only one of the two named

FreeCAD first in 5Creo never named

Follow Creo vs FreeCAD 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 CAD software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FreeCAD appeared in all five answers. Creo did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Fusion 3601st
  2. AutoCAD2nd
  3. SolidWorks3rd
  4. FreeCAD4th
  5. Tinkercad5th
  6. Shapr3D6th
  7. Inventor7th
  8. Onshape8th
  9. OpenSCAD9th
  10. Creo–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • SolidWorks5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • FreeCAD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Fusion 3605 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AutoCAD4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Onshape4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tinkercad2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Inventor2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenSCAD2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Shapr3D2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Creo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about CAD 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 Creo or FreeCAD more popular in search?

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

Creo and FreeCAD among CAD software worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTinkercadAutoCADOnshapeSolidWorksFreeCADFusion 360CreoInventorOpenSCADShapr3D
Oct 202566%10.8%8.8%4%3.2%4%1.2%0.97%0.53%0.53%
Nov 202562.4%12.5%8.3%4.6%3.8%4.6%1.4%1.1%0.62%0.75%
Dec 202560.7%12.1%8.2%4.5%4.5%5.5%1.6%1.1%1.1%0.9%
Jan 202657.9%11.5%9.5%5.2%4.3%6.4%1.6%1.6%1.3%0.86%
Feb 202663.7%10.4%8.5%4.7%3.8%4.7%1.4%1.1%0.94%0.77%
Mar 202661.1%12.2%10%4.5%3.7%4.5%1.3%1.1%0.9%0.74%
Apr 202664.1%10.4%8.6%3.9%3.9%4.7%1.4%1.2%1.2%0.78%
May 202665.2%10.6%8.7%3.9%3.2%3.9%1.4%1.2%0.96%0.79%
Jun 202663%12.6%6.9%4.6%3.8%4.6%1.7%1.1%0.93%0.76%
Jul 202656%13.7%7.5%6.2%5%6.2%1.8%1.2%1.2%1%
Aug 202658%14.2%7.8%5.2%4.3%5.2%2.3%1.1%1.1%0.86%
Sep 202661.2%12.3%10%4.5%3.7%3.7%2%1.1%0.9%0.61%

How has the Creo and FreeCAD comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • FreeCAD was ahead of Creo in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Creo’s share of searches among CAD software worldwide moved from 1.2% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among CAD software worldwide moved from 3.2% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, FreeCAD lost share of searches among CAD software worldwide, from 4.3% to 3.7%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Creo worldwide rose 49.1% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 246K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Creo’s and FreeCAD’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.

Creo

1 branded search term

  • creo

FreeCAD

1 branded search term

  • freecad

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among CAD 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