Brandwave

EPANET vs HEC-RAS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, HEC-RAS had more branded searches than EPANET among civil engineering software worldwide. HEC-RAS had about 22,200 branded searches, while EPANET had 18,100. HEC-RAS made up 0.78% of all civil engineering software searches we track, and EPANET accounted for 0.64%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about civil engineering software, HEC-RAS appeared in four of the five answers and EPANET in three. HEC-RAS was mentioned before EPANET in every answer that named either.

Among civil engineering software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

HEC-RAS, about 23% more searches than EPANET

HEC-RAS 22.2K searchesEPANET 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

HEC-RAS, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, EPANET in 3

HEC-RAS in 4 of 5EPANET in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

HEC-RAS, named ahead of EPANET in 4 of 4 answers

HEC-RAS first in 4EPANET 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, HEC-RAS was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. EPANET was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. HEC-RAS was listed before EPANET in every answer that named either.

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 EPANET or HEC-RAS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for EPANET and HEC-RAS 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.

EPANET and HEC-RAS among civil engineering software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for HEC-RAS, EPANET. 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 EPANET and HEC-RAS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • HEC-RAS was ahead of EPANET in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, EPANET’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.64%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HEC-RAS’s share of searches among civil engineering software worldwide held steady at 0.78%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 22.2K.

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

1 change

  1. In September 2026, HEC-RAS rose from 9th to 8th among civil engineering software worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using EPANET’s and HEC-RAS’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.

EPANET

1 branded search term

  • epanet

HEC-RAS

1 branded search term

  • hec ras

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among civil engineering software

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