Brandwave

Esri ArcGIS vs GRASS GIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS had more branded searches than GRASS GIS among GIS software worldwide. Esri ArcGIS had about 316,000 branded searches, while GRASS GIS had 2,900. Esri ArcGIS made up 29.2% of all GIS software searches we track, and GRASS GIS accounted for 0.27%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about GIS software, Esri ArcGIS appeared in all five answers and GRASS GIS in four. Esri ArcGIS was mentioned before GRASS GIS in every answer.

Among GIS software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Esri ArcGIS, about 109 searches for every 1 for GRASS GIS

Esri ArcGIS 316K searchesGRASS GIS 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Esri ArcGIS, mentioned in every answer we collected

Esri ArcGIS in 5 of 5GRASS GIS in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Esri ArcGIS, named ahead of GRASS GIS in every answer

Esri ArcGIS first in 5GRASS GIS never first

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Top GIS software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. QGIS1st
  2. Esri ArcGIS2nd
  3. GRASS GIS3rd
  4. Google Earth Engine4th
  5. CARTO5th
  6. Mapbox6th
  7. Maptitude–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • QGIS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Esri ArcGIS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GRASS GIS4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Earth Engine3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mapbox1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CARTO1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Maptitude0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about GIS 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 21, 2026.

Is Esri ArcGIS or GRASS GIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Esri ArcGIS and GRASS GIS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven GIS software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Esri ArcGIS and GRASS GIS among GIS software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Esri ArcGIS, GRASS GIS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthQGISEsri ArcGISGoogle Earth EngineMapboxCARTOGRASS GISMaptitude
Oct 202539.5%27.8%14.5%14.5%2.9%0.47%0.32%
Nov 202539.7%27.5%14.6%14.6%2.9%0.48%0.26%
Dec 202540.8%28.4%12.2%15%3%0.4%0.27%
Jan 202642.7%25%12.8%15.6%3.1%0.42%0.28%
Feb 202644.1%25.6%10.8%16.2%2.7%0.43%0.24%
Mar 202640.7%28.5%12.2%14.9%3%0.4%0.26%
Apr 202639.7%27.7%14.6%14.6%2.9%0.32%0.21%
May 202642.9%24.9%12.9%15.7%3.2%0.34%0.15%
Jun 202641.7%24.1%15.3%15.3%3.1%0.41%0.18%
Jul 202641.4%24%15.2%15.2%3.7%0.4%0.15%
Aug 202641.1%23.8%15.1%15.1%4.5%0.32%0.15%
Sep 202641.6%29.2%12.5%12.5%3.7%0.27%0.12%

How has the Esri ArcGIS and GRASS GIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Esri ArcGIS was ahead of GRASS GIS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Esri ArcGIS’s share of searches among GIS software worldwide moved from 27.8% to 29.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 316K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GRASS GIS’s share of searches among GIS software worldwide moved from 0.47% to 0.27%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 2.9K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Esri ArcGIS gained share of searches among GIS software worldwide, from 23.8% to 29.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for GRASS GIS worldwide fell 46.3% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 2.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Esri ArcGIS’s and GRASS GIS’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.

Esri ArcGIS

2 branded search terms

  • arcgis
  • esri arcgis

GRASS GIS

1 branded search term

  • grass gis

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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