FreeCAD vs SolidWorks:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, SolidWorks had more branded searches than FreeCAD among CAD and 3D design software worldwide. SolidWorks had about 550,000 branded searches, while FreeCAD had 450,000. SolidWorks made up 4% of all CAD and 3D design software searches we track, and FreeCAD accounted for 3.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CAD and 3D design software, SolidWorks appeared in four of the five answers and FreeCAD in three. SolidWorks was mentioned before FreeCAD in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
SolidWorks, about 22% more searches than FreeCAD
Who does AI mention more?
SolidWorks, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, FreeCAD in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
SolidWorks, named ahead of FreeCAD in 4 of 5 answers
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Top CAD and 3D design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, SolidWorks was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. FreeCAD was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. SolidWorks was listed before FreeCAD in four out of five answers.
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.
Fusion 3605 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Onshape4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- SolidWorks4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Blender4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tinkercad3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- AutoCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
SketchUp3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
FreeCAD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Shapr3D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Rhino2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about CAD and 3D design software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CAD or 3D design tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CAD and 3D design tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CAD or 3D design tool for product design?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best cad software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“3d design software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is FreeCAD or SolidWorks more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for FreeCAD and SolidWorks by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 CAD and 3D design software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for SolidWorks, FreeCAD. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tinkercad | AutoCAD | SketchUp | Onshape | SolidWorks | FreeCAD | Fusion 360 | Revit | Blender | Shapr3D | Rhino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 57.4% | 9.4% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.46% | 0.46% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.3% | 10.7% | 13% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.64% | 0.43% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.4% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.78% | 0.52% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.9% | 9.8% | 14.6% | 8% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.72% | 0.59% |
| Feb 2026 | 54.6% | 8.9% | 13.4% | 7.3% | 4% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 0.44% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.4% | 10.5% | 12.8% | 8.5% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.63% | 0.52% |
| Apr 2026 | 55% | 9% | 13.5% | 7.4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.67% | 0.44% |
| May 2026 | 55.8% | 9.1% | 13.6% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.67% | 0.45% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.9% | 10.7% | 13.2% | 5.9% | 4% | 3.2% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.65% | 0.53% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 14% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 0.85% | 0.69% |
| Aug 2026 | 50.1% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 3% | 1.7% | 0.74% | 0.61% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.1% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 8.8% | 4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.54% | 0.44% |
How has the FreeCAD and SolidWorks comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- SolidWorks was ahead of FreeCAD in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreeCAD’s share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide moved from 2.8% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SolidWorks’ share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide moved from 3.5% to 4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 550K.
How did search popularity change for CAD and 3D design software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, SolidWorks lost share of searches among CAD and 3D design software worldwide, from 4.5% to 4%.
In September 2026, FreeCAD rose from 7th to 6th among CAD and 3D design software worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FreeCAD’s and SolidWorks’ 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.
FreeCAD
1 branded search term
- freecad
SolidWorks
1 branded search term
- solidworks
Other head-to-heads among CAD and 3D design software
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