Fusion 360 vs KiCad:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Fusion 360 had more branded searches than KiCad among PCB design software worldwide. Fusion 360 had about 450,000 branded searches, while KiCad had 246,000. Fusion 360 made up 45.3% of all PCB design software searches we track, and KiCad accounted for 24.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PCB design software, both Fusion 360 and KiCad appeared in all five answers. KiCad was mentioned before Fusion 360 in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Fusion 360, about 83% more searches than KiCad
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
KiCad, named ahead of Fusion 360 in every answer
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Top PCB design software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Fusion 360 and KiCad showed up in all five answers. KiCad was listed before Fusion 360 in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
KiCad1st
EasyEDA2nd
Altium3rd
Fusion 3604th
OrCAD5th
CircuitMaker6th
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
KiCad5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
EasyEDA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Altium5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
OrCAD3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
CircuitMaker2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about PCB design software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which PCB design software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best PCB design software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best PCB design software for circuit board design?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pcb design software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pcb design tools”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Fusion 360 or KiCad more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Fusion 360 and KiCad by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six PCB design software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Fusion 360, KiCad. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fusion 360 | KiCad | EasyEDA | Altium | OrCAD | CircuitMaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 54.6% | 16.4% | 20% | 6% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 54.9% | 16.5% | 20% | 6% | 1.8% | 0.81% |
| Dec 2025 | 57.8% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 5.2% | 1.6% | 0.69% |
| Jan 2026 | 61.8% | 15.2% | 15.2% | 5.6% | 1.7% | 0.61% |
| Feb 2026 | 55.2% | 16.6% | 20.2% | 6.1% | 1.5% | 0.54% |
| Mar 2026 | 50.7% | 18.5% | 22.7% | 5.6% | 2% | 0.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.9% | 18.6% | 22.8% | 5.6% | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| May 2026 | 46.6% | 20.8% | 25.5% | 5.1% | 1.5% | 0.46% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.3% | 18.4% | 22.5% | 6.8% | 1.7% | 0.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 53.1% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 5.8% | 1.7% | 0.34% |
| Aug 2026 | 50.3% | 22.5% | 18.4% | 6.8% | 1.7% | 0.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.3% | 24.8% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 1.8% | 0.44% |
How has the Fusion 360 and KiCad comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Fusion 360 was ahead of KiCad in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fusion 360’s share of searches among PCB design software worldwide moved from 54.6% to 45.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KiCad’s share of searches among PCB design software worldwide moved from 16.4% to 24.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 246K.
How did search popularity change for PCB design software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, KiCad gained share of searches among PCB design software worldwide, from 22.5% to 24.8%.

In September 2026, Fusion 360 lost share of searches among PCB design software worldwide, from 50.3% to 45.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fusion 360’s and KiCad’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.
Fusion 360
1 branded search term
- fusion360
KiCad
1 branded search term
- kicad
Other head-to-heads among PCB design software

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