Brandwave

Google Earth Engine vs GRASS GIS:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Google Earth Engine had more branded searches than GRASS GIS among GIS software worldwide. Google Earth Engine had about 135,000 branded searches, while GRASS GIS had 2,900. Google Earth Engine made up 12.5% 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, GRASS GIS appeared in four of the five answers and Google Earth Engine in three. Google Earth Engine and GRASS GIS were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among GIS software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Earth Engine, about 47 searches for every 1 for GRASS GIS

Google Earth Engine 135K searchesGRASS GIS 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GRASS GIS, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Google Earth Engine in 3

GRASS GIS in 4 of 5Google Earth Engine in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Google Earth Engine first in 2GRASS GIS first in 2

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Top GIS software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GRASS GIS was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Earth Engine was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Earth Engine and GRASS GIS were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.

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 Google Earth Engine or GRASS GIS more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Earth Engine 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.

Google Earth Engine and GRASS GIS among GIS software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Earth Engine, 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 Google Earth Engine and GRASS GIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Google Earth Engine was ahead of GRASS GIS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Earth Engine’s share of searches among GIS software worldwide moved from 14.5% to 12.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
  • 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, Google Earth Engine lost share of searches among GIS software worldwide, from 15.1% to 12.5%.

  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?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Earth Engine’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.

Google Earth Engine

1 branded search term

  • google earth engine

GRASS GIS

1 branded search term

  • grass gis

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among GIS software

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