Google Earth Engine vs QGIS:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, QGIS had more branded searches than Google Earth Engine among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide. QGIS had about 450,000 branded searches, while Google Earth Engine had 135,000. QGIS made up 39.1% of all geospatial analytics platform searches we track, and Google Earth Engine accounted for 11.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about geospatial analytics platforms, QGIS appeared in all four answers and Google Earth Engine in three. Google Earth Engine and QGIS were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.
Who do people search for more?
QGIS, about 3 searches for every 1 for Google Earth Engine
Who does AI mention more?
QGIS, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top geospatial analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, QGIS appeared in all four answers. Google Earth Engine was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Google Earth Engine and QGIS were each listed first in two of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Esri ArcGIS1st
CARTO2nd- QGIS3rd
Google Earth Engine4th
Mapbox5th
Foursquare–
SafeGraph–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- QGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Esri ArcGIS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Mapbox4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- CARTO4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Google Earth Engine3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Foursquare0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- SafeGraph0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about geospatial analytics platforms
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which geospatial analytics platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best geospatial analytics platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best geospatial analytics platform for location analysis?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“geospatial analytics platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“location analytics software”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 QGIS more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Earth Engine and QGIS by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven geospatial analytics platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for QGIS, Google Earth Engine. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | QGIS | Esri ArcGIS | Google Earth Engine | Mapbox | Foursquare | CARTO | SafeGraph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.8% | 26.5% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.9% | 26.2% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 5.1% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| Dec 2025 | 38.4% | 26.7% | 11.5% | 14.1% | 6.3% | 2.8% | 0.17% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.6% | 23.8% | 12.2% | 14.9% | 5.5% | 3% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.3% | 24% | 10.1% | 15.2% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 0.17% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.2% | 26.1% | 11.1% | 13.6% | 9.1% | 2.7% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.4% | 26% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 2.8% | 0.16% |
| May 2026 | 40.2% | 23.3% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 6.6% | 3% | 0.14% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.1% | 22.7% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.4% | 22.8% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 0.14% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.1% | 22.6% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 0.11% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.1% | 27.4% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 0.09% |
How has the Google Earth Engine and QGIS comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- QGIS was ahead of Google Earth Engine 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 geospatial analytics platforms worldwide moved from 13.8% to 11.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QGIS’s share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide moved from 37.8% to 39.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
How did search popularity change for geospatial analytics platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Google Earth Engine lost share of searches among geospatial analytics platforms worldwide, from 14.3% to 11.7%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Earth Engine’s and QGIS’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
QGIS
1 branded search term
- qgis
Other head-to-heads among geospatial analytics platforms
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